June, 2006
OFF THE SHELF
West Winfield Library News by Ruth Rowe
www.midyork.org/westwinfield

First, we want to thank the voters for supporting the library's proposition in the recent vote. We will use the $2191 generously given to us, to offset the cost that the increase in minimum wage had on our budget. Thank you so much for the support.

This is the time of year I start pushing the importance of children reading in the summer. We will take a breather from our regular programming this month as we put our efforts towards keeping children in our area reading or being read to over the summer. It is so important that reading continues during the summer. A few minutes a day is all it takes. You probably have heard it before but a child who doesn't read or isn't read to over the summer will loose one third of the previous year's progress. This lose is accumulative so as a senior in high school they could be four grade levels below what they would have been with summer reading. I will let you know our calendar of events and how we will include children that cannot come to our special programs. You will be able to get a sneak peak of our theme for this year at the Firemen's Fourth of July parade on the eighth.

A wonderful surprise awaited us at our last Board of Trustees meeting. Several ladies from the Winfield Quilt Guild were there to join us. I don't want to say our meetings are boring but I generally don't see people lining up to come to one. These wonderful and talented ladies presented us with a quilt to be used as a fundraiser. The quilt has more than 1680 pieces of fabric and is in a Nine-patch square called Scrappy Shade. This beautiful work of art is on display at the library. Pictures do not do it justice so come on in and take a look. Tickets are available at the library at $5 each or 3 for $12.

Recently, we had a workshop for children and their parents on Internet safety. This program was developed by the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children. If you missed it because you were lucky enough to be out in the thunderstorm watching you child play baseball you can still get information at their website at www.netsmart.org. There are sections for adults, children and teens. The section for children has games and information on how they can keep their personal information and themselves safe. The teen section has real life stories from teens and safety tips. With summer coming and the possibility of more children spending more time on the Internet we need to give them the tools to keep safe. Don't let a child in our area become a statistic. Also, if there is an interest to have another program for children, teens or adults, we will have one. So, give us a call if you are interested.

For the next two weeks we will be giving our annual First Graders tours. Some of the information they will hear applies only to our library such as where you would go to check-out or return a book. They will also learn information that applies to public libraries in general so they can use it at any library they may use. So, if you see twenty or so children entering our building it isn't because there is a run on the library because of an impending book shortage but that they are after information.

The book group for adults will start a new title "Sea Glass" by Anita Shreve. The youth book group has just finished "Wringer" and will start "The Secret Garden" for their discussion. Both titles can be picked up at the library. Don't forget to give us a call or drop off information for any event you would like to put on the community calendar. To see it on the web go to www.mmcsd.org. Put your mouse pointer over Community and click on Community Calendar. A reminder, we are closed for on Saturdays in the summer. Hope to see you in the stacks.

5/10/06
OFF THE SHELF
West Winfield Library News by Ruth Rowe
www.midyork.org/westwinfield

I am finally getting an article in on time! The last few months have been so full of activity by the time I get a chance to write a few paragraphs the month is over.

The first thing I would like to mention is the upcoming vote. I am sure if you have read the recent Panorama, you saw the 2nd proposition is for the library. It looks like we are asking for an increase of $43,000 but we are NOT. We are asking for an increase of $2,191. The increase in minimum wage will cost the library a little more than that. The $43,281 is the total budget amount of the West Winfield and Bridgewater libraries that is funded by the Mt. Markham taxpayers. Propositions have to be worded in a particular way to be legal. It would be simpler for the proposition to read, “The West Winfield Library is asking the voters of Mt. Markham school district for an increase of $2,191 to cover the cost of the increase in minimum wage.” Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be legal or allowed. I hope that clears up any misunderstandings. If you still have a question just give me a call at the library.

The community calendar is up and running on the web! Thanks to the Mt. Markham school district for all their help. There are two ways to find it. One is to go on our website and click community calendar and the other is through the school’s web site to community. To get an event up on the website just call the library with the details. We will need the date, time, place and event. We still have the large paper calendar in the library for those without Internet access. Call with those events so we can get them up for all to see.

We have another author coming to do a book talk and signing. You may know Bruce Rubin from Millers Mills. He also writes books as Vincenzo Spiaggi. Bruce is a native of New York City, a geologist, journalist, fine arts photographer and screenwriter. He has published two works of fiction. We will of course have refreshments. The date and time is Tuesday, May 9th at 7:00 pm.

