Beginning on October 13, I will be working at a new library. All the kids programs, including story times, will go on as planned. If you have any questions or requests please speak to Roz Lipomi. All the teen programs will be canceled until a new librarian is found. All the special kids programs during the breaks will go on as planned as well.

I’m going to miss all of you. I had a couple of moments that I couldn’t stop crying. You are all very dear to me, and you’ve made these past five years go by very quickly.

Thanks everyone for making my job so fun and wonderful!

Recently, I created a yahoo calendar for the library, which is here. One of the highlights to this calendar is that I can plug in peoples’ emails and let them know when programs are about to happen.
I know that for me personally, if I’m handed a flier I’ll often lose it or forget to look at it. However, emails are much handier for me, since I’m on my computer quite often. If you think this format would make your lives easier too, let me know! Just send me an email with your name and the names of your children. You can send your emails to: ckyle@libraryweb.org If you have teenagers I will be doing the same for them too. Let me know! As always let me know if you have any questions or concerns and I will try and answer them as soon as possible.

I’ve had a suggestion box in the kids area for a couple of months now after hearing about the success the Webster Public Library was having with their suggestion box. I have quite a few suggestions now, so I thought I would post them with my replies.

Star Wars Books
We have quite a few Star Wars books in our series section, however I’ll see if I can get some more, maybe some easy readers.

Books on pet hermit crabs: what to feed, expect, etc.
I’ll see what I can do. We do have one but I’ll look for some more.
Hermit crabs by Sylvia A. Johnson j595.3 JOH

A Play
I’m assuming that you want to put on a play. Maybe we could try that over the winter when its cold and no one wants to do anything.

Books or DVDs on rollercoasters
I thought we had something, but we have absolutely nothing! Shameful! I’ll start looking soon.

Any music by Putumayo, anthologies and guides to different types of music: folk, Spanish, Latin, Caribbean.
We have a special homeschooling collection in the library. We worked with three other libraries and created special subject kits. Each library took a different topic: Chili has history kits, Greece has language arts kits, we have music and art kits, and Webster has science kits.
We have a world music kit that contains:
Let’s Make Music by Jessica Baron Turner
Putumayo: One World, One Kid (CD)
Putumayo: World Playground (CD)
Putumayo: World Playground 2 (CD)
Putumayo: World Playground (CD & Guide)
World Party (CD)

Pokemon Comics
Yes yes yes. You and many other people want pokemon books. I have been looking, but many are out of print. Don’t you worry, I’ll keep looking.

Black Lagoon books
By black lagoon, do you mean the series “Black Lagoon Adventures”? These ones seem to be an easy chapter book series. There are also other ones, such as “The Librarian From the Black Lagoon”. I haven’t purchased these yet because they only came out in paperback, and picture books don’t last long in paperback. I’ll try and get a couple of the chapter books, but as I said, I don’t buy any picture books in paperback.

DVDs
Well… we don’t have tons of DVDs, but we do have DVDs. If you could let me know some specific DVDs that you would like me to order, that would be very helpful.

Comfy chairs, a slide, and staff name tags so that I could greet them properly.
I really wish that we could buy comfier chairs and a slide, but we absolutely don’t have room. We hardly have room for what we do have. I hate to think what will happen if someone in a wheelchair has to get around in the kids area. The chairs and beanbag chairs we have right now are absolutely uncomfortable for adults. As to the nametags, I will bring it up to the new director.

Poisson Rouge (Red Fish) Excellent website for pre-k age and other younger kids, non-commercial.
Interesting website, I’ll have to check it out. If we get the internet (a very blocked version) I will add it to the list of recommended sites.

Smart Girl’s Guide to Babysitting
Are you talking about the American Girl series? I looked on the American Girl site, and I couldn’t find a smart girl’s guide, but I did find this title.

Elephant books – little
Do you mean picture books, books about real elephants?

I want more toys
We have quite a few toys over there right now. They’re quite a mess now, so I don’t know that adding more toys would be a good idea. If someone donates a good, large toy box maybe someone else will donate some more toys.

Story times and shows at night (6-7pm)
I only work one night a week (Thursdays) and I do a program at 4 pm. I have tried doing story times at night and no one has shown up. I’ve had to do story time for the knitting group (of women) that used to meet at the library. I will do a story time on Saturday, November 1st at 10:30 am. If that goes well, I’ll try to do more story times on the Saturdays that I work. As a working mom, I completely understand that you want to have programs in the evening, but unfortunately, they go unattended. Maybe I could host a working moms group (sort of like the Moms Club for stay at home moms) and that could give me an idea what people would want.

hi Peoppl
Hi yourself!

