Planning Ahead
Learn a Foreign Language Month
December is Learn a Foreign Language Month. Offering foreign language opportunities for your patrons is a wonderful way to boost your library programming and provide added benefit to your patrons. Studies have revealed that language learning supports academic achievement, provides cognitive benefits, and affects attitudes and beliefs about other cultures. Read on to find general foreign language resources as well as to discover what other programming librarians have done in their libraries. ► read more...
From the Blog
Featured Library: Dexter District Library
Now that summer reading programs have wrapped up, I found myself wondering how libraries were welcoming fall. I discovered Dexter (Mich.) District Library’s September line-up, which offers an impressive variety of programs for kids, families, and adults. ► read more...
Q&A with Barbara Ungar, 2007 Jaffarian Award Winner
Barbara Ungar is the Library Media Teacher at Central Elementary School in Wilmette, Illinois. Her program, Central School Third Grade Virtual Museum—A Day in the Neighborhood, won the 2007 Jaffarian Award. ► read more...
Feature
Early Literacy Parties in Spanish
Fiestas de Alfabetización Temprana en Español, or Early Literacy Parties in Spanish, is a featured program hosted at the King County Library System (KCLS) branches and co-funded by the King County Library System Foundation. The Fiestas are not storytimes in Spanish, Spanish language classes, or parenting classes. Rather, they are eight-week series of free weekly workshops for Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers with children ages newborn to five designed to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy and to prepare children for school so they are not at a disadvantage.
In each of the Fiestas, families are provided with information about early literacy, free books in Spanish (one book per week per family), craft materials, snacks, beverages, and the opportunity to socialize with other Spanish-speaking families. The activities are entirely conducted in Spanish by two native-speakers who are trained facilitators. Participants learn about resources offered at KCLS libraries, including ESL, Talk Time, citizenship classes, the summer reading program, and the Ready to Read program.
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Quote of the Week
Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence.—Jan Morris