Youth Services at the Library and Beyond

October is a good time of the year to remind families that their local library has much to offer.  No tricks, just treats!  Sedona Library youth services staff strive to provide children, teens, and caregivers with books and experiences that encourage lifelong learning.  Every day, families read, talk to friends and peers, and learn while they play, inside the beautiful library building. Some families have also discovered that the Library is a valuable resource beyond its physical walls.
 
Youth services staff connect with kids at many different locations throughout the community. We promote the Library’s STEAM programs at Verde Valley SciTech events, provide parenting tips at community egg hunts, bring reading challenges to high school classrooms and Imagination Library to parent meetings, and much more. We make two visits a month to each of our local preschool centers and to Sedona HeadStart classrooms.  During every visit, we model our style of early literacy skill-building for teachers as we entertain the youngsters with a story time program. Teachers love it, and we appreciate them!
 
Outreach activity changes as our community needs change, but our goal remains to share the joy of reading.  A project that we hope to complete in November will bring a fun reading experience to an outdoor walking trail near Sunset Park. Check the Red Rock News for updates!
 
Providing library service beyond our walls, Sedona Library has again purchased a one-year subscription to the TumbleBooks Library. And we’re thrilled to announce that our local schools are included in the subscription! Students have free, complete, 24/7 access to e-books with a simple user name and password.  TumbleBooks are created by taking existing high-quality picture books and adding simple animation, sound, music, and narration to produce an electronic picture book that children can read, or have read to them. TumbleBooks Library also includes National Geographic videos and educational games.  There are over 250 animated, talking picture books in the collection!  The site also features Spanish and French books, read-along chapter books, nonfiction books, quizzes, and puzzles.  Bookmarks with TumbleBooks login information will be available at Sedona Library and local schools next week.
 
Back inside the walls of your beautiful Sedona Library, the seasonal and Halloween books are on display.  Our author of the month—who is also a Great American Read author—is Jason Reynolds.  His bio and books are on display.
 
Bilingual Spanish/English story and craft time has become a favorite event for families.  Join in on the first Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. in the children’s room.  Last but not least, on Tuesday, October 30, youngsters and caregivers are welcome to join our “Tiny Bit Spooky Story Time,” which will include stories and songs, games, a craft, and snacks.  Dress for fun and enjoy your library, inside and out.
 
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Please support your library at www.sedonalibrary.org.

Sedona Public Library
Column for September 28, 2018
Written by Karen Mack, Youth Services Librarian