Library restarts activities for children
By Carole Kelly
Activities designed to attract young patrons to the Clinton-Quisenberry Library have been announced by Jamie Pittman, who coordinates a variety of programs for the facility.
The COVID-19 pandemic cloud that has curtailed events at the library for many months is lifting, with such activities as the first Easter egg hunt held in two years attracting scores of boys and girls on April 12. Nature stories read at the Clinton Nature Center welcomed spring for young readers. April 11 at 4 p.m. featured a book launch by local author-artist Diane Pleasant, who introduced her book, Just Wait: A Lesson in Patience. A Poetry Contest started the first week in April and continued throughout the month.
Activities available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the first week of each month include social emotional activity day on Mondays, a social studies activity on Tuesdays, memory game blast on Wednesdays, and STEM activity day on Thursdays. The varied activities include robotics, programming, science kits, puzzles, board games and engineering projects, as well as other fun technology-related games.
Second week of the month events include Puppet Pals Playtime on Mondays, Teen Talk on Tuesdays, arts and crafts on Wednesdays, and Junior High/Preteen Power Hour on Thursdays.
Anime Club will be on Tuesdays for younger patrons and Thursdays for teens, at 4 p.m. in the story time room. Teen Talk and Junior High/Preteen Power Hour are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Story hour programs are “made to order,” according to Pittman, who is offering sessions without regular scheduled times. The flexible schedule allows families to request specific story hours. Pittman reports that sessions are available Monday through Thursday throughout the day, with his working with individual families based on their schedules and needs.
The summer reading program, with a theme of “Oceans of Possibilities,” is in the final planning stages, Pittman pointed out, urging young patrons to be ready for aquatic games, activities, books and summer adventures.
A Community Garden Grant will kick off a garden project at the library, and volunteers are welcomed as soon as the grant becomes final.
A schedule of specific weekly events in the children’s area of the library is available.
“Thank you for all your love and support of the library,” said Pittman. “For all of my teachers, schools, preschools, day programs, and other librarians, if you would like to continue Zoom story time programs or have any kind of Zoom events, please send me requests with dates and times that would be great for you, so I can set them up and adhere to them.”
The New Year Resolution Series continues in the adult area of the library, with books on fitness and nutrition available to check out.
