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MICHAEL GOLUMBIEWSKI MIKEG@LEADER.NET
Tuesday, January 25, 2000 Page: 4
Are your children looking for something exciting to do this winter? Does
the prospect of keeping them indoors for the next several months have you
looking for some activities for them? Why not check out the Mill Memorial
Library’s Winter/Spring Hour, which begins January 31, and is geared toward
children ranging in age from toddlers to 5 year olds.
Story hour coordinator Ruth Kresge said that the Mill Library’s program is
different from programs offered at other libraries, as this is an interactive
experience. “We really get the children, and even the parents, involved,” she
said. Kresge said the story hour usually begins with a group sing-a-long or a
finger-puppet show, which gets the participants interested in the session.
“Everyone loves the beginning,” she said. “They even request songs for us to
sing. It’s a lot of fun.” Following the opening of the story hour comes,
obviously, the story. Each weekly session follows a topical theme, as the
January 31 session will deal with Groundhog Day, while a mid-February session
will focus on Valentine’s Day. While the stories are the main part of each
session, following the story comes more participation by children and parents,
as the group then makes a particular craft geared toward the story. For
example, the Groundhog Day session will deal with a story about shadows,
Kresge said, and the children will make stick puppets based on that story.
Kresge said the craft portion of the session usually runs anywhere from 30-45
minutes. “Sometimes, if the craft is very involved, we’ll take up to an hour,
but we try not to go that long,” she said. While the sessions are geared
toward the children, Kresge said the parents often enjoy themselves during the
story hours. “They’ll either participate with the children, or sit in the back
and talk to each other. It is as much for them as it is their children,” she
said. The program runs for 12 to 13 consecutive weeks, Kresge said, which
gives the opportunity for children to get involved in plenty of sessions.
“Some will come every week, but others aren’t as lucky,” she said. “At least
with (the program) running as long as it does, there is the opportunity for
the children who can’t be here every week to attend more than one or two story
hours.” The weekly program is a favorite of many children. “We often hear that
from one Tuesday to the next, the children ask their parents every day, ‘Is it
library day today?'” Kresge said. The program features Kresge and other
volunteers as program leaders. Kresge has been involved with the program since
coming to the library in 1992. “I love doing it every year,” she said. “And we
always do seem to have a lot of fun.” IF YOU GO TYPE OF THING: For more
information about the Winter/Spring Story Hour or any other programs at the
library, call 735-3030. Winter/Spring Story Hour sessions begin on January 31
and run weekly through April 27. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
Monday: 6:30-7:15 p.m. Tuesday: 10:15-11 a.m. for toddler/parent (age
11/2-21/2 years), 10:15-11 a.m. for age 4-5-kindergarten. Wednesday: 10:15-11
a.m. for toddler/parent (age 11/2-21/2 years), 10:15-11 a.m. for age 3-4. Wed.
kids hour not on a weekly schedule. Thursday: 10:15-11 a.m. story hour for
children ages 3-4. All programs are flexible, and can be changed as the need
arises. Story hours will be held the first week (Jan. 31-Feb. 3) with the
usual story, craft, and registration. Those interested in the Kids Hour
program can call the library to register. All will receive program dates and
activities information at that first session.