It's National Library Week!!!

Did you know that this week is National Library Week? Created in 1958 by the American Library Association (ALA) to increase awareness of the library, it's usually falls during the second week of April.  For more information, check out ALA's official site.


We at the Merrillville Library have lots of stuff going on this week. ( All the other branches have National Library Week stuff, too, please check the calender.) On the main level, we  have a " Guess the Numbers" contests where we are asking our patrons to guess how much we have in books, CDs, etc. On the upper level, we have a photo booth ( no, not an actual photo booth, but a fun little area with props and speech bubbles where you can take a "selfie" celebrating your love of the library.) And down in childrens, we have a contest where children can guess the storybook characters featured in our Programming Room ( yes, we have a mural,and it's LOVELY!!!) and if they can name them all, they win a prize. We will also be having this Thursday, April 17, at 4 pm-


Celebrate National Library Week! Children in grades K-5 are invited to celebrate National Library Week with us! At this special program, participants will learn about how awesome the library is, hear some great stories and make something cool to take home. PLEASE REGISTER

 So come out and celebrate your library!

 Keep Reading!!

Meet Bookston!!!

 The bear in Children's has been named. Meet...
Bookston!!!

Bookston all ready for the Library Gala!!

 Matthew Garcia won the Name the Bear Contest held in April during National Library Week. Bookston sits near the counters by the front desk in the Children's Department ( and has been know to dress up once and a while, as such as this picture here!!)

 Here are some photos of Bookston and Matt. Enjoy!!

Bookston and Matt play with the Busy Box

Bookston so happy to have a name. Thank you Matt.

Bookston and Matt enjoy a book.

Bookston would also like to recommend a few of his favorite books featuring bears:

-The Teddy Bears' Picnic- Jimmy Kennedy
-A Bear named Paddington-Michael Bond
-Little Bear's Visit- Else H. Minarik
-Old Bear- Kevin Henkes

Want to find these and more bear books? Bookston recommends using these keywords-
Bears-Juvenile Fiction
Bears-Juvenile Literature
Teddy Bears-Juvenile Fiction

Come see Bookston Bear and Cecily the Giraffe in the Children's Department!!

Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds: Louie's Bookworm Bash

Today's story time for  2 and 3 celebrated National Library Week. We listened to My Book Box by Will Hillanbrand and Rainy Day Slug by Mary P. Colborn. We also learned about big and small, danced with Walter the Waltzing Worm, and make a bookmark with Louie the Bookworm.


Here is a video for Hap Palmer's song, "Walter the Waltzing Worm". To make  your  very own Walter, all you need is a piece of yarn. Enjoy!

Our last Storytime for 2 and 3 yr old for Spring 2013 is Monday, May 6 at 10 am. We'll start up again Monday,June 3 for Dig into Reading, our Summer Reading Program for this year. More details to come.

See You Soon!

National Library Week is Coming ( Plus Reminder about Tomorrow)

Next week is National Library Week ( April 14-20).This year's celebration is extra special because.... remodeling is done!!! Yes, for the past two years, we have remained open while changes were going on, inside and out! Now, except for some reorganization on the middle and upper levels ( yes the upper floor IS OPEN!!!), the changes are complete. We have new furniture ( including some cozy chairs),  a busy box for the little ones by the NEW Children's Programming Room,  a new area to rent movies and music ( middle level, to the left and all the way in the back). Even the website is being updated. Yes, it may all be confusing, but don't worry we are here to help.

So in children's, here is what we are doing-

 Celebrate National Library Week!- April 15-20 ( All Day)
To celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20, and the new Children's Services Department, special activities have been planned for children and their families.  During the week, children may pick up a passport at the desk in the department, search for Louie the Bookworm, and have their passports stamped with an image of Louie.  Children may enter the 'Name the Bear' and 'What I Like About the Library' contests.  Winners will be notified the following week.

Celebrate Your Library- Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 pm
  A Family Story Time will be presented in our new Children's Programming Room on Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30 pm.  Please register.

So come check out all the changes (and a book or two!)

Happy Library Week! Keep Reading!!

Quick reminder about tomorrow-
Due the library's private gala, we( the Merrillville Branch) will Closing at 5pm. All other branch will be remain open til 6pm.
 

National Library Week

Did you know that this week is National Library Week? Created in 1958 by the American Library Association (ALA) to increase awareness of the library, it's usually falls during the second week of April.  For more information, check out ALA's official site.

Want to celebrate Library Week?Here are some recommended books:
I Like the Library-Anne Rockwell
D.W's Library Card-Marc Brown
Beatrice Doesn't Want to- Laura Numeroff
We're Going on a Book Hunt-Pat Miller

And of course, our door is always open!

Happy Library Week! Keep Reading!!