Bug Free Zone at the Library

Everything is underway for What's Cooking @ the Amherst Public Library, our 2008 summer reading program for ages 4 through 104. Many people calling or checking on our website are surprised to find out we're not participating in the State Library of Ohio's Summer Reading Program. As I tell all the kids, go to other libraries, get a card, but nothing beats Amherst Public Library for one of the best summer programs around.

The state seems to be obsessed with bugs, based on the giant 200 page manual they send out, and the countless themes directed at crawling creatures, such as "Trails to Tales" and now this year's theme "Catch the Reading Bug".

This year we're cooking up all kinds of fun. Remember to read a balanced diet including selections from mysteries, non-fiction, poetry, and magazines.

Online registration is available now through our website. Check out our upcoming programming by viewing our summer calendar.

Getting prepped for Summer Reading

The Amherst Public Library is getting prepped for a great summer of fun this year. "Look What's Cooking @ the library" will help you check out all the ingredients for a great summer of activities.

Look for an early bird registration to begin in late May. Remember you can register and log your reading through our website. Registration at the library begins Monday, June 2, for all ages.

We offer three different reading programs. Our kid's program welcomes ages 4 through those students just completing grade 4. If you've just finished grades 5 through 8 then our teen program will feature the return of X-Box afternoon as well as the annual Scavenger Hunt. High School freshmen through those age 104 participate in our adult program.

Look for a calendar and other information very soon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Get Moving with Storytime

Put that book down and let's get moving! Kids at storytime have been reaching new heights as they learn classics like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" along with other rhymes to get them moving. If you're feeling the effects of too much Valentine candy or have already purchased those holiday jelly beans you might want to take a cue from storytime and get off the couch. With spring weddings on the horizon it might also be a good time to review that age old classic...the "Chicken Dance".

Cookie Caper

How many kids can you fit in the storytime room? With two sessions to fill the answer was "a whole lot". Not only did we run short of cookies this year but with more than 70 people in the morning session and 140 people filling in the evening session it was a wild and crazy culinary time.

No one left without their share of frosting and sprinkles. With help from our Lorain County JVS Culinary Academy volunteers we managed to go through 10 pounds of frosting and dozens of sugar cookies. Wait... isn't that our volunteers...those cookies are for the kids! Oh well, everyone's a kid at cookie storytime.

Now what happened to those extra sprinkles?

Sun Sets on Another Summer Reading Fair

More than 400 people gathered on the lawn for one last bash during the recent kids Summer Reading Fair at the Amherst Public Library. Each child received a bag with 15 tickets which they could use to play games like the bean bag throw and the duck pond. Ice pops and popcorn were also just a ticket away with cool, refreshing, lemonade being offered by the "Good Deeds Club" who were raising money for local kids undergoing cancer treatment.

The jump house was a big hit this year as kids lined up to take their turns, throwing off shoes and passing off prize bags to be airborn for just a moment. Even the baseball pitch game was lined up across the lawn. The weather which threatened to be a problem all day, held off and the real rain and thunder managed to skirt around the library with a few gusts of wind being the only real nuisance.

The Amherst Fire Department attended the fair this year and lots of kids sported red fire hats, also good for rain hats, and enjoyed climbing on the fire truck and getting a close up look at all the equipment. The firemen were great and handed out lots of free stuff. I hope they come back next year!

I hope everybody comes back next year. We don't need to "Get a Clue" as to why more than 900 kids and 250 teens took part in library programs this summer. There's no secret as to why almost 1000 kids took part in free craft activities during Wednesday craft days. The long line back to the parking lot of eager kids waiting to sign into the fair tonight is reason enough to know that this year's program was a success. Thank heaven for parents willing to drive kids to the library, to have patience to wait for magicians who've gotten lost, and Metro Park rangers who go to the wrong location, and who help mark off time on paper reading logs. Thank heaven for parents who ride with their kids in cars and on bikes, searching the downtown buildings for scavenger hunt clues.

As the sun sets on another year of summer reading fun I think about what I've told the kids for years, the Amherst Public Library really does have the best summer reading program around. It really doesn't have anything to do with our building, or what our prizes or craft will be that week, or how much money we have left in the budget. It's the kids and families who walk through the door each day...they make us number one. Thanks for a great summer.

