Library Holiday Hours

Kasson Public Library Holiday Hours:

New Year's Eve 10-2
New Year's Day Closed
Sat. Jan 2nd Closed

Book Storytime Week of 12/29-31

This week's Storytime children learn about different types of books. They work on creating their own books to share with their families.

Wednesday, December 30th

Tuesday, December 29th

Raise a Reader

What's in it for me? The family that reads together...By Andrea Ross

We often talk about the benefits of reading aloud to our children -- but we usually focus on the benefits to the children. Today, let's reflect on the ways reading aloud to our children benefits ourselves as parents, our families and our relationships with each other.

READ-ALOUD IDOL
I'm no ham and I rarely attempt read-aloud theatrics, accents or voices, but boy-oh-boy do I love the rush I get when I have my young audience shrieking with laughter, swooning, raving and begging for more. Sure, all I'm doing is reading the printed word, the real genius is the author, but I'm the main act at our house. Childhood is short -- I treasure the precious moments when reading aloud makes me a star in the eyes of my children.

CUDDLE TIME
The cuddly intimacy that it prompts is an obvious but overlooked benefit of taking time each day to read aloud to our little ones -- regardless of how big said little ones may be! My 10-year-old is as tall as I am and a voracious reader herself but our at-least-daily read-aloud time gives us regular and natural opportunities to cram into a tight huddle and snuggle. And I'm secretly delighted after each meal when my eight-year-old trots around to my side of the table, climbs onto my lap and insists that I read. That's hitting the jackpot for any parent.

CONNECTION
"Just one more chapter!" When we nudge them awake on school mornings and when they roll out of bed on weekends, our girls' first words are requests for reading. Sometimes they are stalling and too often time's too short but we understand that our girls view read-aloud time as a haven of undivided attention; as a time without demands, reminders or distractions. Read-aloud time is a time to connect.

INSTANT ENTERTAINMENT
What better way to avoid squabbling and other unpleasantness while the youngsters are stuck waiting than to treat them to a handful of picture books or a chapter of a riveting novel? Great children's books are portable, dependable and unobtrusive sources of laughs, soothing, intrigue and excitement -- any time, any place. Instant entertainment makes for contented kids but the real pay-off is for me as parent -- when you're stuck lined up or waiting, contented kids are worth their weight in gold.

SHARED (CHEAP!) ADVENTURES
Exotic vacations and adventures are just not par for our course. Reading aloud with my children gives us common, exciting, memorable experiences that we can look back on together. Reading independently is a great skill for a child, but sharing the excitement of a good book is a gift to parent and child alike.

SPRINGBOARDS TO LIFE LESSONS AND DISCUSSIONS
Sex, death, war, divorce, birth-control, sickness and injustice -- you name it, we tackle it early and painlessly, thanks to a healthy diet of engaging and relevant read-aloud books. Not every important issue crops up naturally in conversation. By reading a wide range of carefully crafted children's books covering a full spectrum of views and situations, we have opportunity to flesh out our children's understandings of the world around them

FREEDOM
Last but not least, when read-aloud time is plentiful and pleasant, children become readers. They'll read on their own. They'll read to others. They'll entertain themselves when they'd otherwise be bored. For happy readers, just add books! For happy parents, just add reading children!

Sure, reading aloud is good for our children but with benefits like these, we're clearly pampering ourselves. So grab a book and a child and treat yourself to some rampant read-aloud!

http://www.canada.com/Raise+Reader/2021838/story.html
Andrea Ross is co-creator of the children's literature and literacy radio program Just One More Book!! Andrea lives in the heart of Canada's capital with her husband, two daughters and a ridiculously large number of children's books. www.JustOneMoreBook.com

Christmas Tree Storytime

Merry Christmas

For pictures of our wonderful Christmas Tree Storytime please go to our picture page:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/kassonlibrary/

Snowglobe Storytime

This week's storytime highlighted snowglobes. Children read about snowglobes and one family that loved in a snowglobe. The children were then able to make their very own snowglobe.
additional pictures of this week's activities maybe found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kassonlibrary/

Thursday, December 17th

Headstart students.

Wednesday, December 16th

Children's Libraran Ingvild read stories about snowglobes.

Children work on their snowglobes.
Finished snowglobes.

Tuesday, December 15th

Christmas in Kasson

The library had over 268 people attend our Santa Letter Writing and Christmas craft.
Additional picture may be found:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kassonlibrary/



Library Assistant Donna help decorate the library and took all of the pictures.

Children's Librarian helped the children make a puzzle pieces wreath.









