This Saturday, July 31st is the final day to turn in your reading logs to be guaranteed an award! We will still take logs the following week and will give awards as they are available. Letters to the schools listing the names of those completing half and/or all of the program will be sent the second week of August.

Hurry! Finish up your logs and get into the Library!

Yesterday I had the most amazing conversation with a mother and her almost 6 year-old daughter. It seems that Kennedy has learned to read and she approached her mother about her desire to read to children that didn’t know how yet. Wanting to seize the opportunity her mother did some work and came to us with the request to allow Kennedy to share her talents here at the Library. YEA! So, Kennedy is going to visit when she can and don a blue “Volunteer Reader” apron. She will read to whom ever will listen. Don’t be afraid to approach her - she is excited about the opportunity.  

If you have a child interested in volunteering in this capacity, please contact Miss Tami and we will get things set up. Miss Tami can be reached at 344-4194 or tfinley@bettendorf.org.

We have had a fantastic summer filled with some great programs. If you haven’t had a chance to look at the Photostream on Flickr be sure to take a look (Choose the ”Children’s Programs” drop-down button).

This is our final week of programming and we have three different offerings. On Monday, we have Duck Daze from children in preschool through K ( no older children, please). We had made arrangements to have the Daisy the Duck mascot from the books by Jane Simmons. However, the costume was recalled because of the condition and they determined that it was unfit to continue to circulate. So, we will go ahead with our duck-related games and activities. No registration is required. Meet us in the program room from 10-11 for the fun!

Thursday, July 22 is the final showing of our Thursday Theater. Join us for the showing of Atlantis: The Lost Empire from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Niabi Zoo will be visiting on Friday, July 23 with some water creatures to round out our summer programs. We will meet in the Bettendorf Room (upstairs) at 2:00 p.m. No registration is required.

We hope that you have enjoyed the programs and the variety of offerings this year. I would love to hear your comments - good and bad! We start planning for next summer (and many programs in between) right away so if you have a program topic or idea jot it down and send it to me. I’ll check it out and see if it will fit into our schedule, funding opportunities and themes.

Thank you to everyone who attend our programs!!

Register NOW! Thaddeus Rex is bringing his Write Like a Rock Star workshop to the library next Thursday, July 15 from 2-3 p.m. Kids will get a chance to try their hand at writing poetry and songs and then be a part of the evening family concert at Trinity Iowa Health System (Bettendorf). Kids ages 6-10 are invited to participate and need to register for the workshop. Space is limited so be sure to register NOW!

The evening concert, Read Like a Rock Star will feature Thaddeus Rex and his friend, Rock the dinosaur. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free for all! Bring your chairs or blanket and join us in the Healing Gardens at Trinity. In case of rain, the concert will be held at the Library. Trinity Iowa Health System is the sponsor of the children’s summer reading program.

Wednesday is the day for the return of Gary Liesen, the Snakeman. We will have shows at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Gary is the owner/operator of The Snakeman Snake Shop in Quincy, Illinois. He knows alot about snakes and will share not only the information but have with him some of the different species. There will be time for questions and also the opportunity to touch the snakes at the end of the program if you want. It is a great program - so make plans to join us for one of the sessions!

Join us on Monday, June 14 at 2 p.m. for a visit from two of the cast members from Circa ’21’s performance of GO, DOG, GO! This classic book by P. D. Eastman is sure to be a crowd pleaser as Circa’s Summer Children’s Musical, June 10-29.  We’ll have a simple craft to go along with the book reading, so plan to join us for some fun!

We are kicking off our summer programs on Monday so be sure to check the dates and times!

Preschool Storytimes  begin on Monday after a brief break. Preschool Storytimes are offered on Mondays at 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Wendesdays at 2 p.m. These sessions are for children ages 3-5.

The Bassmesiter will join us on Tuesday, June 8 at 1 p.m. with his “Fishing for Laughs” Comedy Show. This program is for all ages and no registration is required.

We will have the pleasure of hearing Martha Giles perform a Hammered Dulicmer Concert, “Over the Waterfall” on Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m.

Our first Thursday Theater will be this week at 1:30 p.m. We’ll be showing, Surf’s Up which is rated PG and will last for approximately 85 minutes. Come on over for some entertainment out of the heat and/or rain!

I will be reading stories at the Bettendorf Farmer’s Market on Thursday, June 10 from 2-4 p.m. Come check out all the fun things to see and do at the Farmer’s Market just off of State Street.

I want to remind you also that on Monday, June 7 you may start registering for the Margaret Read McDonald storytelling workshop. The session will be held on Wednesday, June 23 at 2 p.m. Kids entering 1-3 grades are invited for this session and registration is required. Click on the calendar of events  to register or give us a call at 344-4178.

Keep reading - the first day to pick up your summer reading awards is June 14!

WOW!! We definitely started today off with a SPLASH! We’ve had tons of kids of all ages in to register and see what is going to be happening at the Library this summer. Remember, you don’t have to come in on the first day to register! We will be taking registration through July 17. If you don’t get in right away, keep track of your reading and transfer it to your log once you receive it.

Our first program is scheduled for next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

We have activities in the library, too - so come join the FUN!