Month: October 2016

CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health funds health-related resources for Public Library collections

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

Hank the Health Hero checks out health books at the library.

New health-related resources that encourage youth to develop healthy habits are now available at Lancaster County public libraries and the bookmobile! These new resources were funded by a grant of $1,700 from CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health that was awarded to the Library System of Lancaster County on behalf of its member libraries and the bookmobile. The new collections are related to the Health Habits, Healthy Smiles! Brush Twice-A-Day Challenge that was held at public libraries this past summer. Hank the Health Hero, the CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health mascot, was introduced to children during summer reading program as a way engage them in developing positive health habits.

Programs included “Hank’s Healthy Habits”, “Sink Your Teeth into Science”, and “Let’s Talk Teeth”. Children and their families will be able to check out books to reinforce the lessons learned this past summer. Books such as, Smile Says Little Crocodile; My Tooth is Loose Dr. Moose; My First Trip to the Dentist, and My Plate and You (Health and Body) are among the titles that will enhance the libraries’ collections.

“We are pleased to be able to support CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health since we know that the books will be read and shared with children. These books will extend the message of developing children’s healthy habits in a fun and meaningful way!” states Renee M. Christiansen, Youth Services Manager for the Library System.

For more information about CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health, visit www.stjosephchildrenshealth.org.

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STEM Maker Passes Now Available at Your Public Library and the Bookmobile!

Posted on October 26, 2016 by

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For more information about the NEW pass, please visit: stempass.make717.org

The Library System of Lancaster County has officially launched a new partnership with Lancaster-based make717 Innovation Center resources. The launch event took place on October 21 at the make717 Innovation Center located at the Branch Campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. The partnership between the Public Libraries of Lancaster County and the make717 Innovation Center, is being funded by a federal LSTA (Library Services Technology Act) grant in the amount of $48,970.

The goals of this new partnership entitled STEM Maker Pass are to help generate an educated workforce; to increase local students’ 21^st century skills and to provide a technical educational resource for young learners, high school students, post-graduates, residents who may be underemployed or seeking to improve their current job status. The make717 Innovation Center is a well-equipped facility where independent project-based learning can happen. With the current emphasis on STEM (STEM: Science, Technology, Electronics and Math) learning, this initiative will be a valuable resource for the public to increase skill in those areas.

The Lancaster-based make717 Innovation Center is a non-profit organization that was founded by a group of makers and educators including: Bruce Schreiner who teaches at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Ben Eisemann, a Network Technician at Lancaster Bible College.

Make717 co-founder, Bruce Schreiner, realizes the value of this partnership by saying, “I am excited for the start of the STEM Maker Pass program. Because of the cooperation of the Library System of Lancaster County and make717, our organizations are able to offer the opportunity for so many people to freely experience learning by tackling creative projects of their own design. There are so many resources available including equipment, personal interaction, and online training that you could occupy yourself for a lifetime. Come and experience the great feeling of learning and accomplishing real projects while interacting with others.”

Co-Founder, Ben Eisemann, is also very excited about the partnership as a new venture, “I am excited to partner with the Lancaster County Libraries to bring the excitement of DIY and the maker movement to everyone in the community. I can’t wait to see what people make!”

The grant-funded initiative entitled Lancaster Libraries Maker Toolbox has a number of components that will highlight the public libraries as a reliable educational resource for STEM. The Public Libraries and the Bookmobile will loan STEM Maker passes for use at the make717 Innovation Center. These passes will allow library patrons to visit the facility where they will learn how to use hi-tech equipment and have access to a variety of commercial and open source software.

In addition to the STEM Maker Passes, involvement of local public libraries and the bookmobile will include STEM workshops and trainings; Library Maker Faires and new collection items in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

For more information about the NEW pass, please visit: stempass.make717.org

This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor.

