Thursday, December 8, 2016

Our Goal




Our library serves as an early literacy center for the youth in our community. Playing is learning, and through the different activities that we offer, we are building their confidence, writing skills, and vocal identification. The big four early literacy practices are Talk, Read, Sing, and Play. It is our goal to create an environment where we are reinforcing these and setting a positive example in our community.




We made sure that the programs and activities that occur at our library are tailored to meet the wants and needs of our patrons. Our community is predominantly white lower to middle class families, parents with children who want to have a decent variety of activities as options from their local library.




The activities we have in our 12-Month Plan for our library are meant to encourage families of all kind to see how reading can transform into something different with each new book. It doesn’t take much more than reading a book to enhance the critical skills that children need developed at an early age. Our Story Time sessions are just familiar enough that they appear like any other Story Time. But by encouraging different themes and appealing to all of our younger demographic, parents can see that there is so much more to a child’s development than reading a couple of books. The local library has a lot to offer, and it is made up of people who want to see a child grow up realizing that learning something new is never a burden.

Weekly Program Schedule



Story times are offered Monday-Friday, with special story time sessions on Saturdays. Each story time is aimed at different groups within our demographic, with each session targeting one of the four early literacy practices. 

Our weekday story time sessions are staff run, focusing on STE(A)M disciplines while enhancing the young patrons’ learning and social skills. All Story Time sessions are aimed for our younger patrons, ages 0-8, with the exception of Wednesdays where we encourage people with special needs and their families to participate with us in the sensory hour. All families are welcome to participate. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the only story times that are in the afternoon at 3:30pm while all others begin at 10:30am.



Weekly Youth Programming Schedule:

Monday (10:30am) Babies, Books & Play
Staff Run. This is a play group for parents to bring their children, read to their children, play and sing together in the story time room.

Monday (4pm) Game Night
Staff Run. This will consist of video and board games, set up for families to partake in.

Tuesday (10:30am) Read & Sing.
Staff Run. Volunteer planned with a focus on singing.

Wednesday (3:30pm) Read & Play.
Staff Run. This will be the sensory story time geared towards children with special needs.

Thursday (3:30pm) Read & Create.
Staff Run. This will be our arts based story time with a more detailed craft and/or creative lesson.

Friday (10:30am) Read & Discover.
Staff Run. The themes will focus on math, science and discovery.

Friday (4pm) Children’s Cinema.
Staff Run. Movie selections, and popcorn in the story time room.

Saturday (10:30am) Children’s Creativity Hour.
Volunteer run by Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry during the school year.

Saturday (1pm) READ Dogs.
Volunteer run. Monthly Saturday read with dogs for two hours in the children’s department. Helps build confidence and reading skills.



Mondays are a baby lap-sit called Babies, Books & Play, aimed for families to read, sing, and play together. Tuesdays are Read & Sing, this is run by staff, but organized by volunteers, with an emphasis on singing. Wednesdays are a sensory-driven session called Read & Play, made for our patrons with special needs. Thursdays put the (A) in Read & Create by having a session that puts emphasis on arts and crafts. Fridays are Read & Discover which focuses on math and science, encouraging our young patrons to learn about their surroundings and discover something new. Saturday Story Time sessions are a little different. They are run by volunteers during the school year with a session called Children’s Creativity Hour, which encourages exploration of individual and group creativity. This is organized by the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry as a volunteer outreach program. Read With Me & Ruff Readers volunteer their time on Saturdays, allowing children to read with their service dogs, and one pig. This activity encourages our youth in reading, reading aloud and helps them develop social skills by working with man’s best friend.

Story Time Plans



Lapsit__x___                                        Storyteller____Staff________________
Toddler____
All Ages___
STORYTIME OUTLINE
Theme______Babies, Books and Play: Sheep_________


ACTIVITY
TITLE/SONG/SCRIPT
EARLY LITERACY ELEMENT
Opening Song
Opening Rhyme:  Ba, Ba, Black Sheep
 Sensory Development
Welcome/Talking Point
 Today's theme: Sheep

Book
 The Great Sheep Shenanigans by Peter Bently

Activity
 Little Bo Peep and Sheep Hunt

Book
 Sheep Out to Eat by Nancy Shaw

Song
 Mary had a Little Lamb

Activity
Pass out yarn to wrap while listening to song above

Book
 Where is Green Sheep

Chant


Book
 Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

Song


Goodbye Song/Talking Point
 Closing Rhyme: Ba, Ba, Black Sheep








Lapsit_____                                        Storyteller_________Staff___________
Toddler_X___
All Ages___
STORYTIME OUTLINE
Theme________Airplanes_______


ACTIVITY
TITLE/SONG/SCRIPT
EARLY LITERACY ELEMENT
Opening Song
Welcome Song (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Discover something new, confidence, vocal identification
Welcome/Talking Point


Book
Olvina Flies by Lin

Song
We Are Flying (to the tune of Frere Jacques)

Book
Airplanes and Flying Machines by Jeunesse (629.13 A)

Song
I'm a Little Airplane (To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

Talking Point
How do Planes fly (e.g. wings shape, etc.)

Book
Violet the Pilot by Breen

Craft

Wooden Toy Planes:
Children pick out three popsicle sticks (two regular size and one small –cut shorter) and a clothes pin (already painted different colors) and glue them like an airplane or biplane.


Book
Toot and Puddle take a Leap by Hobbie

Song


Goodbye Song/Talking Point
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star







Lapsit_____                                        Storyteller_______Staff_____________
Toddler__X__
All Ages___
STORYTIME OUTLINE
Theme______Fall Season_________


ACTIVITY
TITLE/SONG/SCRIPT
EARLY LITERACY ELEMENT
Opening Song
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Confidence, Social development, discovery and science (learning about a season)
Welcome/Talking Point


Book
The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Moulton

Song
All the Leaves are Falling Down (to the tune of London Bridge is falling Down)

Book
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

Song
Scarecrow, Scarecrow

Craft
Paper Plate Pumpkin

Book
Fall Ball by Peter McCarty

Rhyme
5 little Pumpkins

Book
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

Song


Goodbye Song/Talking Point
It's time to say goodbye








Lapsit_____                                        Storyteller_________Volunteer___________
Toddler____
All Ages_X__
STORYTIME OUTLINE
Theme________Thanksgiving_______


ACTIVITY
TITLE/SONG/SCRIPT
EARLY LITERACY ELEMENT
Opening Song
Welcome Song
Cultural awareness, social development, develop reading skills through Talk and Play
Welcome/Talking Point


Book
Thanksgiving Mice by Roberts

Song
If You're Thankful and You Know It (to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It)

Book
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Marker

Poem
5 Little Acorns

Activity


Use a tree branch and leaves from construction paper to write what you are thankful for. Tie leaves to the tree

Book
In November by Rylant

Craft
Leaf Book Mark and Acorn Print

Book
Winter is Coming by Johnston

Song


Goodbye Song/Talking Point
I Am Special (to the tune of Frere Jacques)