Month: June 2016

YA Author Visit at Manheim Township Public Library!

Jennifer Rose, YA Author
Jennifer Rose, YA Author

Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive Lancaster, PA, is hosting local author Jennifer Rose on Saturday, July 9th at 2:00 PM. Jennifer visits us to talk about her book, It’s Not a Perfect World, but I’ll Take It: 50 Life Lessons for Teens Like Me Who Are Kind of (You Know) Autistic.

Jennifer Rose has autism. She’s also a published author, and a college student who loves reading, writes fan fiction, and wants to be on TV someday. She likes watching old movies with her family, listening to classic rock, deconstructing pop culture, Japanese animation, Jewish stuff, Dr. Who, and sushi.  However, she sees the world a little differently than most people around her. She’s had trouble coping with school, has struggled with bullies and mean girls and struggling with her own feelings of bitterness and inferiority, but she has also achieved much in the face of adversity. Through it all, with the help of her parents, Jennifer’s learned a few lessons.  Outlined in her book, Jennifer’s wisdom covers a wide breadth of topics, including:

#5: There are many ways to make a difference.

#20: You won’t be perfect at everything, not even the things you do best.

#22: Down times will be bouncing up soon . . .

#23: . . . but meanwhile, try to enjoy what you have.

#44: Talk about your feelings, even when it’s hard.

#45: Learn to take jokes, even your dad’s.

It's Not a Perfect World_Jennifer_Rose_BookcoverIt’s Not a Perfect World, but I’ll Take It is an uplifting ode to being different. Told with irresistible honesty and humor, Jennifer’s fifty bite-sized stories will have teens and adults nodding in recognition and discovering new things about themselves.

She will also talk about the process of writing and getting published, and about what it’s like growing up with autism. Bring your questions. A book signing session will follow. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. ($12.95 + tax, cash or check only)

Please register for this FREE program by visiting our website at www.mtpl.info/events, by calling the library at (717) 560-6441 or when you visit the library. Drop-ins also welcome.

Summer Slide Setback Happens So Fast!

summer-slide1Summer is here! For many elementary and secondary students across the state, it signifies ball games, pools, family vacations, and that longed-for break from school work. But, did you know that a complete separation from activities such as reading and writing could have negative effects on a child’s education?

Summer setback, also known as “summer slide” or “summer learning loss,” occurs when children lose academic skills during the summertime, when they are most often out of practice.

Books-Beat-Summer-SlideResearch Findings on Summer Slide

  • Children in low-income households fall behind an average of 2 months in reading during the summer.  And, summer slide is cumulative, with these learning losses building up each summer.
  • Summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap in reading between students from low-income households and their higher-income peers.
  • Students from low-income households with access to books over the summer see significantly more gains in reading scores from spring to fall than students from high-income households with access to books and those from low-income households without access to books.
  • Differences in children’s summer learning experiences during their elementary school years can ultimately impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.
  • The effects of summer setback cumulate from year to year, leading to lower proficiency levels in the long sun, as seen by over 100 years’ worth of studies focused on this topic.  Students with unequal access to educational opportunities over the summer are less likely to graduate high school on time or even enter college.

So, how can we combat summer setback and help our children reach their highest achievements?

  • Take advantage of opportunities in the community: 95% of libraries offer summer reading programs for students—check them out! Stay in-the-know with what’s going on at local art museums, science centers, school programs, and more. Not only do these programs invite children to try new things, but they participate in crafts and activities and can be socially interactive with their peers.
  • Make fun books accessible: Whether you have them at home, on your e-reader, in your purse, or at the library, make books easily accessible. Let children select the topics they want to read about. Studies show that children are more likely to read—and keep reading—if they are excited about the content. Studies also show that even reading six books over the summer helps to reduce summer reading loss.
  • To-Go Packs: Summers are often busy times for everyone. Purchase or make travel packs to include math problems, writing prompts, trivia questions, and other activities that sneak in educational opportunities in enjoyable ways.
  • Converse: Converse with your child. Open dialogue exposes your child to new ideas and vocabulary words. Go for a walk and talk about the trees, using descriptive adjectives. Talk about the food you’re eating to describe the flavors, cultures, or the science behind how they are made.
  • Play games: Games are a fantastic way to fit in educational experiences. Playing board games can encourage creativity, reading and math skills, communication, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Additional Resources

To find out more about how your child can avoid ‘Summer Slide’, sign up for the Summer Reading Program at your local public library!

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Manheim Township Public Library Now Offers Passport Services

U.S. PassportPrepare for the upcoming travel season and apply for your U.S. Passport at the Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive Lancaster, PA starting on Wednesday, June 1st. U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am – 7 pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am – 4 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am – 3 pm.  The library is closed on Sundays. Appointments are highly recommended.  Walk-ins are welcome, although wait times depend on agent availability.  The library’s certified agents will help you complete your application, take the required passport photo, if requested, accept the appropriate fees and securely mail the applications to the proper authorities.  Your passport should arrive in about six weeks, unless you pay the Department of State for expedited services, which returns the document in about three weeks.

Passport forms, passport fees, information on how to apply and more can be found on the Department of State’s official website for passport and travel information, travel.state.gov.

For questions or more information and/ or to make an appointment, please call the library at (717) 560-6441.

Manheim Township Public Library now joins the many other libraries throughout the county which already provide this valuable service: Adamstown Area Library; Elizabethtown Public Library; Ephrata Public Library; Lancaster Public Library; Milanof-Schock Library; and Quarryville Library.

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An array of exciting Summer Reading Programs at Public Libraries will Educate and Entertain Youth!

Public Libraries of Lancaster County and the Bookmobile kicked off this year’s Summer Reading Program on June 4th. Readers of all ages are invited to READ all things related to this year’s theme as local public libraries present Get on Your Mark, Get Set…Read!” during their summer reading program, while Get in the Game…Read” is the teen slogan.   The themes for this year’s program for each of the age groups are: physical health, mind & body health, nutrition, exercise, physical sports, and exercising the brain. The public libraries will offer special stories, events, music, and hands-on learning centered on these themes and much more!

The countywide reading program begins June 4 and will run until August 13, 2016. Youth may join anytime during this time frame. The 2016 Summer Reading Program supports Pennsylvania Academic Standards & PA Early Learning Standards and is open to children and teens of all ages. Program  components include 4 reading levels: Read Aloud (birth-4 years), Elementary (ages 5-9), Tween (ages 10-12) and the Teen level (ages 13-19).

Here is a full list of highlighted programs sponsored by the Library System at Public Libraries

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Individual Program Schedules …Simply click on each link to access a particular program description and full schedule!

 CHI – St. Joseph Children’s Health with Hank the Health Hero

Rockford Plantation Colonial Programs

Dutch Wonderland Princess Appearances

Very Hungry Caterpillar Visits

Bushels of Fun – Magic of Erik

Toni Albert Nature Specialist

Lancaster County Environmental Center Programs

Jesse the Reptile Guy from Forgotten Friends Reptile Sanctuary

Lancaster Conservation District Programs

Heads Up Lancaster – Introduction to Junkyard Drumming

Bright Star Touring Theatre

North Museum of Nature & Science

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