Can it already be time to think of holiday baking? If you want to enter the library’s Edible Construction Extravaganza it is! Building on eight years of success with “gingerbread house contests,” this year the library is making the sky the limit (but you need to be able to transport your entry to the library) and the only restrictions are (1) that all building materials must be edible, and (2) entries should not exceed 18”deep by 18” wide. Transport and display will be much more successful if your entry is on a firm base. We found last year that we had to move the entries several times as more came in, and it was definitely hazardous to move a heavy building that had only a flimsy cardboard base.

The categories this year will be:

• Entry made from a kit, including enhanced designs
• Original design, age 8 and younger
• Original design, age 9-12
• Original design, age 13-17
• Original design, age 18 and older
• Original design made by two or more persons

Entries will be accepted December 5, 6, and 7 from 9:00 a.m. (noon on Sunday) until one-half hour before closing (4:30 on Saturday and Sunday and 7:30 on Monday). They’ll be on display until just before Christmas and winners will be selected by public voting, which will take place December 9 through 15. Prizes will be a $25 gift card for each category. Be sure to put viewing the Extravaganza on your list of things to do during the holidays. Last year’s entries were a joy to behold.

A performance at 10:00 by the perennial preschool favorite, Mr. Puppet, will add to the fun at the storytime Fall Party on Thursday, October 29.

Put the library on your calendar for Halloween fun on Friday, October 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Bring the kids in costumes for the contest, but come for lots of fun and activities. Build a spooky house (all building materials provided) and enter it in the contest. Play games, do crafts, and enjoy the refreshments. All free, for all ages. For more information contact Rosa Garcia, 512-930-3623.

Scenes from Halloween 2008

Lynn Tyson and Rich Vosburgh, who, through their work for the Library Foundation have been helping the library for many years, recently made a special gift in memory of Lena Marie Havins, a 3-year-old from rural Georgetown who died this summer in a tragic automobile accident. Thanks to their thoughtfulness and generosity, the children’s room now has a beautiful play kitchen, which has been installed along the windows facing 8th Street. The day he opened the boxes and set everything up Rich also went out and purchased dishes, cookware, and plastic food to make the play kitchen fully functional. Lynn and Rich wanted to perpetuate Lena’s memory in a happy way that other children could enjoy. This area will be known as Lena’s Kitchen and we hope that parents will share with their children the story behind the gift.

Storytime programs provide children with opportunities to expand their worlds through books and to learn social skills in a group setting. The success of the library’s programs for toddlers and preschool age children depends greatly on the cooperation of parents, children, and the readers. You can contribute to this success in the following ways:

• Before you arrive, discuss with your child what to expect.
• Teach your child about library manners –a quiet voice and no running or jumping inside the building.
• Arrive on time. Late-comers can easily distract a child’s attention.
• Please take children who become restless away from the storytime area.
• Set a good example by remaining attentive throughout the storytime.
• We encourage active parent interaction and participation during storytime.

During August our children’s staff takes a break from programming while they clean up the fallout from summer and prepare for fall. This is when Ms. Rosa winds up her book ordering for the fiscal year and Ms. Kathleen gets her fall storytime schedule planned. On Thursday, September 3, at 10:30, there will be a special musical storytime session for all ages. Come and enjoy the music, rhymes, and playing along with percussion instruments.

After that we’ll resume the normal division of storytimes by age groups. Lapsit storytime, for children who are not yet a year old and their caregivers, is on Mondays at 10:00. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 the Wobbles (1 and 2 year olds) meet for short stories and a coloring page. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 is when Story Pals meet (age 3 and older). Their stories are a bit more complex and they do an easy craft project. And, if you can’t make the Thursday sessions, there is a Friday session at 10:30 for all ages. The storytimes the week of September 9-11 will be about library fun and appropriate library behaviour. We hope to see you and your children then.

Each month, on the last Tuesday, Miss Wendy teaches American Sign Language to anyone who is interested. Her presentations are designed for children, but will help anyone learn the basics of signing.

The simplicity and gentle colors and textures of Jacob Bunch’s photo of a bowl of eggs appealed to many of the people who judged the children’s photo contest. Although the judges identified many other photos that they thought were prize-worthy, Jacob’s received the most votes. Ms. Rosa was so delighted with the quality of photos she received that she said she wished she could have given a prize to every child who entered. Jacob received a $100 gift card for his photo.

The children’s photo contest originally was part of the library’s effort during the spring to get some new photos of the library building and of people reading in the library. While many adults entered that contest, there were no children’s entries, so Ms. Rosa decided to run the contest again during the summer. She also dropped the requirement that photos be either of the library or of people reading. The judges were pleased, though, to see several excellent library photos among the entries, which will be added to the online collection of photos that the adults entered in the earlier competition.

Click here to see other entries in the contest. Shown are all that were submitted as readable files.

• A picnic in Chautauqua Park (one of Georgetown’s hidden jewels, just a few blocks west of the library ) was the scene on Tuesday morning of the “finale” for the little kids. Sullivan’s Ponies provided two ponies and a donkey for the kids to make friends with and ride and the Farm Zoo brought a barnyardful of gentle animals to caress and cuddle. Although the lines were long, kids and caregivers were patient, and the park’s big trees provided welcome shade in which to enjoy Ms. Rosa’s usual generous refreshments.
• The Bubble Lady started the Wednesday finale in great style. She began with little bubbles but ended with bubbles so big that people could stand inside them! Then the Sun City Sundancers livened things up with music and dances that inspired the crowd to want to learn how. And the whole time the entertainment was going on, volunteer Sunshine Flower painted little hands, arms, and faces with the design each child requested. As usual, Ms. Rosa didn’t let anyone leave hungry–60 pizzas were consumed, along with gallons and gallons of ice cream.
• The whole purpose of the library’s summer reading program is to keep children reading over the summer. Judging from the online logs that the kids kept, there should be some good readers returning to school. While the library staff believes that every child who reads during the summer is a winner, nods were given to three kids: Abby Kirk, who read the most books overall; Raul Garza, who read the most hours overall, and Cody Hullum, who read (or listened to) the most books of anyone younger than 5. See those three smiling faces at the end of the final week photo album!

Click here to see photos of these events.

• Tuesday morning Coach Robyn came back to keep the youngest library-goers moving. The adults got into the action, too. Moving is good for everyone!
• At the same time, Ms. Laura helped the older kids make puppets out of wooden spoons. Check out the pictures of some of the finished products–lots of imagination!
• There’s not much flash to Jungle Jim Klinger, but he can tell you worlds of information about such things as tarantulas, snakes, and lizards. He helps kids learn to respect these animals, not fear them.
• On Thursday Dan Gibson kept things lively with his banjo music and entertaining stories about Texas.

Click here to see photos of the week’s events.

• Devo the (Princess) Clown kicked off Week Six of the summer program by entertaining the little kids on Tuesday morning. She brought animal puppets with her and recruited members of the audience to help with the fun.
• The older kids assembled with Laura Snyder Tuesday morning to make sit-upons to use on their Texas excursions. Their designs were unique and brightly colored.
• Hey Lolly Productions brought toe-tapping, heel-kicking music to the crowd on Wednesday. Lots of kids got into this act!
• On Thursday a large audience got to see Tim Cole’s reptilian friends. This was an opportunity to get up close and personal with lots of critters many people usually give wide berth.
• Thursday and Friday the tweens made jewelry with Linda Wilde. On Thursday they rolled fabric beads and on Friday they created necklaces from them. See them modeling their beautiful handiwork!

Click here to see pictures from all of the events.