Library Blog
Posted on Sun, May 17, 2020 - 08:00pm
Although we all have new routines now, things are still so different from “normal” that it’s good to slow down and have some quiet time once in a while. Coloring might be just the ticket! You don’t need any special materials; any kind of paper will do, and you can use crayons, markers, or colored…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Fri, May 15, 2020 - 08:00pm
Currently Watching: Escape to the Country
Watcher: Alyisha W.
Image retrieved from: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-to-the-Country/dp/B07FTTQQKJ
I was scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day when I stumbled upon an intriguing list of resources, collected by author Stephanie Burgis. I…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, May 14, 2020 - 08:00pm
Letter writing has become a bit of a revived craft over these past months as people are looking for creative ways to connect with loved ones near and far. It’s also a great practice for kids learning how to organize a letter, work on their handwriting, or just learn a life skill (stamp goes on the…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Tue, May 12, 2020 - 08:00pm
Suzanne Collins (born August 10, 1962, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.), is an American author and screenwriter, best known for the immensely popular The Hunger Games trilogy. A film adaptation of The Hunger Games - for which Collins wrote much of the screenplay - enjoyed enormous commercial success…
Category: Youth Services, Teen
Posted on Mon, May 11, 2020 - 08:00pm
Hopefully you’ve all been following along with our virtual storytimes lately! Although we aren’t reading books right now, you & your little one can enjoy the fun routines, songs, & rhymes of your favorite storytime group, and then check out ebook copies of titles we’ve recommended. One…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Sun, May 10, 2020 - 08:00pm
My hairdryer broke recently. It’s not a big deal; I almost never use it. But now what do I do with it? Well… a few times a year, we run a “take apart table” at the library – a chance for kids to look under the hood, so to speak, of common electronics and devices. We’ve dismantled a computer, a…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Fri, May 08, 2020 - 08:00pm
Source: Pictures of Money (CC BY 2.0)
Finances can be a difficult topic right now, but there are many areas of positive news for us to find. Here in this series of blog posts, Mary Silva will share some links and information that show some of this financial positivity.
Financial Well-Being…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, May 08, 2020 - 08:00pm
Book Review: Followers by Megan Angelo
Reviewer: Alyisha W.
Cover design by Tosello, J.R.. Art design by Craig, E. (2020). Image retrieved from: https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/winter-books-roundup-2020.
Genre:
Fiction -- Adult, Realistic/Contemporary (with hints of…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, May 07, 2020 - 08:00pm
Mother’s Day is right around the corner (psst! It’s this Sunday, May 10!). If there is ever a time for a homemade card for someone who helps keep your household together, it is now! Or maybe you’re looking for a fun way to brighten someone’s day, or something different to mail to a loved one you…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Tue, May 05, 2020 - 08:00pm
Feeling anxious? Isolated? Sad? Everyone’s feeling a little out-of-sorts right now. People might have recommended that you try some yoga, take a walk, or just have a nice bath… all of which are great, but it’s not that easy for everyone. Here are some websites that have techniques for self-care and…
Category: Youth Services, Teen
Posted on Mon, May 04, 2020 - 08:00pm
Make a joyous noise! You’ll be doing your baby’s brain good. Of course, singing is also fun! Songs make language accessible and memorable for young children. (See our last SINGING post about using new words in old tunes, particularly when trying to get children to do a task.)
Children’s songs and…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Sun, May 03, 2020 - 08:00pm
If you’ve somehow missed it, here’s your reminder to check out our virtual storytimes! It’s been hard not being able to see our favorite smiling faces every week, but we’re trying to keep your kiddos engaged with some online entertainment instead. If you’re a storytime regular, you’ll find a lot of…
Category: Youth Services, Kids, Story Times Online
Posted on Thu, April 30, 2020 - 08:00pm
Spring has been teasing us for quite some time now, but one of these days it will stick! It’s on us to create entertainment for our kids these days, so how about taking your family outside for some good old-fashioned backyard fun? These games may not look like traditional “literacy,” but chances…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Tue, April 28, 2020 - 08:00pm
This school year isn’t ending the way we all hoped it would, but it will end soon enough. Do you already know what you want to do when you leave high school? Whether you do or don’t, you can check out these free online college courses to get a feel for what to expect in college and find out what…
Category: Youth Services, Teen
Posted on Mon, April 27, 2020 - 08:00pm
In this regular series of posts, Jimmy Pires gives you the latest information on both online and console-based games!
What We're Playing, May 5, 2020
You wake up in an unfamiliar place. You look around. The only thing you see is a faint light illuminating the stone wall, given off by a half burnt…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Mon, April 27, 2020 - 08:00pm
Have a conversation with your child today. Boy, that sounds easy… maybe? Talking at or to someone isn’t the same as talking with someone. Obviously young children aren’t the best conversationalists, but in order for them to learn how a conversation works (back and forth interaction), and to hear…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Sun, April 26, 2020 - 08:00pm
Snuggling together for a family movie is a great way to spend some of these rainy days! We like to occasionally host Family Movies at the library, but you can do it at home too. You probably already have a streaming service – or at least a few favorite DVDs – to choose from, but did you know you…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Fri, April 24, 2020 - 08:00pm
Still waiting for that OverDrive hold to be ready for you? Are you looking for a book that you can start reading right now? It's time to give Hoopla a try!
Hoopla offers ebooks and audiobooks - along with music, movies, and more - with no waiting! If you're new to Hoopla, head over to our…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, April 24, 2020 - 08:00pm
Currently Reading: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Reader: Alyisha Wasilewski
Image retrieved from: https://www.kobo.com/ie/en/audiobook/little-women-162
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Bibliographic Citation: Alcott, L.M. (1868; 2011). Little Women (K. Reading, Narr.) [Audiobook…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, April 23, 2020 - 08:00pm
This month we’re introducing you to Margaret Peterson Haddix. Ms. Haddix’s work features adventure and mystery, creating riveting, suspenseful stories for older elementary and middle school readers that you won’t want to put down.
Her brand-new book was just published on April 7 and isn’t even in…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Tue, April 21, 2020 - 08:00pm
Are you a comic lover? Check out these 19 webcomics that you can read right now!
A personal favorite from this list is Heartstopper by Alice Osman. This graphic novel is available in physical form, but for up to date chapters visit https://tapas.io/series/Heartstopper. A new chapter is published…
Category: Youth Services, Teen
Posted on Mon, April 20, 2020 - 08:00pm
In our virtual storytimes this week, we talked a little bit about our essential workers, from grocery store employees to mail carriers to healthcare workers. You can honor them by encouraging your children to take on these roles in dramatic play!
You’ve probably heard that play is a child’s work.…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Sun, April 19, 2020 - 08:00pm
We’re all missing our annual April break library tea party, but you can host your own tea party at home! There are usually three parts to our tea party: games, snacks with tea, and planting a seed.
First, dress up in your best tea party clothes! Find your fancy necklace, bowtie, gloves, or hat, and…
Category: Youth Services, Kids
Posted on Thu, April 16, 2020 - 08:00pm
Welcome to the second episode in Ames Free Library's new video series, “Stepping Out.” These short, Library-produced nature videos will, we hope, enrich your outdoor experiences and increase your understanding of the local environment. In a time of social distancing and significant stress, walking…
Category: AFL Videos
Posted on Thu, April 16, 2020 - 08:00pm
Using these really fun cards from Barefoot Books, take the following elements to write a story of your own! Work on your writing skills by creating a story (make sure it has a beginning, a middle, and an end!), or share a story out loud with the whole family as a bedtime story!
Better yet, have one…
Category: Youth Services, Kids