Summer Reading Program Round Up!

This week is our final week of summer reading program events. Kids and teens can still log hours and pick up prizes until the end of the day Saturday. What a great summer! Scroll down to see pictures from our adventures; highlights included reading stories from a Nook ereader, making sand paintings and yarn paintings, designing t-shirts in the teen program, enjoying our wonderful Park Side volunteers, and eating a celebratory snack of foods from around the world.

Special thanks to Park Side Federal Credit Union and the Friends of Flathead County Library for generously funding our program. We also received support from Kalispell Parks and Rec and Norm's News. Thank you so much!

Readers to the Rescue! Children and Teens Raised $1853 for DREAM

Over the summer, children and teens read for fun and for prizes in Flathead County Library System’s Summer Reading Program. As an added component to the program, participants were able to read above and beyond the minimum requirements, with extra hours raising funds for the local organization DREAM, which works to provide opportunities for skiing and other outdoor activities for children and adults with disabilities.

This year, children and teens combined read a total of 12,908 hours over the minimum number of hours required for a prize. Children raised $1 for every 5 hours read, and teens raised $1 for every 10 hours read. On behalf of the youth in the Summer Reading Program and our program funder the Friends of the Flathead County Library, we were thrilled to present a check today for $1853 to DREAM. We wish them well in all of their endeavors!

Teen Action

HEY TEENS!

Do you like crafts? Are you interested in helping out the library and some little kids too? Come to our Teen Action event on Thursday for a paper cutting party. We'll eat popcorn, play Rock Band, and prepare craft projects for the library's littlest customers: the preschoolers who come to our storytimes! It'll be a fun time and a great way to relax after school. We'll meet in the Main Library's Meeting Room from 4:00-5:30pm this Thursday, May 20th. This event is open to ages 12-18.

image from flickr user spin spin

Teen Action and ROCK BAND!

On Thursday, local teens ages 12-18 are invited to come and play Rock Band on the big screen and help us plan events and choose new books, movies, and music. This event is free and there will be free food!

Rock Band and Teen Action
Thurs, Dec 17th
4:00-5:30pm
ages 12-18
Basement Meeting Room
Main Library, Kalispell

For more information, contact Martha at 758-5713 or mfurman@flathead.mt.gov.

Anime and Manga Club: Fruits Basket!

Anime and Manga Fans ages 12 and up are invited to come and watch Fruits Basket: A Great Transformation? on Monday, March 2 in the Main Library's basement meeting room. Free snacks!

Not familiar with Fruits Basket? Here's an introduction:

Under unusual circumstances, Tohru Honda is taken in by members of the Sohma family. Guess what? The family is cursed. When they are touched by members of the opposite sex, they turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac, plus the cat. What happens when Tohru discovers the family secret? Well, you've got to watch to find out.

Monday, March 2
4:30-5:30pm
Library Basement Meeting Room
Main Library, Kalispell

Contact Martha Furman, 758-5713 with questions.

Comfy FUF chairs!

Hey teens, come and hang out in the comfy new FUF chairs in the Main Library's teen lounge! We have lots of books & magazines for your perusal. Or, you can bring your laptop, phone, mp3 player, homework, best pal, etc., and just chill. Open M-Th until 8, Saturday 11-5.

Ten Ways Adults Can Support Teen Reading

Are you a parent, friend, or mentor of a teen? I recently saw this short and excellent guide to helping teens read for pleasure, available at ilovelibraries.org.

My personal favorite is #5: Everybody Wants to Be Free. Teens need to be able to choose their own books! Consider bringing your teens into the library and letting them browse our wide selection of young adult materials. We also have teen book lists available to for teens to take, keep, and pass along.

As the Teen Services Librarian for Flathead County Libraries, I am always available for book recommendations and just general chatting about books. Give me a call at 758-5713 if you'd like to talk more about teen reading.

And read on!