Yes, it is still winter and will be for a bit longer. But while we are experiencing cold temperatures, snow, and some icy rain, for those who are not into outdoor activities, this is a great time to hide out at home and catch up on our reading.
In Marshall, we are fortunate to have a terrific public library where you can borrow all kinds of reading material for every family member, from toddlers to seniors. They also offer programs you can attend when you want to get out of the house but stay out of the cold.
Reading with the little ones in the family:
It is never too early to instill the love of reading in our small children. Get them excited about reading by taking them to Toddler Time with Mother Goose at the Marshall Public Library. This is presented every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10:30 am. The library promises you and the little ones will experience an interactive, fast-paced, fun-filled thirty minutes of rhymes, songs, puppets, musical instruments to play, and more. This is a national program that our library is privileged to have. It has been proven to stimulate the learning process of babies, and toddlers ages zero to three. If you are a parent or caregiver of small children, you may be seeking ways to keep them busy while still learning during these cold months when lots of time is spent indoors. Rather than just watching kid’s TV shows, check out this program and also go to the Mother Goose on the Loose website. They have lots of information and resources to help you educate and entertain your toddler. Find them at https://mgol.net/.
Something for your preschoolers 3 through 5 years old:
Register your little one for the monthly Little Book Beginners program. These thirty-minute sessions happen on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm at the library. The program includes listening to stories, learning finger plays, and doing interactive projects with the parents and caretakers. It’s not just for them. This program will help you gain information and techniques about the most effective ways to read to your children and learn the best ways to set up reading environments at home that are conducive to reading and learning. Each child will receive a free book to take home at each session and an additional book if they complete their monthly reading log. Registration is limited, so please call the Public library to register in advance. 217-826-2535
Almost Tweens and Tweens:
Do you have kids who are in grades third through sixth? If so, they are invited to attend free STREAM events every third Tuesday of the month during the school year. These are held at North Elementary School from 3 – 4 pm and are run by retired Junior High Science teacher Kathy English. The program combines science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and mathematics as she creates exciting hands-on activities allowing the kids to collaborate, build, and experiment using various tools.
To register, please call the public library at 217-826-2535
For teens and adults ages 14 and up:
It’s still possible to join the Cabin Fever Reading Program.
Pick up your “Cabin Fever” bookmark at the library or on the library webpage or Facebook page and record all the books you read up until February 18th.
Read as many books as you like, list one book per bookmark, and exchange the completed bookmark at the circulation desk or online for a new bookmark.
Each completed bookmark is an entry in the weekly drawing for the chance to win one of the gift cards from one of our local Marshall restaurants. (Prizes are sponsored by the Friends of the Library.)
The reader with the highest number of bookmarks turned in by February 18th will win the grand prize! SO… GET READING!
Something to help adults, particularly seniors:
The Marshall Public Library is again offering free tax assistance this year for middle to low-income taxpayers, especially our seniors 55 and older. The volunteers in this program have been trained through the AARP Tax-Aide program in cooperation with the IRS and provide this confidential tax preparation service at no charge.
Make an appointment to attend a session in the library. Persons interested should call the library at 217-826-2535 to schedule an appointment. This service will continue through April 15th.
Stay warm, Marshall, and keep on learning!
