My Name's in Print!

Will and I use to go to the Austin Public Library's Babies and Books. It was a lot of fun and gave Will a chance to play with kids his age. Well, when we moved we kept driving down for it because our library didn't have a baby storytime. Finally, I thought what the heck I could do this. So I sent off an email to the director of the library and a month later we were set.

Well, last week the local newspaper showed up. She took some pictures but I guess they ended up on the cutting room floor because they're not here. Anyways, it's exciting so here's the article: 

Oh btw, attendance is so not "sporadic"! We had 1 the first week, 6 the second, and like 8 the third. (We've only done it 3 times so far) So NOT sporadic more like a slow start, but we're cook'n now. :) Oops! I guess I spoke too soon because there was only one there today :( I think it's the weather though. It's like 20 degrees which is like -50 in Utah/ Colorado speak. Will's sign language is already cancelled for tomorrow because all of their pipes are frozen. We think Danny's meeting is cancelled tonight because it's supposed to SNOW!!! 

Hello weather,

We live in Austin, TX. I think you are a little confused please try to sort this out before my toes freeze off. 

Thanks

Oh here's the article:

Library offering more and more

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 | Amy Fowler

The Leander Public Library isn’t just about books anymore. The library is starting several new programs this year designed to integrate it more into the community.
First Music Mondays
Library Director Priscilla Donovan said living so close to the Live Music Capital of the World always made her wonder what local bands were around that she didn’t know about. So she started First Music, or FM, Mondays. She said the title was as close to a musical term as she could get.
“I wanted to start it for my own selfish reasons” to expand her own musical horizons, she said. At the same time, she thought others in Leander might want to hear local musicians without having to drive to downtown Austin.
The first FM Monday will be 7 p.m. Monday, and she still didn’t have the details entirely hammered out on Friday.
“It’ll probably be two or three less known bands and then one of the bigger Austin names,” she said. “That’s sort of my nebulous thought of how it’s going to go. We’ll discuss the musicians themselves, the genres, what people want to listen to.”
She said she is open to suggestions — for bands, genres or format.
“If people have suggestions, bring those by,” she said. “If they’d like to come and play, we’d certainly find a way to do that.”
Baby storytime
Storytime helps children learn language skills and reading and allows them to spend time with children their own age. Youth Services Librarian Janki Makecha said that’s just as important for the 0-2 age group.
When she was approached by Jennifer Rich, a school teacher, about starting a storytime specifically for babies, Makecha said she was willing to give it a try.
“If somebody wants to try something, I am always willing to let them try it,” she said. “I think it’s good because it gives moms a chance to meet each other and get out of the house too.”
Rich said the storytime gives babies exposure to books and literature early, but is specifically geared toward the age group.
“It gives them a chance to play and interact with children their own age,” she said. “They can be crawling around and making noise and it doesn’t distract from the storytime.”
Makecha said attendance has been sporadic, but encouraging.
“Sometimes we’ll get a new storytime and it will be months before we get a regular crowd,” she said. “It just shows how much busier the library is getting, which is really nice.
Baby Storytime is 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the Children’s Room at the library.
Draw, Write, Now
Older children can develop their artistic skills with Draw, Write, Now, Feb. 16. The program teaches children about the Polar Regions. After the short lesson, children draw a picture and then write a story about the picture. The subject matter changes through the months.
“It’s definitely a different kind of an offering,” Makecha said.
Older programs
Makecha said while they are starting new programs, she is also working to grow some of the library’s older offerings.
She said the library has a specially trained dog in the library every week to help children practice their reading skills.
“It’s really awesome; there’s a lot of schools who would love to have a reading dog,” she said. But only a few children are regular visitors.
Another program Makecha said she hopes to see grow this year are the library’s teen gaming tournaments and year-round teen and children’s book clubs.
“I want this to be more of a community place for the kids to come,” she said. “I just feel like it gives them a good activity to do. … It’s a safe place for them to go and it’s a good activity.”