Grants and gifts are great! The Children's Library has been the recipient of some wonderful donations for special projects recently. Seward County Conservation District made a donation for conservation materials, just as they did for us in 2007. We purchased a large number of conservation-related titles with their gift. They include:

Rot and Decay: Decomposing and Recycling; Life Science by Sarah Levete
The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George
It's Earth Day! (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter by Mercer Mayer
A Child's Introduction to the Environment: The Air, Earth, and Sea Around Us- Plus Experiments, Projects, and Activities YOU Can Do to Help Our Planet! By Michael Driscoll
Take a Deep Breath: What Is CO2? by Yvonne Morrison) 
What's Going on in the Compost Pile? by Rachel Chappell

Eye on Energy Series by Jill C. Wheeler
Renewable Fuels
Nuclear Power
Nature Power
Fossil Fuels
Everyday Conservation
Alternative Cars

American Alligators: Freshwater Survivors by Aaron Feigenbaum
American Bison: A Scary Prediction by William Caper
Bald Eagles: A Chemical Nightmare by Meish Goldish
Black-Footed Ferrets: Back from the Brink by Miriam Aronin
Florida Manatees: Warm Water Miracles by Meish Goldish
Florida Panthers: Struggle for Survival by William Caper
Gray Wolves: Return to Yellowstone by Meish Goldish
Grizzly Bears: Saving the Silvertip by Jacqueline Greene
Southern Sea Otters: Fur-Tastrophe Avoided by Jeanette Leardi

Bank of America recently stopped in with a generous donation as well. It will be used for children's book purchases. The library received a grant from Seward County United Way and from Smart Start of Southwest Kansas to provide early literacy information to parents of children enrolled in the Head Start program this fall. Along with the information will be books to share with their children. The literacy information is part of a program from the American Library Association entitled Every Child Ready to Read. The tips help parents build the foundation that will make their children successful readers when the time comes to learn to read.

Summer Reading is moving along very quickly. Already three weeks are over with two remaining. The enrollment is seventy plus over last year. A number of educational and entertaining special programs have already taken place. Two programs remain. They are What is Entomology? with Dr. Phil Sloderbeck of K-State Research & Extension, Finney County on Monday, June 23, at 2:30 p.m. and Juggling with Brian Wendling on the library lawn on Monday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy juggling and a little comedy too.

Teens have also enjoyed some special programming this summer. Diane Marsh of Baker Arts drew a good crowd of teens for Bug-igami. They especially enjoyed making butterflies of various sizes. Our teen volunteer fair was designed to help familiarize teens with opportunities to get their community service hours for graduation. Twelve agencies were represented and the young people went away with lots of valuable information. One remaining teen session is Tee-licious and Toolbox Jewels. This event requires reservations so that materials can be purchased. It will take place on Tuesday, June 24, at 3:30. Reservations can be made by phoning Paulina at 626-0180, ext 8 no later than noon on Monday, June 23.

You'll want to mark August 16 on your calendar so that you can attend our final program of summer. Yo-Yo SpinMaster Brent Dellinger will be at the Seward County Community College Showcase Theatre at 2:00. Brent is internationally known for his yo-yo skills. You'll not want to miss this performance.

Whether you have an interest in the new books listed above, some of our 'buggy' titles for summer reading, or any of a number of other great titles in our library, come on in and spend some quality time. See you at Memorial Library!