April 2012 Newsletter
National Library Week is an annual celebration of libraries, sponsored by the American Library Association. This year National Library Week is April 8th-14th. Stop by the library and celebrate with us; we will be featuring a number of special events at the various Chemung County Library District branches.
Win a Kindle Fire during National Library Week
 The holiday season may be over, but the Chemung County Library District is still in the spirit of giving.
As part of the celebration of National Library Week and to help promote the district’s expanding eBook collection and library card sign-up, the Chemung County Library District is offering library cardholders a chance to win a Kindle Fire.
Library patrons can enter for a chance to win between April 9th and 14th, when they check out materials at any branch.
“The district has a growing eBook collection and we want to make sure residents know about them, while at the same time encouraging library card sign-up.” District Director Ronald Shaw said. “We have started a test program through our Horseheads Branch where patrons can check out a Sony Reader, Nook, or Kindle Touch. Once we have a chance to evaluate the program we may expand it to the other branches.”
The library’s eBook collection contains everything from current bestsellers to the classics. The eBooks are available through the library website.
District patrons can receive a drawing ticket each time they check out materials. Only one entry per day is permitted. Library district residents who don’t have a library card can sign up for a free one by bringing in proof of residency to the library.
“Since we’ve started offering eBook downloads through our website, the questions we’ve fielded about eBook readers have increased tremendously. We are also looking into downloadable music for our patrons. One service available, Freegal, would allow cardholders to download songs from the Sony Music catalog of artists. The best part, after downloading, users keep the music.”
eReaders at the Horseheads Branch
 Check out an eReader at the Horseheads Library! Beginning April 2, 2012 the Horseheads location only will be offering three devices for patrons over the age of 18, with a Chemung County Library card in good standing and a valid driver's license, to try out at home. The devices will be a Sony Reader Wi-Fi, a Nook Simple Touch and a Kindle Touch. The readers can be checked out for two weeks and will be pre-loaded with a variety of classic titles, and patrons can choose to download free titles from Overdrive, accessed through our website. The readers are a gift from the Horseheads Library Foundation. Also, on Tuesday, April 10th from 2:00PM to 4:00PM we will offer an eReader training session. This will require registration so please phone the Horseheads Library at 739-4581 or stop in at 405 S. Main St. Horseheads, New York. There will also be an eReader training session held at Steele Memorial Library on Monday, April 9th from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.
Attention Genealogists - 1940 Census
The 1940 census will be released on April 2, 2012. CCLD will not get it on microfilm as we did in the past due to financial considerations, but it will be available to our patrons through our subscription to Ancestry.com which can be accessed at the library.
Kids Can Read Down Their Fines
Attention children 15 years old and younger: In celebration of National Library Week, you will be offered the chance to read down your fines!
For every 15 minutes spent reading in the library, we will deduct 50 cents from your fines. Come and sign in anytime Monday through Saturday at any CCLD branch, starting April 9th through April 14th. Read at the designated area and upon sign-out, we will calculate and remove the fines.
Changes to Circulation Department at Steele Library
In an effort to make your library experience easier there are going to be some changes at the Steele Library starting Monday, April 2, 2012. The Customer Service desk will be the place to renew materials, book the meeting room, or pick up an item on hold. Customer Service is the desk to the left of the Circulation Desk with the high walls as you enter the building. You will still return materials and check materials out at the Circulation Desk where you do it now. If you are still unsure where to go for assistance, just ask any staff member and they will be happy to help you find your way.
Events at West Elmira Branch
 -The Home-schoolers group meets every Wednesday morning from 11 to 11:30AM. We have a group of around 15 lovely kids from 3-12 years in age who enjoy the sessions every week. The subjects for these sessions range from entertaining to educational - including literature, Science/Math and social topics like organic farming. For more information on the upcoming session please call Ms. Ahnece at West Elmira library at 733-0541 or visit us at http://ccld.lib.ny.us/elmira_west.htm.
-The members of West Craft group made beautiful bereavement buntings and blankets for Arnot's neonatal/perinatal care. Their work was so well appreciated that they now have a fresh request for smaller and shorter blankets! Anyone interested in participating in the making of these blankets can contact Mrs. Mary Louise Fisher at West Elmira library for more details.
