Activities in the Children's Department

Two-Year-Old Story Hours: Story Hours for children age 2 and an accompanying adult will be offered starting February 19. Registration is required to attend these free five-week sessions. Normal residents can register beginning on Tuesday, February 5, while residents outside of Normal may register beginning Friday, February 8. Classes will be offered on Tuesdays at 5:45 & 6:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 9:30, 10:15 and 11:00 a.m. The programs include songs, stories, and large motor activities.

Lapsit Storytimes: Storytimes for children ages 0-23 months and an accompanying adult will be offered starting February 18. Registration is required to attend these free five-week sessions. Normal residents can register beginning on Tuesday, February 5, while residents outside of Normal may register beginning Friday, February 8. Classes will be offered on Mondays at 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. The interactive programs include songs, fingerplays, books and baby games.

Valentine Make-It Take-It: Preschoolers through 6th graders accompanied by an adult are invited to drop by the Discovery Room between 10am-1pm Tuesday, February 12, to create a variety of valentines to enjoy yourself or share with family and friends! No registration is required – hope to see you there!

Tuesday Tales: Preschoolers and their families are invited to the Children’s Department Book Nook area every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. to enjoy stories, from old favorites to new discoveries. The stories are geared for ages 3-5, but everyone is welcome. No registration is required for this free storytime. Tuesday Tales will be held through April 29.

Family Story Hours: Join us in the Community Room at 10 a.m. Friday & Saturday, February 15 & 16 for stories and activities. No registration is required; bring a blanket for sitting on the floor. Family Story Hours are designed for preschoolers age 3-5 and their families. Younger children may require extra help for some of the activities, but are welcome to attend. If you plan to bring a large group (more than 10 children), please contact Tori or Jennifer in advance so that we can be sure to have enough craft supplies on hand.

Caudill & Monarch Book Award Voting: Voting for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award and the Monarch Award will take place February 1-26 in the Children’s Department. Students may vote for their favorite book from a list of 20 nominees if they do not vote in their school. 4th through 8th graders are eligible to vote for the Caudill award if they have read or listened to at least 3 of the listed titles. Kindergartners through 3rd graders who have listened or read at least five of the listed titles can vote for the Monarch Award. Copies of the nominees are available at the library.

For more information about these and other activities, call the Children’s Department,
454-4668

Brian Chase Named NPL Administrator

Brian Chase has been chosen as Normal Public Library’s new Administrator, succeeding Robert Wegman, who retired after 35 years of service on January 30.

Chase was the Circulation Services Manager at Bloomington Public Library. He will begin his new duties on February 25. Watch our next newsletter for a profile of Brian…

Scholastic Book Fair, Just in Time for Valentine’s Day!

Do you need a Valentine’s Day gift for that special child? Help NPL earn books to give away for the 2008 Summer Reading Program! Visit the Children’s Department during the week of February 4 to purchase books and other items at the Scholastic Book Fair. All proceeds are used for books to reward children who have completed the 2008 summer reading program requirements. The hours are:
Monday, February 4: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday, February 5-7: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, February 8: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 9: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

‘Rosetta Stone’ No Longer Available
After March 31, 2008

Because of a decision by the Rosetta Stone company, the popular Rosetta Stone language-learning program will no longer be available to public libraries for use in online database offerings. Therefore, Normal Public Library will no longer be able to provide online access to Rosetta Stone after our current contract expires on March 31, 2008.

We have another excellent language-learning instruction system called Pimsleur, which Normal Public Library cardholders can download to computers or MP3 players through NetLibrary on our home page (www.normal-library.org). Pimsleur offers instruction in 39 different languages. For more information, contact Jeanne Moonan at 452-1757.

Movie Matinee for Adults at NPL

NPL’s Movie Matinee series continues this month at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 21. The featured film features Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in a 1942 classics set in an African city during World War II. Bring a friend and enjoy the afternoon – free, and snacks provided!

Teen Advisory Council Activities

NPL’s Teen Advisory Council will meet February 14 & 28 at 4 p.m. in the Community Room. On the 14th teens will enjoy a Valentine’s Day party. On the 28th, members will create pass-around stories. All teens in grades 7-12 are welcome, and snacks will be served. For more information, contact Linda Hutchins at 452-1757.

Lincoln Award Voting This Month

Voting for the Abraham Lincoln Award will take place from February 10-28 in the NPL Teen area. High school students may vote for their favorite book from a list of 20 nominees if they do not vote in their school. Readers are eligible to vote if they have read at least four of the listed books. All nominated book are available at the library for checkout.

Donate Your Used Books

The Friends of NPL are happy to accept donations of used book throughout the year.
Bring them to the library marked ‘for the Friends book sale’. Please DO NOT leave your book donations at the off-site book drops!! All donations for the sale must be brought in to the library. Thanks!