New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

"Which book have you enjoyed that makes you appreciate the freedom to read?"

Write your answer in one or two pages and send it with this entry form by April 9, 2007. You may win a Barnes & Noble gift card and be honored at a gala reception at the Carle Place store on Thursday April 26, 7:30 pm. The age categories are: 5-12 years old, 13-17 years old, 18+ years old.

If you have any questions, call Mr. Ludemann at 377-6112 ext.103 or email him.

This is the Third Annual Essay Contest sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Nassau County Library Association

You should have received your Spring 2007 newsletter in the mail. If not, or if it has somehow gone missing since it passed through your hands, you can now view it on our website or print it out on your home computer. A link to the full copy can be found on the adult page and age appropriate pages for young adults and for children can also be found on their respective webpages.

Are you looking for information about animals? Is the library closed?

Here are some reliable sources available online 24 hours a day, courtesy of the West Hempstead Public Library. To access all of these databases, go to: www.whplibrary.org/research/

and click on

K for Kidsearch

G for Groliers

E for Electric Library

Hint: Try searching the animal name both in singular and plural (e.g., cat or cats). Here are some more tips for using these research tools.

Come by the Children’s Room to see some of the new picture books, such as
the charming "Hurry! Hurry!" by Eve Bunting,

or the super silly "Scallywags" by David Melling,

Or check out the unusual and arresting "Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick.

And don't forget to see what “oldies but goodies” we’ve contributed to the Book Sale going on now in the Community room.

SIGN UP beginning June 1 for the Summer Reading Club 2007

Children from ages 3 to entering grade 5 in September are invited to stop by the Children’s Room to register. Read together at home or read on your own, then “report” to us June 25 through August 2 for prizes, guessing games, and more!
If you are away, write us or email us.

You can still sign up for the Summer Reading Club - Get a Clue @ Your Library - if you are at least three years old and up to fifth grade in September. Come by to see some good books you can read or have read to you - and win a prize or prizes. August 2 is the deadline to complete five books. You can still participate if you are away. Stop by and see how!

We are scheduling the second Crazy Craft Time for kids who are four years old up to fifth grade (in September). Make masks, rain sticks, paper animals and more - on Friday, July 27, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Just drop in, No registration required.

Kids 3, 4, or 5 (but not in kindergarten) are invited to a drop-in storytime at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays in September. Participation is first come, first served.

Come for stories, songs and a craft to take home...on Tuesdays, September 4, 11, 18, and 25.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Any child who is getting a library card for the first time is invited to come by the Children's Room for a small gift.

Let's help to keep our students safe. Join the AAA campaign to remind drivers to:

* Slow down when driving near schools, bus stops and playgrounds
* Take special care to obey lower speed limits in school zones
* Make sure to stop for school buses with flashing red lights
* Never use a handheld cell phone while driving - it's the law
* Drive carefully in bad weather

Parents should help children stay safe by identifying the "Best Route to School" and teaching children to follow AAA's pedestrian safety tips.

Presione Aqui para ver el documento "La Mejor Ruta Para Ir A La Escuela" en español.

Visit the Children's Room at the new West Hempstead Public Library anytime this week through November 18, enter your name and you will have a chance to win a book!

Have you noticed? Children's videos can now be found

--Yes!--

in the Children's Room.

Please stop in and browse the collection.
Remember, you may borrow 4 videos per library card at one time.

Our entire children's language collection now has its own area in the new library. Please ask a children's librarian to guide you to this informative collection.

We feature beautifully illustrated picture books in both English and Spanish, English and Italian, and English and Hebrew. You will also find instructional kits with books and cassettes to get your child learning a new language. We have the popular Muzzy Language Courses that teach children French, Spanish, ESL, Italian, German, and Chinese. We also have dictionaries in Russian, Hebrew, Spanish, and Italian.

And please, help us get the word out about our Storytime in English and Spanish, on December 5 & 12.

Hora de Cuentos
en íngles y español, dos miercoles: los 5 y 12 de deciembre.

For more information, call 481-6591 and ask for the Children's Librarian.

In our new library we have created two rooms for the purpose of tutoring. Both the tutor and the student must register at the Information Desk on the second floor and present identification prior to using these rooms.

The tutoring rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but preference will be given to West Hempstead patrons. West Hempstead patrons also have the privilege of reserving a tutoring room 24 hours in advance. Rooms may be used for a maximum of 3 hours in any day.

Please call 481-6591 and ask to speak to a reference librarian for more information about library guidelines regarding the use of these rooms.

Patrons have been seeking a quiet zone in the library for many years. At last, we are able to accommodate this need in our new building.

We have designated the space on the second floor outside the Tutor Rooms and in the Periodicals (magazines and newspapers) Section as our Quiet Study Area. Here you will find individual study carrels similar to those you find in university libraries, large tables where you may spread out your materials, and easy chairs where you can sink in and get comfortable.

Patrons in this area must maintain reasonable silence. Conversational noise is allowed only within the Tutor Rooms. No audible tutoring may take place in the Quiet Study Area. Groupwork is likewise banned from this area and should be carried out elsewhere in the library. There are areas on the first floor to accommodate these needs.

Persons making noise or in other ways disturbing the Quiet in the Study Area will be instructed to leave this area immediately.

Please respect our "Silence is Golden" policy.

Please join us on Sunday, January 13, at 1 p.m. when we dedicate the Children's Program Room in the new library to the memory of Merrill Skrocki and unveil a mural, by artist Ginny Sena, designed to evoke Mrs. Skrocki's interests and spirit.

Merrill Skrocki was an important member of the Children's Room staff from June 1994 until February 2002. She was a natural assisting children and finding the right books. She lead storytimes, established our popular Summmer Reading Club guessing game, and was editor of the library's newsletter.

We remember her love of children's literature, her quiet presence, her sparkle, and her humor. The new mural in the Children's Program Room reflects her ability to capture her storytime audience with a good book as well as her love of frogs. Kids who came to her storytime will remember "Freddy."

CRAFTY POEMS (Grades 3-5)
Miss Stefanie will be here on Thursday, April 17, 4:30-5:30 p.m. to guide children who would like to learn clever things to do with words.