WHAT'S NEW AT MANCHESTER CITY LIBRARY CHILDREN'S ROOM

by Karyn Isleb, Head of Children's Services
Manchester City Library
624-6550 ext 335
www.manchester.lib.nh.us

Have you been to Manchester City Library's Children's Room to check out all the new programs? We have added afterschool programs for school-aged children, Saturday afternoon programming for families, and monthly activities for our youngest patrons.

For the afterschool programs, we have started two crafts clubs: one for grades K-2, and another for grades 3-5. Some activities include learning how to scrapbook and making duct tape wallets. They have played brain games and celebrated Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. Krystin, our New Hampshire Art Institute Intern, has started a Camera Club for children that meets once a month to discuss their photos and other projects.

We have added game afternoons for families. Once a month, everyone of all ages is invited to stop by the library on a Saturday afternoon to play their favorite board game. This has been a great intergenerational program. There are several seniors who have been teaching the kids how to play Scrabble. In return, the kids show the seniors how to play Twister. You can hear the laughs and see the smiles on everyone's face. It has been a great time!

For our youngest patrons, ages 1-5 years, we get together on a Monday morning once a month for a very special celebration. On January 2nd, we rang in the New Year as the clock struck noon with wish bags, confetti, and noise makers. The kids learned how to walk like bears, cats, giraffes, monkeys, and butterflies during our February celebration, Walk Like Animals. In March, we spent the morning dancing the Bunny Hop, Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Shaking Our Sillies Out as well as many other fun dances. We will be going on a Dinosaur Dig in April and then in May, we will hold a Mexican Fiesta.

We have also had several guests stop in during our weekly storytimes. In January, Scuba Mickey and Minnie from Disney Finding Nemo On Ice stopped by the library when they were in Manchester to say "hi" to the kids. During the baseball season, Slider and a few of the Fisher Cat players have come to read to the kids. During April vacation, Manchester K-9 police officer, Riley, and his handler, Tom, will be stopping by to read and meet the kids during our toddler storytime.

It has been an exciting time in the Manchester City Library's Children's Room. Everyone is invited to stop in and check us out!