About make717 Innovation Center https://make717.org
make717 is a registered 501(C)(3) non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers since October of 2015. It is a social enterprise business housed in a 2,000+ square-foot facility located on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology that is provided and maintained by the College. This allows the makerspace to be affordable and available to the community. Students, families, and service veterans have discounted membership opportunities. Tools and equipment are used to engage in project-based independent learning and making that fulfills one’s creative ideas. make717 provides resources like orientations, workshops, Lynda.com online training content, computers, and software applications to assist with learning.

Friend Your Library!

Posted on October 21, 2016 by

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Comedian Paula Poundstone Loves Libraries

Honor your library’s friends during National Friends of Libraries Week: October 16 – 22! Not a Friend of your library? Then sign up today!

Access your local library

Friends of the Public Libraries in Lancaster County raise money that enables our libraries to move from good to great — providing the resources for additional programming, much needed equipment, support for children’s summer reading, and special events throughout the year.

The work of the Friends highlights on an on-going basis the fact that our libraries are the cornerstone of the community providing opportunities for all to engage in the joy of life-long learning and connect with the thoughts and ideas of others from ages past to the present.

Friends understand the critical importance of well-funded libraries and advocate to ensure that our libraries get the resources it needs to provide a wide variety of services to all ages including access to print and electronic materials, along with expert assistance in research, readers’ advisory, and children’s services.

Friends’ gift of their time and commitment to our libraries sets an example for all in how volunteerism leads to positive civic engagement and the betterment of our community.

During this special week we thank our Friends for all that they do to make our library and community so much better!

Library System to launch new partnership!

Posted on October 6, 2016 by

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make717_logo

The Library System of Lancaster County is pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with Lancaster-based make717 Innovation Center resources. The initiative, which is a partnership between the Public Libraries of Lancaster County and the make717 Innovation Center, is being funded by a federal LSTA (Library Services Technology Act) grant in the amount of $48,970.

The official launch of this new partnership will take place at 4:00 PM, Friday, October 21
at The make717 Innovation Center facility located on the

Branch Campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
1152 Clark Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

Commissioner Dennis Stuckey is optimistic about the impact that this partnership will have on the future workforce of Lancaster County, “With this federal grant, the Library System will facilitate the technology training of our workforce. Residents will be able to check out STEM Maker Passes that will allow them to learn about hi-tech equipment and receive training at make717. This will grow and enhance their skills as we prepare our workforce for the future.”

Library System Board President Diane Tannehill has high praise for this new partnership, “The make717 Innovation Center is an amazing resource that offers cutting-edge technology to the community. By collaborating with the public libraries, this exciting resource will be able to expand its reach throughout our county. I see this collaboration as a great addition to all of the many valuable services that public libraries offer to the community.”

make717 co-founder, Bruce Schreiner, realizes the value of this partnership by saying, “I am excited for the start of the STEM Maker Pass program. Because of the cooperation of the Library System of Lancaster County and make717, our organizations are able to offer the opportunity for so many people to freely experience learning by tackling creative projects of their own design. There are so many resources available including equipment, personal interaction, and online training that you could occupy yourself for a lifetime. Come and experience the great feeling of learning and accomplishing real projects while interacting with others.”

Take a tour and learn about make717 Innovation Center, a dedicated makerspace. See how the make717 makerspace is designed for independent project based learning. All visitors to make717 need to attend an “Information Session.”

These information sessions allow time to walk through the makerspace to see the equipment and hear about some of the software. A STEM Maker Pass is not needed to attend an “Information Session.” Go to http://www.make717.org and click on the “Events” tab for the calendar. Select the “Information Session” you want to attend and register for it. You will receive an email confirmation.

After you’ve attended an “Information Session,” use the STEM Maker Pass to enter make717 and register for and attend Equipment Orientations, Workshops, and access make717 Innovation Center software, such as, Lynda.com.

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Jumpstart’s 2016 Read for the Record® Campaign is happening in Lancaster County!