Writing letters to Santa. For every letter written, Macy's will donate $1.00 to Make A Wish Foundation. Our children wrote 98 letters that Library Director Beonie Adams delivered to Macy's on Sunday, December 13th.

Making Christmas Wreaths from puzzles pieces

CHRISTMAS IN KASSON 12/12/09

Kasson businesses on Saturday, December 12th 10-1 will celebrate the

Christmas season with many wonderful activities.

10-12 Library- Letter to Santa & Puzzle Wreath craft.
10-1 Mini Mall- Xmas Coloring Pages, Snowflakes, Grinch & String
Macaroni Necklace,Sewing Card and Hot Chocolate.
10-1 Jimmy's Pizza- decorating a Christmas cookie, & (bring your own
camera), Mrs. Claus will hand out presents (while supply last).
10-1* Kasson Dollar & Video- Paper Chain Garland.
10-1* State Theater- Meet Santa (bring your own camera), movie afterwards-
A Christmas Story.
10-1 Kasson Variety- Bring a parent and do a craft.
10-1 Kasson Liquor Store- See Santa's reindeer in the parking lot & get your
candy canes.
10-1 Hardware Hank-Energizer Bunny
10-1* St. Peter's Episcopal Church-Christmas Craft & Gift wrapping fund raiser
by Habitat For Humanity
10-1* U Do It Dog Wash-String popcorn

Scavenger Hunt Prizes provided by Kasson American Legion Post 333

Thank You Kasson Lion's Club

THANK YOU!

The Kasson Library wishes to thank the Kasson Lion's Club for the purchase of a new childrens table and eight bright red chairs. The children like the new table and are getting quite a workout during the holidays crafts.



Pictured are:Children's Librarian Ingvild Herfindahl and Lion's President Bill Kase

Kasson Library Closed

The Kasson Public Library will be closed today December 9, 2009.

Gretchen Rush-Throndson Cancer Benefit

I am adding a personal note to today's library blog.

Gretchen Rush-Throndson, a wonderful sister, sister-in-law, mother and friend, a joy to all her knew her, died on Tuesday, December 1 at St. Mary's in Rochester after a long battle with lung and bone cancer. She donated her body to Mayo Medical for further cancer research and her eyes went to the Lion's eye bank.

Family and friends are planning a benefit for her at the Rochester International Event Center on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Live music by Wreckin Crew and Entertainment To Go.

There will be food and drink available along with a bunch of baked goodies for purchase.

A raffle and LIVE auction with items donated by family, friends and businesses.

Donations can be sent to:
Bonnie Adams at Kasson Library, 16 1st Ave NW Kasson, 634-7615
Jim Rush 7 9th St NE Rochester MN 55906
For questions contact April Pahl at 507-250-4912
THINK Banks of Rochester will be handling the funds raised through this event.

Wreaths Across America Event in Rochester

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Video about Wreaths project: http://wreathsacrossamerica.org/

REMEMBER-The Fallen
HONOR-Those Who Serve

TEACH-Our Children the Value of Freedom

Saturday, December 12 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon

at the New Life Worship Center

Church Address:

6301 34th Ave NW

Rochester, MN 55901

Phone: (507) 282-7201

A string of ceremonies to honor veterans will be held in Rochester on Dec. 12 as part of a national event, Wreaths Across America.

The observances will start at 11 a.m. at New Life Worship Center in Rochester, 6301 34th Ave. N.W. Ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember those who gave their lives for the country. Similar ceremonies will be held across the country at the same time. Local veterans ask that everyone pause for a minute at that time to remember and reflect.

The 40-minute program will be followed by a caravan to the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial, where there will be a 10-minute wreath-laying ceremony.

Following the ceremony at Soldiers Field, the Civil Air Patrol and the VFW color guard will place wreaths on more than 100 veterans' graves at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, Fifth Street and 11th Avenue Northeast.

Wreaths will also be at the entrance of the four cemeteries in Rochester.

Wreaths Across America is an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project, in which more than 5,000 wreaths are laid on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

The event includes specially made wreaths for Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and POW/MIA.

"It's very, very important that we don't forget them," said Wayne Stillman, chairman of the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial.

From an article in the Rochester Post Bulletin 12/5/09 By Matt Russell

Christmas Decorations at Our Library

I wish to thank Sandy Riedel and Donna Kirchgatter for buying extra decorations and decorating the library for Christmas. It is so beautiful and gets all of the staff in the Christmas mood.

Storytime Pictures From Week of Nov. 24-Dec. 3

Due to a death in my family I was not able to do a proper blog the past few days. Please go to our picture site to see all the great pictures and activities at the library.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kassonlibrary/