Since the last Kids’ Corner, which was penned in August, the complexion of the children’s library has changed. Gone are those who created a noisy hubbub daily as they clustered around the computers to play their favorite games. In their place are serious homeschoolers completing their assignments and those not yet in school learning computer use under a parent’s watchful eye. 

Summer reading shirts have been distributed as the last hoorah for our summer program, which was deemed a huge success.  Preliminary planning is already taking place for next year’s summer program. Be sure you plan to take part!

With thoughts turning to autumn, Thursdays find little ones coming in to story times and to check out their supply of books for mom or dad to read to them in the next week.  Lots of toddlers moved up into the preschool group with the start of story times, which turned that into a nice sized group. There’s always room for new children, however. Little ones are truly needed in the toddler group (ages 19 to 36 months), as  well as in infant time (ages birth to 19 months). It is very important to a child’s development to be read to from an early age, so do stop by and give one of our story times a try. Check our website or stop by the children’s desk for a schedule.

A special offering is coming up on our regular story time day. On Thursday, September 16, we will be combining our morning story times into one session to accommodate a special Mexican Independence Day program being conducted by library board member Olga Cisneros. All ages are invited to this special story time, which will be repeated at 6:30 that evening. There will be stories and songs both in English and Spanish, as well as a related craft. This is a good opportunity to learn the history of this event. Traditional dress is welcome. This is the second year the library has offered this program.

September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Month. Mrs. Cisneros is also spearheading a special program to be offered on the library lawn on Sunday, September 19, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The community is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy a performance by the Zumba dancers and a presentation by the Liberal High School Key Club. Also on hand will be the SCCC/ATS HALO club. As of this writing, plans are still being formulated for this event. Check media sites for developing information, but do mark your calendar and come on out for this fun event.

Another activity unfolding at the library was made possible by once again securing a Smart Start of Southwest Kansas grant which allows partnering with Kansas Children’s Service League Head Start to bring their classroom students to the library five times during the school year. This past week marked the beginning of that program as one class in the morning and one class in the afternoon made their way to the children’s library. What a fun group of children. With some returning students from last year and some generally outgoing new youngsters, there wasn’t any of the usual hesitancy and shyness normally exhibited in a new situation such as coming to the library. It’s going to be a good year working with those students.

The library is once again partnering with Parks & Rec, and K-State Research and Extension Seward County to provide Snack Attack twice monthly at the Rec Center. If your child goes to the Rec Center after school, check into this opportunity for your child to learn some nutrition information in a fun format and have a healthy snack as well.

The first story time session ends with the Mexican Independence Day story time September 16. Schedules are now available for the next session which will begin on October 7 and will be seven weeks long. Generally story times do not take place when school is not in session; but story times will be continuing throughout the Thursdays of October in spite of the school schedule.

Patrons are encouraged to check out our website to find out about upcoming programs and other valuable resources. Phone calls or in-person questions are welcome as well. We want patrons to get from the library that which they are seeking. Second graders who come to the library on tour are always told that the library belongs to them. Do make full use of this wonderful possession, and we’ll see you at Memorial Library!