AAUGH! (as Charlie Brown would say)

It's the last week before school starts!
And it's the last week for the iPad Raffle! Have you bought a ticket yet for a chance to win an iPad II? The raffle ends this coming Friday, August 26.

A summer wrap-up note:
- Please come in by September 1 to pick up your GPS art projects from the summer reading program, as we need to reorganize and clean the department for our fall programming. We have enjoyed displaying these fabulous creations, however we need to dust our shelves! If you would like your project back, August 31 is the very last date that we can guarantee it will be here.

A couple fall preview notes:
-Save the date for our International Cooking Challenge--Monday, September 19, at 6 pm. Sign up is necessary. Just like last year, our cooking challenge will feature local celebrity judges, a bonus-points ingredient list, prizes for the winners, and a yum-yum-yummy good time! And just like last year, our Cooking Challenge is the kick-off to our great, big book sale to benefit the Children's Department program fund.

-Save the date for our Fall Storytime Registration--9:30am, Wednesday, Sept. 21, for East Longmeadow residents (Thursday, Sept. 22, for non-residents). Stay tuned for more specifics.

Enjoy your last days of summer vacation!

Say Goodbye, Say Hello . . .

Goodbye 2010! Please know that the library will be closed Friday, December 31, & Saturday, January 1.

Hello 2011! Here are some fun things coming up in the New Year. . .

January 2011 Reading Groups for all ages! Please email, call or come in to sign up.

• For Grades 1 & 2 - Tuesday, Jan. 25 @ 4pm with Ms. Kay. Please register for this time of theme-based stories and activities.
• For Grades 3 & 4 (or any 39 Clues fans) - Book Discussion: 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, Tuesday, Jan. 18 @ 4pm with Ms. Jenn. Copies of the book are available in the Children's Department.
• For Tweens (or any Gordon Korman fans) - Book Discussion: Schooled by Gordon Korman, Monday, Jan. 31 @ 4pm with Ms. Jenny. Copies of the book are available in the Children's Department.

Winter 2011 Story Times! Registration for E. Longmeadow residents starts Wednesday, Jan. 5 @ 9:30am; non-residents may register starting Jan. 6. The schedule:

• Monday @ 1pm, Preschool Story Time with Ms. Jenn for ages 3-1/2 to 6
  
• Tuesday @ 10am, Preschool Story Time with Ms. Jenny for ages 3-1/2 to 6
• Wednesday @ 10:30am, Parents & Twos with Ms. Cindy for ages 2 to 3-1/2 with caregiver
• Thursday @ 10:30am, Parents & Twos with Ms. Cindy for ages 2 to 3-1/2 with caregiver

And we also have:

• a drop-in P.J. story time for ages 3 to 6 on Wednesdays @ 6:30pm. Come when it works, and be sure to wear PJ's!
• Crawl Talk, Fridays @ 10am, a drop-by social time for parents and infants. Babies crawl, parents talk.
  
• The Great Create! Monday, Jan. 24 @ 4pm with Ms. Jenny. For grades 3 - 6, please register.Think 3-D. Think shiny. Think Giacometti. (Who's that? Look him up.)

And one last bit of happy new year news. . .
MS. CINDY WILL BE BACK ON TUESDAY! YAY!

It's Almost Time to Sign up!

Fall programing is nearly here! All of our great story times, book groups, art clubs, game groups, and more are starting in October. The official sign up date is this Wednesday 9/29 for East Longmeadow residents, and 9/30 for everyone. Sign up starts right as we open at 9:30, so be sure to be here or give us a call to assure you spot in one of these great programs. So, what can you sign up for? Here's the list:

Story Times:
Monday 1pm Preschool Story Hour: (3 1/2-6 years) Special story and craft hour with Ms. Jenn. Sign up is for the seven week session starting October 4th.

Tuesday 10am Preschool Story Hour: (3 1/2-6 years) Special story and craft hour with Ms. Jenny. Sign up is for the seven week session starting October 5th.

Wednesday or Thursday 10:30am Parent's and Two's Story Hour: (2-3 1/2 years) Special story and craft hour with Ms. Cindy. Sign up is for the seven week session starting October 6th and October 7th.

For older children:
Chess Club, Wed. 10/6 4pm-5pm: (3rd-6th grade) Come join Ms. Cindy for a fun game of chess!

The Great Create: Print Power, Mon 10/18 4pm-5pm: (3rd-6th grade): Join Ms. Jenny for this special art workshop that explores various printing techniques. All supplies included.

"N.E.R.D.S. (national espionage, rescue, and defense society)"
Book Club, Tue 10/19 4:30-5:30pm: Pick up a copy of Michael Buckley's book and join Ms. Jenn for an exciting chat about the spies in this great book!

Scrabble Club, Wed. 10/20 4pm-5pm:(3rd-6th grade) Come join Ms. Kay for a fun game of scrabble!

Scare up Some Fun!, Fri 10/22 4-4:45pm (1st-2nd grade): A special HALLOWEEN activity time with Ms. Kay.

Tweens Book Club, Mon 10/25 4-5pm (5th-6th grade): Join Ms.Cindy in reading the very popular "Kingdom Keepers" by Ridley Pearson.

And, don't forget about our non-sign up activities:

Crawl Talk Fridays at 10am: (6mo-2years): A special social time for babies and their caregivers. First meeting October 15th.

PJ Story Hour Wednesdays at 6:30pm: (31/2-6years): Special story and craft hour with Ms. Kay. Come in your pajamas!! First story time October 6th.

We look forward to seeing you (or hear from you) on the 29th or 30th!