Nitro-Joe Returns to WOW us with Science!

Nitro-Joe "wowed" an audience of over 200 on Thursday, June 25 with his science show of "Fire and Ice."  Readers were introduced to chemical properties of solid, liquid, ice as well as chemical and physical changes...along with lots of fun and laughs!

Next week's Thursday Event will be Ronald McDonald.

It's Cool at the Library!

Sugar and Zipper love visiting with everyone who comes into the library annex.  Sometimes after lots of excitement and visits they just like to chill out and have a good nap!  

While Sugar likes to curl up next to or inside her house (usually with her nose outside the door in case something interesting starts to happen), Zipper prefers to perch on top of her house to snooze. She has even been known to roll over in her sleep and fall off!

Illinois Raptor Society Program

If you were not at the library today, you missed some great sights!  The Illinois Raptor Society from Decatur brought in a read tailed hawk, a falcon, a vulture, and an owl.  The hawk was really beautiful and the vulture was really ugly.  

They told us how to tell a raptor from other birds.  (Since you missed it, I guess you will have to look it up when you come to the library.  The handler explained that a BOOK got him interested in learning all he could about the outdoors.)  

They also explained how tiny computers were able to record a falcon's dive at over 200 miles per hour.  Wow!  We even got to watch the owl fly from one handler to the other, then eat its lunch of a dead mouse.  (Ugh!!!)  Did you know that you cannot hear an owl fly?!

If you missed this Thursday Event, be sure to register for next week when Nitro-Joe, the Science Guy will be here to do all of his wacky science experiments!

Toddler says the library is great!

This young man was enjoying some quality time with Mom visiting the library last week.  Many of our young parents use activities to meet and interact with other parents while their children enjoy story time or other programs.

Are you new in town?  You might try coming in to a program with your kids to meet other families in town!  

Are You Reading on the Wild Side This Summer?

Lincoln Public Library District is still accepting signups for Summer Reading Program 2009: READ on the Wild Side. Teens have two extra reading challenges for the summer, including a video contest and Wii reading.

Hurry in today and sign-up so that you can be part of the fun this summer.

Why I Love the Summer

I think the reason I love summer is because of all the friends we get to see every week. All of the Youth Services Staff works hard to find just the right book to fit for our young readers. Most of the time I think we are successful, even with the large numbers that visit every day.

A while ago as I was helping a young man look for a book and we were discussing different titles he looked at me and asked, "Do you read all these books?" Of course the answer was "No, not ALL."

But I do try to read many of the books on our shelves, especially new titles that may be the rage among our young readers? Why? It helps me fit a book to a particular reader. Reviews are a great start, but actually experiencing a book by reading it lets me have insights to the story that I cannot get by reading a review.

Secondly, it is my job. Wow! How's that for awesome?

Last, but not least, I love books! I love the pictures that pop off a page and make me laugh or cry. I like stories that transport me to another country or time. I love books that give me information that I did not know before. I love stories that can transport me to imaginary worlds and bring me safely home again.

Madcap Puppets First Thursday Event

Madcap Puppets were at Lincoln Public Library on June 11.  What fun to hear our favorite Aesop's Fables told by this talented duo.  If you have not signed up for a Thursday Family Event yet, be sure to check the website calendar to see who will be coming!

Summer Reading Program 2009

READ on the Wild Side is off to a great start.  As of the close of the Library today we have signed up over 430 readers from ages 6 months through teens.  That is the reason I have not had time to add to the blog recently.  We are soooo excited!!!

Remember, if you have not come in to get your logs and information it is not too late!  Do it soon so that you too can get in on the chance to win prizes, read fantastic new books, and have loads of fun with us this summer.