Sandy Asher, Lancaster County’s Children’s Laureate, is passionate about libraries and from this passion she will lead a special project happening at public libraries that encourages children to “Celebrate Libraries”. This first-time initiative slated to begin January 14 and run until March 30 (See schedule below), will culminate with a special Exhibit at the Ware Center, Lancaster on April 1st.
Asher was named Lancaster County’s Children’s Laureate in December 2014 by the Lancaster Literary Guild. She quickly saw this honor as an opportunity to promote literacy and libraries. She states, “There was no job description, other than a general charge to promote literacy and creativity among young people, county-wide. I figured the best way to reach as many of those young people as possible would be through their libraries. And so the Celebrate Libraries project was born.” The project took shape with the help of the Literary Guild, Millersville University, the Public Libraries of Lancaster County, and staff from the Library System of Lancaster County.
The Celebrate Libraries programs offered in collaboration with Sandy Asher and the Librarians at Lancaster County’s public libraries will include an array of activities. For example, Manheim Township Public Library will offer a program entitled Sandy Asher “Verses” the Birds with a special focus on “our feathered friends” that also relates to the current “Crow Art Exhibit” at their library. Columbia Public Library will focus on creating posters that celebrate libraries and writing Haiku poems; while the Adamstown Area Library program will give youth the chance to do simple research treasure hunts for information at their library. The Moores Memorial Library that houses a National Collection of the Christiana Resistance of 1851 will utilize old historic photographs as a springboard to story writing. The librarian at the Strasburg-Heisler Library will encourage youth to create “Black Out Poetry” — a creative exercise that utilizes pages fro
m discarded books. Manheim Library’s program will include a guided poetry exercise and also encouragement for participants to illustrate their writing.
Asher sees the project as a wonderful way to ignite young people’s creative expression. The Celebrate Libraries initiative will culminate at The Ware Center Gala on April 1st, an open-house event held in the Atrium from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on First Friday. The Gala event will give the public libraries an opportunity to showcase any projects created by youth during the initiative and also what resources and services they have to offer.
Schedule of Sandy Asher’s “Celebrate Libraries!” Appearances at Public Libraries
Manheim Community Library
January 23, 10 a.m.
Manheim Township Public Library
January 26, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Columbia Public Library
February 3, 1:30 p.m.
Strasburg-Heisler Library
February 11, 6:30 p.m.
Eastern Lancaster County Library (New Holland)
March 3, 6:30 p.m.
Lancaster Public Library
Friday, March 4, 5:30 pm
Moores Memorial Library (Christiana)
March 17, 6 p.m.
Adamstown Area Library
March 30, 4 p.m.
All above programs are free and open to the public, but please contact your local library in case registration is required. Visit your local public library to inquire about the variety of programs for all ages!
About Sandy Asher
As an au
thor of dozens of books and plays, Asher will also share her library-inspired writings during her appearances at the public libraries. She will also give a ‘sneak preview’ her latest picture book, Chicken Story Time, which is set in a library. The book is scheduled for publication November 2016 (Dial Books for Young Readers).
For more information about Sandy Asher and her work, visit www.sandyasher.com
Visit her blog at http://usawrites4kids.blogspot.com