Our annual spring book sale will start on Thursday, May 11 at 9:30 am until 5:30 pm. The following day, May 12, will be the Book and Bake sale. Come early for the best selection. It will start at 12:30 ­ 5:30 pm. On Saturday, the very popular ‘Books by the Bag’ sale will be held from 9:00 am ­ 12 noon. Donations of baked goods may be dropped off on Thursday or Friday morning. The money from this sale will go to our equipment fund.

There are many more things going on in May so stop in and pick up a calendar of events. I also want to pass on condolences from many libraries in the Mid York system to the families and friends to the teenage members of our community that we have lost. The library will soon have several new books on grieving. We are very sorry for the tremendous loss.

9/7/05
OFF THE SHELF
West Winfield Library News by Ruth Rowe
www.midyork.org/westwinfield

As School starts, the library will take a much-needed deep breath after all the activity during the summer. October will begin many programs again. We have always tried to provide free or low cost programming for adults and children. Attendance has been a problem for many of our programs. We often hear people say they are interested in one program or another but not attend. One of our programs that is in danger of disappearing is our preschool Story Time. We are changing the day and time in hopes that this may help people attend. Story Time will be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 1 pm. It will start in October and continue for the months of November and December. A decision shall be made then to continue or not. Two retired school teachers who donate their time and energy in planning and operating this great program run the Story Time. It lasts about 45 minutes and includes stories and activities for preschoolers. It is so important that young children get a variety of literacy experiences at a young age for success later in life.

October will also restart our Middle Readers Book Group. This is a group of readers that read books around the 5th & 6th grade level. The group enjoyed the summer program so much they wanted to continue throughout the school year. We will meet on the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month at 3:30 pm (right after school). We will discuss the books we have read and work on book related projects.

Can you picture yourself on a DVD? Many of our area youth will be making and editing a DVD on the 1st & 2nd Saturdays of the month from 10 -12 noon. This program will start in October with the poems of Shel Silverstein and is a young adult program for students around the 7th and 8th grade age group. Sign-up is needed, as there are a limited number of people able to participate.

Have you seen the sample of crafts made by the children in our Book Crafts program? There are bookmarks, folded books and puppets. Beginning in October, crafts for children in 2nd - 4th grades will be on the 2nd Wednesday each month starting at 6 pm. Crafts for children in 5th grade and up will be on the 4th Wednesday each month at 6 pm. The craft focus in the next several months will be crafts that could be used as gifts. There may be a small charge of a dollar or 2 for some of the crafts.

We will again be open on Saturdays from 10 -12 noon after Labor Day. I would also like to thank a few more people for supporting our library during our annual fundraiser. Many thanks to Joan, Buttignol, Jean Gates, Philip & Susan Graham, Terry & Rachel Gras, Harriet Gigliotti, Alice Hiteman, Loren House, Katherine Huxtable, Anne Kantor, Joe and Barb Kehoe, Dr, Donald Knapp & Gates-Cole Associates. I cannot thank these people & businesses enough for their support. More names will follow in the next article. I also want to congratulate our Summer Reading Program weekly winners. They are Kenny Davis, Rachel Di Pasqua, Rebecca Flint, Elijah Knecht, Darryl Neff, Rachel Rommel, Tim Rowe & Brittany Seelman. We are still collecting time sheets. So if you have read 8 hours or more get those sheets in to collect your prize! The first newsletter has been printed with poems, short stories & book reviews from area readers. You can pick up a copy at the library.

I almost forgot to mention Banned Book Week on September 25 - October 1. This is a week libraries set aside every year to make people aware of book banning. We believe in the freedom to read. I may not personally care for a particular book but as an American you should have the right to read it if you want. We will display many of the books that have been banned in the United States. Many of the titles will surprise you and you may have read many of them. There will be a poster contest for elementary and middle school students with the theme "Freedom to Read". Please put your name, grade & phone number on the back of the poster. Prizes will be a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. More details on the contest are available at the library. See you in the stacks.

8/3/05
OFF THE SHELF
West Winfield Library News by Ruth Rowe
www.midyork.org/westwinfield

This summer has been a little more humid and a little warmer than what we are used to. I apologize to all our visitors. I know the library has been a bit uncomfortable. We are working on ways to resolve that problem.

