Youth Summer Reading is here!

The Youth Summer Reading program will be in full swing right after school ends today, Friday, May 30.    Keeping children actively reading over the summer helps them remember what they have worked so hard to learn this year and will help them start school strong in the fall. 

Babies and toddlers need to be read to, too!  Reading with babies and toddlers helps them learn the rhythm of language and the phonemic sounds necessary for learning to read, it helps build their vocabulary, and it instills the importance of reading at a young age.

You can print your reading log from our website today or pick a log up from the Library beginning June 2.  Read 3 books, hours, or days by Monday, June 2 and the first 1,000 children will get a crazy hair rubber duck.  Our Summer Reading Kick-off Party will be Monday, June 2— join us for  a wild time!

Discover Your Family History

Come to the Library and access Ancestry.com to start putting together your own family puzzle pieces. We will offer two introductory to Ancestry.com classes taught by a certified genealogist at no charge to you. 

Space is limited and registration is required, so reserve your seat today for Introduction to Ancestry.com on Tuesday, June 3^rd and Tuesday, July 8th. Both classes will be held in the evening from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. 

 We offer these classes on an ongoing basis at the Library, so if you don't get a spot this time, keep your eyes on our newsletter and online calendar for upcoming class dates. We've got it all at the Library: a perfect blend of past, present and future. Explore yours today.

The Intimate Ape: Orangutans and The Secret Life of a Vanishing Species

The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, an innovative 20,000 square-foot education, research and conservation facility, opened May 24 at the Indianapolis Zoo. If you'd like to learn more about orangutans and the people who champion them, you might want to read The Intimate Ape: Orangutans and the Secret Life of a Vanishing Species by Canadian journalist, photographer, and university professor, Shawn Thompson.  In his book,Thompson, who is passionate about orangutans, interviews primatologists, conservationists and veterinarians dedicated to protecting and preserving these magnificent, endangered primates.

Books, Hours, Days…Why are there choices for the Youth Summer Reading Program?

We reach out to children ages birth through grade 5 and we want everyone to participate in our YOUTH Summer Reading Program.  This program is especially important for reluctant readers and readers who need incentive to read!  Because our audience is so big and at so many different levels, we use these choices of 50 books, 50 hours, or 50 days to give parents power to tailor the program to suit the needs of the readers in their home.  We need the parents to help their children decide which route will be challenging, but not daunting to their young readers so that they will continue reading throughout the summer.

Here are broad examples of how you can tailor this program to your household.
Babies: We know you might feel funny reading to baby, but it is important!  Perhaps you choose to read 50 books to baby over the summer, which would be 1 book a day and would greatly benefit your child.  It would also help you make reading a habit.
Toddlers and preschoolers: Days would be a simple and attainable path.  Perhaps you read 20 minutes before bed, you can simply mark that day off on your reading log each night after reading.
Avid readers: Hours is the best option because it will be challenging and will give them a goal.
Reluctant readers: Days would be the best option.  A day of reading is only 20 minutes of reading for babies through 3rd graders and only 40 minutes of reading for 4th and 5th graders.  Choosing days will help reluctant readers make reading a habit and it does not require much effort.

Please let us know if you have any questions or if you need help determining the right choice for your family!

Youth Summer Reading at the Library!

The Youth Summer Reading Program begins right when school ends: kids can count reading time after school lets out on May 30th and read through July 26, 2014.  The reading log will be available on our website or for pick-up in the Library beginning June 2.  Keep track of your reading on a blank sheet of paper until you are able to get your hands on a reading log!

Anyone can participate in the Youth Summer Reading Program, babies, toddlers and kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade.  Teens and adults have a reading program; they just have to travel upstairs.

Children can choose to read 50 books, 50 hours, or 50 days: choose the method that is best for your reader and start reading May 30!  Kids will get a prize every five books, hours, or days of reading.  The Prize Market will open on Monday, June 9th.
When you reach 50 Books, hours, or days of reading you will automatically be registered for the Grand Prize Raffle: A Kindle Fire HD tablet.  
If you read more than 50 you may join the X-treme Reading Challenge and start a new reading log, which goes to 200.  Every 25 you read after 50 you are automatically entered into the Grand Prize Raffle drawing  again and you receive any prize from the Prize Market. 
Kids may read to themselves, caregivers can read to children, and children can listen to audiobooks to earn reading time.

We are hosting a huge Summer Reading Kick-off Party at the Library Monday, June 2nd:  There will be a Scholastic Book Sale, Clifford at the Library, Silly Safari Animal Show, I-spy special and squirt gun painting (weather permitting). 

If you have read 3 books, hours or days by Monday, June 2, you may register and receive your 3 hour prize at the Summer Kick-off Party.  From 10 AM -5 PM you can send your reading buddy down the Wild River Ride! The first 1000 children who report at least 3 of reading will receive a Rubber Duck.

Inga's Popcorn - A New Zionsville Tradition - Comes to the Library!

Inga Smith, owner and proprietress of Inga's Popcorn, a successful business located on Main Street in Zionsville, will be a special guest at the Friends of the  Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library Annual Meeting.   Adults are encouraged to attend and meet Inga on Wednesday, May 21st at 10 AM in the Hussey Room at the Library.  Inga will share her story, how she got started, her various products, and how she chose Zionsville for her business.

