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A PAGE IN DUE TIME WITH JEFF WATSON, HEAD LIBRARIAN
ROANOKE RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
With warmer weather arriving, people tend to spend more time outside in their yard and some enjoy growing their own fruits and vegetables. Roanoke Rapids Public Library has an upcoming program, which may be of interest to you. Betty Bianconi will present a program on Healthy Eating. She writes a column in The Daily Herald and has frequently done programming at our Library on gardening. Registration is not required for this free program that will begin at 1 pm on Thursday, May 31 in the Library conference room. If you wish to improve your health or grow your own vegetables, this may be the program for you.
With the end of the school year soon in sight, I wish to discuss the Library’s most extensive annual program, our Summer Learning Program. Time for registration is nearly here. I encourage parents and guardians of youth between ages 6-13 or entering the first through eighth grades in the fall to register and participate. This year’s slogan is “Libraries Rock!” The theme of the program incorporates music. Two of our programs include a presentation from Sylvan Heights Bird Park and a visit from Roanoke Rapids Music School. Registration will begin at the Library on Thursday, June 21 at the Library at 11 am. There will be an appearance by members of the Roanoke High School Marching Band performing at 11 am. Readers with a parent or guardian may register for the program any time after 11 am on June 21 through Friday, July 20. I look forward to a great 2018 program. As in the past, registered readers will track their progress on reading and time logs; and, parents will have the opportunity to reserve tickets for their children to attend Summer Learning events. Registrants will receive reading logs, activities sheets and information of upcoming program events at the time of registration. Reading e-books from our digital collection also counts toward the total of books and time read.
Speaking of e-books, I want to remind readers of a collection geared to children to which patrons may have access through their library card: NC KIDS Digital Library. This digital collection contains picture book and chapter book titles focused toward students from Kindergarten through Fourth Grade. Students may listen to some narrated digital titles while looking at words or pictures. There is a feature that provides dyslexic font for readers. The North Carolina State Legislature funds this collection with additional funding from NC Public Libraries. The collection has added titles since last year with plans to add more. I encourage parents to assist their children to register online to use this collection with a RRPL library card.
Our program would not be successful without volunteers to help with events. Volunteers should be at least 14 years old or entering the ninth grade in the fall. If you would like to help, call or visit the Library for volunteer applications or information. I invite those interested in volunteering for our Summer Learning Program to a meeting for volunteers scheduled on Tuesday, June 19 at 11 am at the Library.
Most recently, I read a book about the year 1946, the first year after World War II ended. Victor Sebestyen in “1946: the Making of the Modern World”, examines relationships with varied world leaders and countries relating how events in that pivotal year had a major impact in world affairs even until today. This book is a long read but it opened my eyes to events that occurred during my parents’ generation before I was born. I have always enjoyed studying history and discovering new insights from past events. This pursuit ties with our Library slogan to “Read, Learn, Live”.
As summer arrives, Roanoke Rapids Public Library continues to offer collections, connections, and community all for you.
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