The new book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series is being release on Novermber 9. The Ugly Truth is sure to be a hit like the other four books in the series.  Rest assured that the library will have copies for loan as soon as we can get them!  Abrams, the publisher of the books is gearing up for it’s second Diary of a Wimpy Kid Ice-Treat Truck Tour across America and Canada.  There will be two locations in Iowa – August 28 it will  be at the Borders in West Des Moines at noon and then at 4 p.m. on the same day at the Barnes and Noble in Cedar Rapids. If you are anywhere close to these – be sure to stop in for a treat!  Note: Jeff Kinney will not be making in-person appearances and will not be signing books at any appearance.   For more information go to:
http://www.abramsbooks.com/wimpy_kid_ice_cream_truck_tour.html.

Librarians in our nation’s 123,000 libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of people every day.  If a librarian has made a difference in your life, now is the chance to tell your story.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community.

Nominations will be open from August 2 to September 20. 

Up to 10 librarians in public, school and college, community college and university libraries will be selected to win $5,000 and will be honored at a ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library. Winners will be announced in December 2010.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.  Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

For more information and to nominate a librarian, visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

The award is supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.

It is administered by The American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library association in the world, and The Campaign for America’s Libraries, ALA’s public awareness campaign about the value of libraries and librarians.

Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family  fun is no illusion. Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant Levitytia lead audience members through an extraordinary world of fantasy that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and also wards off the cynica Mr. Gravity and his team of Heavies, who try to bring everyone down.

And . . . you can enter to win tickets at the Bettendorf Public Library! Starting Monday, August 9 children ages 5-10 may enter to win one of 50 pairs of tickets for opening night, Thursday, September 2. All you have to do is tell us the name of a book you have read since August 1. Fill out an entry form and we will draw winning names on Monday, August 23. One entry per child! Winners will receive vouchers for the free tickets and must go to the
i wireless Center Box Office to get their actual tickets.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents ZING ZANG ZOOM. Playing the i wireless Center September 2nd-5th.  Ticket Prices starting at just $13. A Labor Day Weekend Tradition! Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.com, the i wireless Center Box Office, or call 1-800-745-3000.

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!