Angelina Ballerina Books
I just purchased every single Angelina Ballerina book available. They’re all by Katharine Holabird, so look up H in the picture books area.

I think you should have a “walk the chalk” day and they win prizes who’s is better at least 16 people get a prize
That sounds like a good idea! Maybe I’ll do that in the spring.

Books:
Night World by L.J. Smith
Ultra Maniac – A Shojo Beat Manga
Your wish is my command. 🙂

Would like the library to have story times for kids whose parents work, i.e. after 5 pm or on weekends. Thanks.
As I said above, I’ll try a Saturday one and if that goes well, I’ll do more.

I think the knitting group should make stuff and donate it.
Good idea! I’ll talk to the group.

A musical show.
Done! We had Tom Sieling August 15th at 2pm. We had 47 people, which was a reasonably good turn out.

A fish tank and a club that will feed the fish.
Done!… if we get a new library and the new director thinks its a good idea.

I would have a magician come and I would get more books on CD.
We had magician Bill Rahn on July 23 at 11 pm. We have an account with a audio book company and each month I buy two more books on CD.

Pokemon chapter books
As I said way up above, I’ve been looking for Pokemon books, unfortunately many are out of print.

How to books on ballet
I did buy a couple of new ballerina books besides Angelina, ask me and I can help you find them. I’ll look for some how to books soon.

Books by Kimberly K Jones, especially Sand Dollar Summer
Okay!

Snacks
I do try to have snacks at most of my programs, but unfortunately it would get too expensive to just leave snacks out all the time.

Summer Reading Program
I did have a summer reading program that I thought was really good, but I don’t think many other people liked it much, since we didn’t have a really great turn out. 😦

Books on birds
We do have quite a few bird books, but I can look for more… or maybe I could do a bird book display. Actually, I did do a bird display when we had Wild Wings come to the library this summer. We had 150 people! It was crazy!

I WOULD DO A LEGO BUILDING CONTEST (this person wrote it big, I think they really want a contest!)
That would be a great idea. I’ll have to work out all the kinks, such as how to get the legos, where to put them etc.

Make a baby play areea.
If only we had the room. Sorry. No can do.

Programs for homeschoolers
As a public library, I feel it would be wrong to do programs that target very specific groups, however all me Thursday family programs are mostly attended by homeschooling families. I have been asked to do some more library education programs so maybe I’ll try and do that in the spring.

Sing songs paint pictures
Interesting… maybe we could do a finger painting program and play music that everyone can sing to?

Spiderman books – LOTS!
Just like the Star Wars and Pokemon books, I’ll try and get on that. Its hard though because many of the Spiderman books are geared to teenagers and up. I’ll try and get more Spiderman books.

A Pet Show
If we had space outside the library that would be a great idea. I’d hate to bring in too many pets because other people might be allergic. Of course I also want to do a Therapy Dogs program… which has dogs and would need to be inside. I’ll see what I can do.

Popular Mechanics DVDs for kids
I do have a couple, but I’ll get some more… like the roller coaster one.

More folk music in the library:
Kathy Reid-Naiman (Canadian artist)
Tickles and Tunes
More Tickles and Tunes
On My Way to Dreamland
Smooth Road to Londontown
I’ll see if they are available in the place I have to buy all my music from.

I think should add girl stuff to it
To what?

Bill Wallace books:
Trapped in Death Cave
Danger in Quicksand Swamp
We have Danger in Quicksand Swamp but we don’t have Trapped in Death Cave so I’ll get that one.

We also received two great pictures that I’ll make copies of and post!
Thanks for all the suggestions! Keep them coming!

I haven’t once chosen just an author and not a specific book or series, but I’m making an exception here. Dick King-Smith has written oodles of books about animals and we have quite a few!
Here you can find more information about the author.

Here’s what we have at Parma. This should keep you guys busy for a little while!

Ace, the very important pig
All pigs are beautiful
Babe : the gallant pig
Billy the bird
Charlie Muffin’s miracle mouse
Chewing the cud (biography)
Clever lollipop
Cuckoo child, The
Funny Frank
Golden goose, The
Harry’s mad
I love guinea pigs
Invisible dog, The
Lady Daisy
Lady Lollipop
Martin’s mice
Mr. Potter’s pet
Mysterious Miss Slade
Nine lives of Aristotle, The
Pretty Polly
School mouse, The
Sophie in the saddle
Sophie’s Tom
Spider Sparrow
Stray, The
Swoose, The
Three terrible trins
Toby man, The
Water horse, The

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Poor George just can’t seem to bark, but he sure can make some other noises. Help him find his bark!

