Library Corner

September 04, 2008 04:00 am

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{"HeadlineLight14"/}Children's Programs

All children's programs for the fall season have begun at the library. There are programs for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, after school and youth book groups. Full details are available at the library or by calling us at 432-1980.

{"HeadlineLight14"/}Construction Party

Join the crew for a "construction zone" party at the library. We'll be building and painting a house, playing a game or two, and enjoying an excavator cake. Children ages 3 to 7 are invited, and registration is required. The party will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. To register, visit the library or call us at 432-1980.

{"HeadlineLight14"/}Miss Spider's Tea Party

It was a buggy summer here at the library, what with the theme of "Catch the Reading Bug." In August, we held a Miss Spider Tea Party.

For those of you who don't know, Miss Spider is the creation of David Kirk. The many picture story books featuring her are favorites of children. One of the books is titled "Miss Spider's Tea Party." We had a such a tea party here at the library.

The tables were covered with red cloths, unlit decorative candles, floral arrangements, bright yellow plates and fancy china tea cups. It was quite elegant. Refreshments included "tea" (pink lemonade), butterfly cupcakes, and spiders made from marshmallows covered in chocolate, cinnamon candy eyes and red string licorice legs. Entertainment consisted of several stories that the three dozen guests enjoyed. A "Miss Spider" book was given to each child, compliments of the Friends of the Library. But the true hit of the party was when Miss Spider came to visit.

When I led Miss Spider off the elevator and introduced her to the children, I was looking at a sea of eyes that were as big as saucers. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Miss Jen, our children's coordinator, invited the children to shake Miss Spider's leg/hand.

Some enthusiastically seized the moment and heartily shook her leg/hand. For others, it was no way, no how, not going to do it. Others would, provided Mom held a hand and walked up to Miss Spider with them. One of our staff members, who was sporting this life-size costume, was a real hit.

A little girl came to the library shortly after the party and asked Miss Jen where Miss Spider was. Miss Jen told her she had gone home.

"But where is her home?" the child asked. Miss Jen told her it was probably out in the park because there were all those nests in the trees. All she had to do was go look up in the trees and she would probably see it for herself.

Later that day, we received a letter addressed to Huntington Memorial Library, c/o Miss Spider. The youngster professed her love for Miss Spider, thanked her for the book, and told her how she liked the stories at the tea party. It's moments like these that make everything we do here worthwhile.

{"HeadlineLight14"/}Summer Programs

Here are a few results from the summer reading programs. Pre-readers read 3,042 books, readers read 2,170 books and teens read 109 books.

We held 131 programs with total attendance of 1,841. There were special contests such as guessing how many bugs in a jar, identifying a magnified portion of a bug, a bug photography contest, storytime bugs, bugs in New York state and more. We were truly bugged out!

Library Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Marie Bruni is director of Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta. Her column appears in the community section of The Daily Star every Thursday.