There is so much to write about this month that I may have to split this article in two parts this time. We had a wonderful time with the Flea Circus. We were just 'itching' to see more. It was the first program we had for Summer Reading that had more adults then children and I think they enjoyed it more than the children. The Youth Book Group has been doing lots of things at their Monday meetings. They have read "My Side Of The Mountain" and "The Trumpet Of The Swan" and have started "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" and "The Red Pony". Some of the projects they have worked on are a power point presentation, posters and book reviews of the books they read. They also made book boxes. The books they read are around middle school level and anyone can pick up a book and join in on the group. We will keep meeting at 11 am on Mondays until August 8.

We also have reading fun at 2 pm on Tuesdays with some of the younger children. So far we have had fun with nature sounds and dancing. On the last day, August 9th, we will have a puppet show at 2pm. So far, we have had five children read eight hours or more this summer. Remember to keep filling out your time sheets and turn them in before school starts to get your prize.

Last year we had Edee Burke join us in making different types of books. Pop-ups, folding and secret books were among the different types that were made. She will back with us again on Thursdays from 4-5 pm. We will be doing some different types of activities and if there is enough interest she will stick around during the school year.

Our Annual Fundraiser has started. Some of the titles that we have ordered to buy are audio books on speaking Spanish, French, German and Italian. We are also planning on buying a DVD on learning to drive and golf. I want to thank the people that have been so generous this year. This is only a partial list; more names will follow. Many thanks to Eleanor Allen, Kelly Allen, Roberta Bonafield, Richard & Barbara Brown, Evelyn Bunce, Margaret & George Catlin, Jean Chafee, Elma Clark, Nyla Clark, Jo Ann Deller, Nick & Genie DiPasqua, David & Tina Drymond, and Shirley Evans.

7/13/05
OFF THE SHELF
West Winfield Library News by Ruth Rowe
www.midyork.org/westwinfield

We want to thank everyone who helped with our May Book & Bake Sale. It was a great success and the proceeds will go to helping us purchase equipment this next year. Without all the many hands that helped and all the wonderful baked goods it would never had been so successful. A special thank you to all the voters that supported us [on the Mount Markham ballot]. So many people will benefit from your generosity. Thank you so much!

Now that summer is in full swing, we are busier than ever at the library. Our Summer Reading Program has started and before we get to the events I would like to talk about how important summer reading is to our youth. Many people do not realize how important it is to keep children reading over the summer. It is surprising how a simple thing like reading for a few minutes can help a child in their future scholastic achievements. If a child does not read over the summer, they can lose reading levels. These losses accumulate over the years and by 6th grade a non-summer reader can be 18 months behind their peers that do read over the summer. So, what should they read? Anything! Books, magazines or the backs of cereal boxes, it doesn't matter. Studies have shown that it is not as important what a child reads as long as they read or get read to. So parents and caregivers help the children in our area by helping them find something they enjoy reading and make sure they read! Fifteen minutes is a good time frame to start and if they enjoy it, they may read longer.

As you can imagine summer reading is big here at the library. For our middle readers (around middle school age), we have a book group that will meet on Mondays from 11 - 12 noon starting July 11. There is a choice of titles the readers can pick from. We will supply the books that they read at home and we meet for an hour to discuss and work on various projects. They don't have to sign-up and we understand if they cannot come every week. Some of the projects we plan on working on this year are, a book box, buttons, bookmarks, a book and a power point project. It takes about two weeks to finish a book before we start another one.

We have a flea circus coming on Tuesday the 12th at 2 pm. Flea circuses were a big attraction during vaudeville so this will be rare entertainment for young and old. On the other Tuesdays in July, we will have 'Reading Fun & Crafts' at 2 pm. There is no sign-up but the craft projects will be on a '1st come 1st served' basis. We rarely ever run short though.

We know all children may not be able to come to our scheduled programs but they can still participate in summer reading. Every week we draw names for a weekly prize. All they have to do is stop in and sign up. They can also pick a prize for 8 hours of reading. Children can accumulate time reading or being read to and fill out a reading chart. Reading charts are available at the library.

We are planning to put together a newsletter with poems and book reviews. Anyone, adults or children can submit a book review, poem or even very short stories. Submissions can be given to any of the library staff or put in the drop box. Please put your name or phone number on it so if we have a question we can call you. We reserve the right not to accept submissions that the library feels would be inappropriate.

We hope you all have a wonderful summer and we hope to see you in the stacks!