Posted on October 6, 2016 by

Lancaster County libraries will participate in Jumpstart’s 2016 Read for the Record^®—a national early literacy campaign by reading the same book to hundreds of children on the same day! On October 27, people across the country will read the children’s book The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach in support of Jumpstart’s mission to work towards the day that every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Public libraries in Lancaster County will hold their programming on October 27.

By hosting special library storytimes and events, local public librarians are hoping to break previous years’ records of reading to over 2,000 children. Since 2006 the campaign has engaged 11.5 million children and raised more than $8.6 million for early education programs.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record^®is a national campaign that brings attention to the importance of preparing our children to read at an early age. Each year, Jumpstart selects one children’s book as the catalyst for Read for the Record. This year’s campaign book, The Bear At Your Sandwich, written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones, is a humorous tale about a child who finds a new friend in an unexpected place. With vivid illustrations and expressive language, the story is sure to engage children and adults of all ages. Help us break the world reading record (again!) for the most people reading the same book on the same day.

About This Year’s Book: The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
By now I think you know what happened to your sandwich. But you may not know how it happened. So let me tell you. It all started with the bear . . . So begins Julia Sarcone-Roach’s delicious tale of a bear, lost in the city, who happens upon an unattended sandwich in the park. The bear’s journey from forest to city and back home again is full of happy accidents, funny encounters, and sensory delights. The story is so engrossing, it’s not until the very end that we begin to suspect this is a TALL tale. The wonderfully told story, spectacular illustrations, and surprise ending make this Julia Sarcone-Roach’s best book to date. You’ll want to share it with your friends (and keep a close eye on your lunch).

Author Bio
Julia Sarcone-Roach studied film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. Her award winning animated film “call of the Wild’ has been shown in film festivals throughout the world. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia and now lives in Brooklyn, New York writing and illustrating picture books. She has written and illustrated Subway Story; The Secret Plan; and she illustrated Incredible Inventions, which is a collection of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins.

For more information about Julia Sarcone-Roach, visit http://www.jsarconeroach.com/

Local public libraries make accessible age-appropriate collections for young children. Visit your Local Public Library today and learn more about other youth & family programs! Access your public library’s website

National Sponsors for this campaign are Pearson Foundation, Official Book Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group, and We Give Books. To learn more about this national campaign, please visit http://www.jstart.org/

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Royer’s Flowers “Bouquets for Books” returns!

Posted on October 6, 2016 by

Visit local Royer’s Flowers locations from October 22 – November 5 to Benefit Public Libraries!

Royer’s Flowers and Gifts’ annual children’s book drive returns Oct. 22-Nov. 5 to benefit area public libraries. For each book, donors will receive a free bouquet, up to three per family per visit, while supplies last. Used books will not be accepted.

Participating Royer’s Locations:

Columbia:902 Lancaster Ave., Columbia
Ephrata: 165 S. Reading Rd., Ephrata
Lancaster West: 201 Rohrerstown Rd., Lancaster
Lancaster North: 873 N. Queen St., Lancaster City

In its first 10 years, Bouquets for Books has collected more than 15,000 books in the following counties: Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Sister company Stephenson’s Flowers & Gifts has one store in Harrisburg.

Click here for the Public Libraries of Lancaster County’s Wish List

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Honor your library’s friends during National Friends of Libraries Week: October 16 – 22! Not a Friend of your library? Then sign up today!

Friends of the Public Libraries in Lancaster County raise money that enables our libraries to move from good to great — providing the resources for additional programming, much needed equipment, support for children’s summer reading, and special events throughout the year.

The work of the Friends highlights on an on-going basis the fact that our libraries are the cornerstone of the community providing opportunities for all to engage in the joy of life-long learning and connect with the thoughts and ideas of others from ages past to the present.

Friends’ gift of their time and commitment to our libraries sets an example for all in how volunteerism leads to positive civic engagement and the betterment of our community.

During this special week we thank our Friends for all that they do to make our library and community so much better!

Visit local Royer’s Flowers locations from October 22 – November 5 to Benefit Public Libraries!