Season of Giving

November has started off with a burst of kindness. Yesterday (Nov. 13th) was even World Kindness Day!


We began the 2017 Season of Giving with our K-6th grade program 'Chain of Kindness'. We read the book Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt, which is about two young girls that like to laugh and play in the park, but one unfortunately does not have any food in her refrigerator and often goes hungry. When Sofia finds this out about her friend, Maddi, she devises ways to get Maddi the food her and her family need.

We also briefly discussed a portion of the book Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller. We talked about how the rabbit in the book can be considerate to his new otter neighbors regardless of their differences. 

This began a discussion of all the kind things and good deeds the children have done. From something small such as saying 'thank you' to others, to helping mom make dinner, to volunteering time at the Southampton Animal Shelter. We began our very own 'Chain of Kindness'. Currently displayed in the Children's Room, feel free to come by and add your own link!

We are also going to continue the good deeds this month, into December with a Toys for Tots Donation box. We are currently collecting brand new toys, in the original packaging. Please do not wrap them up! Toys for Tots is a donation program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the toys will be donated to children who aren't fortunate enough to have families that can afford holiday gifts.

On December 5th, we will have our No Child Left Inside program at Mike's Christmas Tree Farm where we will get our tree for our annual Mitten Tree donation drive. We will be collecting throughout December, brand new or handmade mittens, gloves, scarves, and hats for both children and adults. These items will be donated to the Church of St. Rosalie and then distributed to children and adult in the Hampton Bays area who are in need in the upcoming cold months.

image from clipartxtras.com

Please consider contributing to one of our Season of Giving projects. For information about World Kindness Day and more ideas on good deeds the whole family can do check out the Random Acts of Kindness website .

Banned Books Week 2017

This week, September 24th-30th is Banned Books Week. 

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association.

"Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers — in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular." - American Library Association 

Here at the library, we hope that you will find any book that your heart desires and that it is up to you and your child to determine what you want to read, no one else's. Many books we know and love are frequently challenged in school districts and libraries across the country. The American Library Association keeps a list of these books to inform the public about the harm of censorship. Check out the list of 'Frequently Challenged Children's Books' here:  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensbooks

"Out of the hundreds of challenges ALA records every year, only about 10% of books are removed from the location where the challenge took place, thanks to local literary champions such as librarians, students, and patrons who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read." -American Library Association

Here are some of our favorite frequently challenged children's books:

 James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

A young boy escapes from two wicked aunts and embarks on a series of adventures with six giant insects he meets inside a giant peach.

 Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Pairs of rhyming words are introduced and used in simple sentences, such as "Day. Play. We play all day. Night. Fight. We fight all night."

 The Giver by Lois Lowry

Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

 The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.

 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches.

To find out more about Banned Books Week, and to see the most current 2016 Top Ten Challenged Books go here: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/about

Let us know on our Facebook page what your favorite banned books are! 

Top 5 Back to School Tips

The Hampton Bays Public Library Children's and Parent Services Department Presents....

Top 5 Back to School Tips

1. Get a library card! HBPL library cards are free for all year-round residents of Hampton Bays and East Quogue. Every parent or legal guardian that can prove they live in the library district can obtain a card for each of their children. Library cards are required of each child to register for programs and are a great way to encourage responsibility when checking out their own books, DVDs, CDs, etc. from the collection! Find out what is required to get a library card here: http://hamptonbayslibrary.org/get-a-library-card/

2. Read 15 minutes a day! For children Birth-3rd Grade reading aloud to your child can have wonderful benefits. Even sustained silent reading at any age is important to continue to develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, and knowledge about the world we live in! Find out more here: http://www.readaloud.org/why.html

3. Register for library programs and/or join an after-school club/sport! Make new friends with similar interests, learn something new and have fun after all your school-work is done! Check out the library's newsletter here: http://hamptonbayslibrary.org/newsletter-archives/

4. Check out a museum pass from the HBPL Circulation Department! Museums are a great chance to further study a topic learned in school or to discover something new. Find out more here on the passes the library offers: http://hamptonbayslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Museum-Pass-Brochure1.pdf

5. Need help with homework or a research project? Check out our selection of non-fiction books and biographies. Use your library card to  check out databases on Livebrary. Need information on a country? Try Culturegrams! Need a book recommendation? Try Novelist K-8 Plus! Need general information on science, arts, geography, etc.? Try Kids InfoBits!  Find other databases and more information here: https://www.livebrary.com/kids-learning

Bonus Tip: Use your library card to get homework help from an online tutor in a variety of subjects, as well as feedback on your writing. Available in English and Spanish, Brainfuse is available Monday-Sunday 2pm-11pm EST. Find out more here: http://main.suffolk.ny.brainfuse.com/authenticate.asp?

Harry Potter Day!

For twenty years the 'Boy Who Lived' has mesmerized the world! To celebrate this momentous occasion, we of course held festivities on none other than his birthday July 31st!

Young Harry Potter fans gathered at the library and were put through different activities that mimicked what a day would be like at the revered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Each child received their own wand to decorate straight from Ollivander's Wand Shop.

Chopsticks, hot glue, and beads, got painted by the children to create a magical tool!

The children attended History Class (trivia), Potions Class (oobleck making), Quidditch Practice and even got to play a party game favorite 'Pin the Scar on Harry Potter.'

Curious About Oobleck? Here's the recipe for this non-newtonian fluid (neither solid nor liquid):

Recipe found here!

We had a great time! If you haven't already heard the news check out this article on the two new Harry Potter books that will be released later this year! They will be sure to satisfy your hunger on all things related to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Pictures from the program will be on our Facebook page soon!

Baby Chicks!

Spring has Sprung!  Our babies chicks hatched this week.  It was so exciting to watch this amazing process.  The fourteen chicks that hatched will be in our department until Saturday afternoon.  Stop by!