From Goodreads:

When George’s mother tells her son to bark, he meows. She patiently explains that “Cats go meow. Dogs go arf. Now, bark, George.” But he quacks! Then oinks. Then moos. Becoming less patient and more exasperated, George’s mom takes him to the vet, who reaches deep down inside the errant pup, and …

you’ll have to read it to find out!

My son and I read this quite a bit. It especially makes a great bed time story because at the end you can see all the twinkling fireflies. This would be a great book to read before bedtime in the backyard. After you’ve gone firefly catching of course!

From Goodreads:

Many of Eric Carle’s books begin with a small creature being born just as a great yellow sun rises. This time the hero is a firefly, and the inimitably Carle-ish cut-paper orange-and-yellow sun is setting. The firefly buzzes off in search of companionship, but keeps following other lights by mistake–a candle, a flashlight, a lantern–and these in turn are all leading in the direction of a fireworks display. Finally, the lonely firefly finds the friends it is seeking–a dozen or more other fireflies. This is one of a series of large (11.5 by 8.5 inches) format Carle books with a mechanical twist: in this case, the firefly’s new group of friends start to flash (from tiny yellow bulbs embedded in the book) as you turn the last page. (The battery is replaceable.) (Baby to preschool) –Richard Farr

From Goodreads:

Kate DiCamillo’s first novel Because of Winn-Dixie won a Newbery Honor in 2000 for the no-nonsense charm and wisdom of its down-home young heroine, Opal. Also set in Florida, The Tiger Rising is more of a short story in scope, the tale of 12-year-old Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel where he lives with his dad. The tiger is so incongruous in this setting, Rob views the apparition as some sort of magic trick. Indeed, the tiger triggers all sorts of magic in Rob’s life–for one thing, it takes his mind off his recently deceased mother and the itchy red blisters on his legs that the wise motel housekeeper, Willie May, says is a manifestation of the sadness that Rob keeps “down low.” Something else for Rob to think about is Sistine (as in the chapel), a new city girl with fierce black eyes who challenges him to be honest with her and himself. Spurred by the tiger, events collide to break Rob out of his silent introspection, to form a new friendship with Sistine, a new understanding with his father, and most important, to lighten his heart. This novel is about cages–the consequences of escape as well as imprisonment. The story and symbolism are clear as a bell, and the emotions ring true. (Ages 9 and older) –Karin Snelson

From Me:

I was so excited when this book finally came into the library in July! I immediately had to find a child to read it to, and somehow I managed to find two! Then when I came home I read it to my son Jack five times in a row. Later on that night I read it to our owl puppet and Jack two more times. We love this book!
I will admit that I like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus a little more, but that one’s my all time favorite!

From Goodreads:

He really, really, REALLY wants one. He’ll take good care of it! What’s the matter–don’t you want him to be happy?!

I know that you’re barking mad for some animal books. If you check out non-fiction in j590-599 you’ll find tons and tons of animals who can’t wait to tell you about themselves.

Here’s our special program for the week:
August 5 at 11 AM – Wild Wings Live Bird of Prey Demonstration
What is a raptor? Why and how are they different from other birds? The audience will be introduced to different families of raptors – an owl, a hawk and falcon. Learn the natural history, biology and physical adaptations of birds of prey. With many hands-on items we explore size, feathers, flying, hunting styles, beaks, feet and talons.

Things you can do:

• Go to Seneca Park Zoo
• Discover a new animal… or make up a new animal!
• Get one of the library bird/bug identification guides and find some in your backyard
• Make your own zoo. Find stuffed animals to be zoo animals or ask your friends to dress up as animals. Make lots of noise (as long as your parents say okay) and make sure to feed your animals!

Things you can do if you have a pet:

• Go for a long walk with your dog
• Pet your dog or cat
• Sit for a portrait with your pet
• Make special treats for your dog or cat

From Goodreads:

Limpy’s family reckons humans don’t hate cane toads, but Limpy knows otherwise. He’s spotted the signs: the cross looks, the unkind comments, the way they squash cane toads with their cars. Limpy is desperate to save his species from ending up as pancakes. Somehow he must make humans see how fabulous cane toads really are. Risking everything, he sets off on a wart-tinglingly dangerous and daring journey to . . . the Olympic Games?

This is the epic story of a slightly squashed young cane toad’s quest for the truth.