This Week at Takoma Park

This is an exciting week at Takoma Park Library. Just a reminder that it is the last week to sign up for summer reading at your library. We will close registration for the summer reading program on July 31st. Those enrolled can continue to read and earn prizes into August, but new registrants will not be allowed after July 31st.

We have some wonderful programs coming up this week, the headliner being the ever popular Mr. Derby! Continue reading for some amazing news on upcoming events.

Wednesday July 29

Program: Mr. Derby's Jam Session

Time: 10:30 am

Ages: 4-8
Description: Sing and dance to classic nursery tunes performed live with keyboard accompaniment.

Wednesday July 29

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Time: 3:30 pm

Ages: 6+

Description: Join us for sketching, drawing, art techniques, and art book exploration. Participants will have a chance to win a small prize bag if their artwork is the favorite of the afternoon.

Thursday July 30

Program: O. Dibinga - Poet

Time: 4:00

Ages: Teens

Description: Come enjoy an afternoon with a creative spoken word poet.

Book Spotlight: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

What happens if you give a mouse a cookie? We found out tonight at the Takoma Park Library. If you don't know what happens, you may want to consult the book. "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff is a funny book that shows the snowball effect if you give a hungry traveler mouse a snack. The young boy has a lot to deal with when it comes to his guest, but young readers and listeners will take delight in the mouse's antics. We have a copy available for checkout at the library. There are also mutliple copies system wide so feel free to place a hold with your library card and pin number at http://www.dclibrary.org/. If you have questions on how to place a hold, please call the information desk at (202) 576-7764 or the children's desk at (202) 576-7486.

PJ Story Time Tonight: Other Great Events this Week

Just a reminder that PJ story time is tonight at 7 pm. Children ages 0-6 (with an adult) are encouraged to attend to enjoy stories, songs, coloring, and snacks. Feel free to bring your stuffed animal or lovey and enjoy the story time! We hope to see you tonight.

There are also some other great events taking place this week. Summer reading registration closes at the end of this month, so if you haven't enrolled and want to win prizes, please come in to one of our events and sign up for summer reading this week!

Tonight, July 21

Program: PJ Story Time

Age: 0-6

Time: 7:00

Description: Snuggle up with stories, songs & snacks. Feel free to wear your pjs & slippers and bring your stuffed animal or lovey.

Wednesday, July 22

Program: Kathy McMillan - Children's Story Teller

Age: all ages

Time: 10:30

Description: explore American Sign Language through music and stories.

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Age: 6+

Time: 3:30

Description: Join us for art techniques, art book exploration, drawing, and sketching. Each participant has a chance to win a small prize bag if their artwork is voted the 'favorite' of the afternoon session by staff, customers, and other participants.

Saturday, July 25

Program: Crafternoon

Age: 8 and up or below 8 with an adult

Time: 2:00

Description: Come in and make a simple story-inspired or seasonal craft. There will aslo be drawing paper for those who would rather sketch and color.

Upcoming Events: This Week at Takoma Park

We have a busy week this week at Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Summer reading programs are in full swing, not to mention we are still offering our Wednesday Preschool Story Time. In addition to special and regular programming we are delighted to offer a new program that will take place on Wednesday afternoons. I will be hosting "Art in the Afternoon" every Wednesday for the rest of this month. I will demonstrate art techniques, highlight our art book collection, and let participants free style sketch, draw, and/or paint for each afternoon session. At the end of the afternoon, staff and customers will vote for their favorite piece of art and the winner will receive a prize bag. Each participant will get a free prize from the summer reading prize box as well. We hope to see you at one, or more, of our many great programs this week.

Tuesday July 14th

Program: Lyn Dancing

Time: 6:30

Ages: Teens

Wednesday July 15th

Program: Preschool Story Time

Time: 10:30

Ages: 3-5 year olds

Description: Join us in the Children's Room for stories, songs, rhymes and more!

Wednesday July 15th

Program: Art in the Afternoon

Time: 3:30

Ages: 6+

Description: Join us for art techniques, drawing, art book exploration, and sketching. One artist will be voted the top winner for that day and they will receive a small prize bag.

Thursday July 16th

Program: Fast Freddy the Clown

Time: 1:30

Ages: All Ages

Description: Join us as we host Fast Freddy the Clown and his comedic and artistic magic.

Saturday July 18th

Program: Expressin' Out Teens

Time: 2:00

Ages: Teens

Description: Join YA Librarian Heather Petsche while she hosts a project runway contest. Bring in a t-shirt which you can then learn how to reshape and style into a whole new look.

Be Creative Saturday This Afternoon

Just a reminder that we will have a Be Creative event in the children's room this afternoon. One of my colleauges from another branch had his crafters make craft stick puppets. They turned out quite precious so I thought, why not? We have piles of jumbo craft sticks downstairs in the art supplies cupboard and this is a perfect way to use them. If you don't want to make a popsicle stick puppet, you are welcome to do some drawing or writing. I will have some art books pulled for your enjoyment! See you today at 2:00 in the children's room!

Summer Reading Continues!

The 4th of July is over, but there is still plenty of time to rock out at the Takoma Park Library. Children and teens are able to sign up for the summer reading program until the end of July. The summer reading programs "Be Creative @ Your Library" for children and "Express Yourself" for teens have some great performers and special events coming up in July and August. If you match the reading goal of six books you can earn some fun incentive prizes and also get your name entered in the raffle for the big award at the end of the summer.

Small prizes for children include inflatable guitars (which my lovely niece Amelie is showing off in the photo), sports balls, stuffed animals, light up pens, puppets, and many other things. Small prizes for teens include glitter lamps, light up pens, MP3 players, flash drives, and art sets. These cool trinkets and prizes could be yours and all you have to do is read! So whether you're into Very Hungry Caterpillars, Lions, Witches, and Wardrobes, or teenage vampires, you can earn some fun awards. Stop by the library today to sign up!

Also, for those interested, here are some upcoming events at the library this week:

Tuesday July 7th at 1:30: Janice the Griot - Storyteller for children

Wednesday July 8th at 10:30: Preschool Story Time for children 3-5

Friday July 10th: Young Adult program at 1:30

Saturay July 11th: Be Creative Saturday at 2:00 for children 8+ or younger with an adult