Upcoming events
- Furry friends program - April 2nd, 6:15-6:45PM, for all ages. Local SPCA will be at the West Elmira library with a furry friend or two and give us tips on how to care for and love these special creatures.
- Children's book week - May 7th - 12th. Button bookmark and bracelet craft for kids on Monday, May 7. Kids have a choice of gifting either the bracelet or the bookmark they made during the craft session for their mom at a Tea party to be held on May 12.
Race to Van Etten Library for Greyhounds!
 Sat. April 7 at 2:00PM
Celebrate "National Adopt a Greyhound" and "National Library" Month at Van Etten Library! The Finger Lakes Adopt a Grey organization will be visiting with their greyhounds so you can meet, pet, and learn all about this wonderful breed. (And maybe adopt one for you very own!) Kids will enjoy a reading of the greyhound story "Dasher" and copies of the book will be for sale.
 Also happening at Van Etten is Be Creative@ Van Etten Library on Saturdays at 11:30AM; an open studio for all creative adults (or those who want to LEARN an art or craft). All creative projects are welcome. Local artists such as Faye Crance & Anne Marie Zwack facilitate at regular intervals. The group is sponsored in part by a grant from !nspire, the S-VE community group.
Where's Waldo at your library?
 In celebration of National Library Week, CCLD-Big Flats will be looking for the elusive Waldo. For years children and parents alike have spent countless hours looking for Waldo within his books. He is hidden somewhere new in every scene. Have you found Waldo yet? Join us on April 10th at 6PM when we will go on a scavenger hunt in search of Waldo. He's here somewhere, but just where is he hiding?
With Earth Day approaching, the third grade students from Chemung Valley Montessori School are studying the works of Keith Haring. As part of their curriculum they will write about what they can do to help the earth on Earth Day. They will then create an inspirational poster in the style of Keith Haring to illustrate their writing. From that they will create community art to be display as a mural on the windows of CCLD-Big Flats. Come see the Earth Day Mural on April 20th.
Story Stew at the National Soaring Museum!
Story Stew storytellers will be at the National Soaring Museum on April 10th from 3:00 - 4:00PM. Ages 8-12 will be entertained with Readers' Theatre stories in which those in attendance can participate!
National Bookmobile Day
 Held on the Wednesday of National Library Week since 2010, National Bookmobile Day
recognizes and celebrates the role of bookmobiles and direct-delivery outreach services in
fulfilling the mission of libraries. An integral and vital part of library service in the United States for over 100 years, bookmobiles have delivered information, technology, and
resources for life-long learning to Americans of all walks of life.
The third annual National Bookmobile Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. In Chemung County, there will be three opportunities to visit the CCLD Bookmobile: 10AM at Big Flats for a tour and story time will follow at 10:30, 3:30PM at Steele Memorial Library with a tour, and 5:30PM at Horseheads Library with a tour. Games and prizes will be featured!
Do you know how many Bookmobiles are in NY state? The answer to this question will register you for a chance to win a prize! Stop by the bookmobile during National Library Week to enter.
Big Battle, No Blood! - Coming to Steele Memorial Library
 Chemung Valley Chess Club members will challenge YOU in a one-day Chess Battle at the Steele Library on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 9:00AM - 5:00PM. All ages are welcome. Registration is required by calling 733-9173.
Challengers will be required to stay the entire day and are asked to bring their own chess set and clock, if possible. Every player is guaranteed 6 games. Pairings will be determined by individual skill levels. Trophies at all levels will be awarded at 4:30PM, after the end of the last game. Lunch will be provided.
This CCLD Chess Challenge is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Friends of the Steele Memorial Library.
More at Steele for Adults
If chess isn't your thing, maybe you'd like to attend our flower arranging workshop for adults on April 10th at 2:00PM, with Suzette Morgan, owner of the Nectar Floral Studio in Elmira. Participants will learn the techniques of creating a simple spring centerpiece. Also, we will be having an eReader training session on Monday, April 9th at 2:00PM, for anyone interested in learning more about checking out free library eBooks.
For more information about these and other events, visit the CCLD Events Calendar: http://ccld.lib.ny.us/calendar.htm. |
