Pets On Parade Coloring Contest

Each year Kasson Public Library has a coloring contest as part of our summer reading program. This year we chose a puppy or kitty to color as part of our 2007 Pets On Parade theme. We had 274 children return their pictures to be judged and we chose 15 winners from ages 1-15. We have placed the winning pictures in our lobby and have also included the rest of the coloring sheets as children love to find their picture and compare it to others their age. Winners received either a stuffed animal or $10.00 in Kasson Chamber Bucks to spend in town.

We are very fortunate to have 568 ( that about half of the school age children in the K-M area) children sign up for our summer reading program. The library in partnership with the school and parents feel it is very important for children to read over the summer.

Summer Reading Guest Storytime Readers

We are very fortunate at Kasson Public Library to have volunteers eager to help with the Summer Reading Program and be our guest storytime readers. Pictured on the left is Pat Coy and on the right is Rita Buehler.

Jumping Frog Origami

Summer Reading Program & K-M Daycares

Kasson Public Library and Kasson-Mantorville area daycare providers have teamed up for the second year to bring our 2007 summer reading program Pets on Parade to the daycares. The library understands that it is difficult to get to the library when you have many little ones, so we are bringing our program to the daycares via our Books On Wheels program. Outreach Librarian Paula Talbert delivered the information today and the daycares will read, record minutes read and receive library buck to be spent our our library store later in July and August. Everyone involved is excited to be able participate in this library outreach reading program.

784 is the magic number

Everyone's been wondering how long Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows might be. Will it be the longest in the series? If so, how close will it be to 1000 pages? Well, as it turns out, Scholastic announced that the US version of the book will clock in at 784 pages, making it the second longest in the series, after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The most astounding fact? Over 16,700 tons of paper will be used during the first run of 12 million copies (U.S. printing only). WOW!!

Tumblebooks

While looking for information I ran across this great on-line reading series called Tumblebooks. TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love. The TumbleBook Library has a large selection of children's favorite story books including Diary of a Worm, The Paper Bag Princess, and One Duck Stuck. In addition, the Language Learning Section has a growing selection of books in Spanish, French and other languages.

Tumblebooks can be accessed for free on the Des Moines Public Library website from any computer with an Internet connection. Click on the link to enjoy this fun learning tool!http://www.desmoinespubliclibrary.org/. The link is located further down on their home page. Have fun with this great site.

Jason the Juggler

Each year through the generosity of area businesses, the Kasson Library is able to sponsor a large group program for children during our summer reading program. Our theme this year is Pets on Parade and we have many programs for children of all ages.

This year we chose Jason Hunecke as our featured performer at the KM Elementary School and over 220 children and adults attended the juggling program. The children enjoyed his performance which kept everyone entertained for about an hour.

Pictures of the performance:

Teddy Bear Picnic

As part of our 2007 Summer Reading Program Pets on Parade a special storytime, Teddy Bear Picnic was held. Children heard a story on bears and viewed a video. They then were handed a noisemaker to parade through the library and entertain all. After the parade, treats were handed out.

Daycare Comes to Summer Reading Program

Just Like Home, a local daycare, brought 56 children for storytime today. The children were brought in two different groups, kindergarten and school age. They were all excited to hear the story and then register for all of the drawings.

On the left are the school age afternoon group; on the right, Children's Librarian Mary Rose Mataitis reads to the kindergarten group. They will continue to come to the library every Thursday throughout the summer for a storyhour and to checkout books.

New Databases For Online Libraries

SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating) is pleased to announce the addition of seven new databases for librarian and patron use.

Biography Resource Center is a comprehensive database of biographical information on more than 165,000 people throughout history and around the world.

Chilton offers quick online access to repair, maintenance and service information for up to 350 cars, trucks, vans and SUVs.

Lawcheck is a legal database for both the layperson and the attorney. This database includes forms and information in eleven areas of law.

Encyclopedia Americana an in-depth research and world wide current events database.

La Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre is a complete encyclopedia for Spanish speakers and Spanish language students.

New Book of Popular Science is an in-depth science information database, including information on science in the news.

Lands and Peoples is an up-to-date database with information for country and state reports.
America the Beautiful is a state-by-state database of history and current events.

To access any one of the above databases, click on the iResearch icon on the SELCO webpage at http://www.selco.info/ and scroll down to the Databases.

Flag Day June 14th

In the United States, Flag Day(more formally, National Flag Day) is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the in Second Continential Congress 1777.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official, federal holiday. However, on June 14th, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Ducks On Parade Storytime 6/13/07

FATHER'S DAY JUNE 17th

Dads Check This OUT!!!!!!!!!
GreatDads.com is a blog about being a father. With sections on pregnancy, babies, preschool, kids and teens, it covers a lot of years. Wonderful to see a site from the perspective of fathers. It also includes medical advice, legal advice, and fathering tips.

Pets On Parade Drawings for Summer Reading Program

Due to the generousity of area businesses, Kasson Public Library can offer reading incentives to the children. We have over nine different drawings that the children can register for each time they visit the library. We also have a unique guessing jar where ducks are suspended in in crystal ice to make it more difficult to count the little ducks. We also have a coloring contest. The children can choose to color either a cat or dog. Prizes will be awarded in each age category. The older children will receive Kasson Area Bucks to spend in town; the younger children will receive a special stuffed animal. We have had over 340 children sign up for our summer reading program since last Wednesday.

Anne of Green Gables

Young Anne Shirley captures your heart as she grows up and becomes part of Prince Edward Island. The 100th anniversary of the book Anne of Green Gables will be next year (2008) and this Emmy-winning series returns for an encore presentation. KSMQ (Channel 15) will feature this beloved coming of age tale on Mondays throughout the summer starting Monday, June 11th, at 8 pm.

KSMQ and Southeast Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) have partnered with area libraries to increase public awareness of both the viewing and reading pleasures of this immortal series. Libraries will have posters and flyers plus displays of books and movies for patrons to check out. Kasson Public Library is proud to be a partner in bringing back a classic for countless fans to enjoy and in introducing a whole new generation to the enchanting adventures of Anne and Gilbert.

Summer Reading Program Signup

Summer Reading Program Registration Begins

Registration for the 2007 Summer Reading Program, Pets on Parade, began today. In spite of the rain, 60 children came to the library to register this morning. Registration continues throughout this week and next week. A variety of activities and programs are planned. The coloring contest ends on June 18. On Wednesday, June 20, at 1:00 p.m., there will be a program in the Kasson Elementary School gym. Jason the Juggler will entertain children of all ages. Admission is free to all children who have signed up for the Summer Reading Program. Come visit us at the library to learn more!

Librarians Visit Elementary Schools

Children's Librarian Mary Rose Mataitis, and Library Director Bonnie Adams, visited the K-M Elementary today to talked about the Summer Reading Program (SRP). They explained how the SRP will function for the next seven weeks of the program. Mary Rose is pictured with the prizes and the picture on the right shows very excited children listening to how they can win prizes for reading.

The library has visited the schools for a number of years to explain the reading program. With the help of local businesses that help finance the program, the SRP has remained free to all children. The library feels very strongly that children must read over the summer so that they do not lose the reading skills developed during the school year.

Musicovery Discovery

WOW! This is one that you just have to try out! Musicovery http://musicovery.com/index.php?ct=us lets you run a radio by selecting the genres of music you like and then choosing from a continuum of Energetic, Positive, Dark and Calm. Then you get a morphing cloud of choices.

Click on one you would like to hear and it immediately becomes the center of the cloud and you see more related songs. And best of all, you get to hear the songs you want. Not suggestions of things like the songs, but the actual songs. This rocks! Literally.