Positive reviews of Inga's popcorn and customer service abound online with this representative of those I found:  

"The popcorn is addictive with many flavors and size of containers to select from. Of course you'll find the favorites, Classic Caramel with or without pecans, a savory Yellow or White Cheddar Cheese or a mixture of the two with Caramel and Cheddar Cheese, aka, Chicago Popcorn Mix. A bonus here is the White Cheddar Cheese is popped in pure coconut oil and won't stain your fingers or lips. No tell-tell signs of snacking.   You'll find a bright, cheerful, and roomy shop filled with the aroma of freshly popped gourmet popcorn and nibbling admirers. Inga's is a perfect fit for this small town village  with locals and visitors alike strolling in and out, browsing, sampling, and often leaving munching on bags of popcorn. The staff is pleasant, informative and appears to truly enjoy their job."

Samples of Inga’s delicious popcorn will be available for tasting at the Friends' Annual Meeting, so this is one program you won't want to miss! Registration is encouraged via the Library's website Programs & Events Calendar at www.zionsville.lib.in.us.  See you there!

P.S.  Pssst!  The Friends of the Library are having their spring book sale this coming weekend, May 16 - 18!  Lots of great bargains on books and audiovisual materials.  Plus, crafts and baked goods will be for sale as well!  
+  Friday night, 5 - 7 PM has a $5 cover charge at the door to give you a first look at all the sale has to offer -- regular prices in effect!  
+  Saturday, 9:30 AM - 3 PM, free admission and regular prices; Saturday, 3 - 5 PM, $10 per paper grocery bag of books.  
+  Sunday, 1 - 5 PM, free admission and $5 for a paper grocery bag of books.   

All proceeds benefit the Library and its programs!

You’ll Look Amazing at Brick St. Market!

Just like Youth Librarian Jessica, you too can don silly glasses and a fabulous hat at the Library’s You Look Amazing booth at Brick Street Market Saturday, May 17. Stop by the children’s area from 10 AM to 5 PM at the corner of Pine and Main Streets and start dressing up!

What fun you can have at our booth this year! Even if shopping for unique handmade items is not for you, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to look #ZPLAmazing and have your photo taken with your friends and family! Plus, you could win our Family Gift Basket featuring a little dress-up fun and $50 Zionsville Chamber of Commerce gift certificate! Plus, lots of other goodies too (AKA: books), of course!

We have costumes for kids of all ages, including kids at heart! Drop by anytime during Brick St. Market from 10 AM to 5 PM. Look for our green canopy and our tower of costumes! Then, use our #ZPLAmazing hashtag to share your experience and encourage your friends to join you!

We’ll also have information about Summer Reading, how to get a Library Card, and the Friends Book, Craft and Bake Sale – taking place at the Library that day from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, May 18 from 1 to 5 PM. 

Wow! There’s a lot happening at the Library!

We’ll print out all of your #ZPLAmazing pictures next week and make them available for you to pick up at the Library. While you’re here, make sure your Library card is up-to-date and find out more about Summer Reading! It starts June 2 and that’s just around the corner.

China's First Emperor and His Terra Cotta Warriors

A new, traveling exhibit at The Children’s Museum in Indianapolis tells the story of the creation of the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi. Those interested in learning more about this enigmatic ruler may want to read China’s First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors by Frances Wood, head of the Chinese department at the British Library.  Wood’s well-researched book provides a concise introduction to the culture of ancient China following the unification of the seven warring states and their lesser rivals by Qin Shi Huangdi. Of special interest to those who have visited (or plan to visit) The Children’s Museum is the chapter, "Seas of Mercury, Pearl Stars and an Army of 8,000 Men," which describes Qin Shi Huangdi's tomb and the life-size pottery soldiers, chariots and horses discovered in1974.

May is Short Story Month

Last year was a good year for short stories and short story writers. Not only was master storyteller Alice Munro awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but Tenth of December, George Saunders’ latest story collection, was named a National Book Award Finalist.

In honor of Short Story Month, I’m posting a shelfie of the Library’s short story collection.  The bright yellow book facing forward is Karen Russell’s Vampires in the Lemon Grove, eight beautifully bizarre stories which Joy Williams, writing for the New York Times, calls “dazzling.”

Now, a confession. I fudged the photo so I could showcase Russell’s latest work. At our Library, story collections written by a single author are shelved at the end of that author’s fictional oeuvre, so you would find Vampires after Russell’s novel, Swamplandia!  Only anthologies (collections of short stories by multiple authors) appear in the Library’s short story collection located in the central Fiction aisle. If you're ever unsure where to find something, just ask. And, yes, the hanging bat is fake, too.

Summer Reading Count Down!

Meet Andrea, part of our circulation staff.  She is super excited because she just heard the library is giving away three Kindles this year for summer reading.   One lucky youth, teen, and adult will walk away with a free Kindle as a grand prize.  What's that you say?  You already have a Kindle or another eReader?  Then you should save your money and check out eBooks from the library's website. There is no cost to you, nothing to return and never any late fees when you borrow an eBook.  Simply bring your device to the library and speak with one of our reference librarians.  We are happy to show you how to download material for free from our website. 

Whether you are listening to an audiobook or reading a book, electronically or otherwise, whether the book belongs to our library or another library, you are still reading.  Keep track of what you read starting Friday, May 30th.  Come into the library the week of June 2nd and we will gladly get the entire family signed up for summer reading.