See you at the library.
Love,

Ike

Jamboree Parade - A True Animal Fair

I had a great seat for the Amherst Jamboree Parade. I really didn't know what to expect of the event and found out I had a lot in common with many of the participants. I expected marching bands but mostly there were a lot of people riding and lots of four-legged friends. I had no idea.

Check out the dog in the fire truck. He had a great seat but I noticed there wasn't a window so he could stick his head out. Walking alongside the firetruck was the strangest dog I ever saw. He looked friendly but his head was so big they must have had a hard time finding a hat for him.

There were a variety of horses in the parade. One was one horse following a lawn mower and he looked a little stiff. There were other horses, maybe they were younger because they were small and moved very well, who pulled a wagon.

There were lots of kids in the parade, too. We saw many of our summer reading friends who were riding in trucks, twirling batons, and just having a great time.

Lions and elephants, although not common in Amherst, were spotted in the Parade.

I noticed that there was a man with a cart and shovel who followed the horses but no one was following after the elephant which could have been a BIG problem, if you know what I mean. I should call the mayor....wait...there's Mayor Taylor now!

Oh well, it was a great day. I was getting a little hungry when I saw my friends from the new Mexican Restaurant downtown, Quesadilla. Ola, amiga! I think I'll head down and see what the lunch special is today. I love the Fajita special on Wednesdays and of course the two chicken tacos with rice and beans is my usual. Try the sauce on the "Angel" special, awesome! Well I better get back to the Amherst Library. It's been a long day and I may need a nap.

See you at the library, or maybe Quesadilla.

Love,

Ike

Ike Jams at the Jamboree

What a weekend I had at the Amherst Jamboree. I wasn't the only dog jammin' downtown as many of my four footed friends came down for the pet show on Saturday. I don't know where some of these dogs do there shopping but they were decked out. I saw dogs in strollers, dogs with wings, dogs in wagons. It's important on hot afternoons like today to make sure your pet has enough fresh water. Some dogs will do anything for a dog treat. Me, I held out for the pizza eating contest. Here I am guarding boxes of pepperoni pizzas. I saw a lot of familiar faces, most of them covered in sauce. Let me tell you these kids can put away some pizza. There were a lot of summer reading friends in the crowd. Hey...were you guys really here to enter the pizza eating contest or just looking for a free dinner? Well it's off to the lemonade stand to wash down that last slice. I think they're skimping a little on the lemon this year.

Remember this Thursday is the big summer reading fair at the library. I'll see you there!

Love,

Ike

Ike Goes Under Library Spell

Magic Mike visited the Amherst Public Library last night where he presented his program Trick-A-Nosis, an evening of magical mind games. I had never been hypnotized before and was curious to how the whole thing worked. Plus Mrs. Ashton had cookies and lemonade which was reason enough to be there.

Mike started off the program explaining how hypnotism works and a bit of history on the subject. Then he proceeded to hypnotize several volunteers. He had us singing "Happy Birthday" like opera stars and even speaking in alien languages. Mike even had me glued to my seat, literally! Wow, I just know that I woke up feeling like I'd been at the doggie spa for a week.

I think the audience had a good time and the volunteers even got a nice parting gift, just like on Jeopardy. I got a nice travel mug but I could have used a dog dish. In keeping with his stage name, Mike performed a bit of magic for us including a quick lesson in escape magic. After an audience member secured him into a strait jacket, Mike showed us his Houdini side by escaping in record time. Mrs. Ashton is consulting with him on the posibility of getting more strait jackets at the library.

For more info on Magic Mike check out his web site at http://www.magicmikeproductions.com/

See you soon at the library.

Love,

Ike

Chilling Out With Ike
With temperatures moving from pre-heat to broil it was too hot to think about reading. I had to find someplace to cool off and even the pool was like a warm bath and reminded me of being at the dog groomers.

With heat like this I needed to find a place where I could really cool off and I found just the spot. Imagine if we had a big enough piece of ice to cool down the whole library. Well I found someplace where ice is no problem - a hockey rink!

Here I am watching a hockey game. This place was great. I brought my own stick along just in case they needed me to suit up. Check out the big picture up there on the wall. Anyone who can tell me the connection between hockey and Amherst Baseball wins 10 bonus points.

Between games the Zamboni came out and cleaned off the ice. What a great job that would be. Suddenly I got hungry for a snow cone.

I did go down to the skate rental but I couldn't decide if I should rent two skates or four skates....hmmmm.

Anyway, hockey is a great way to cool off.

Check out some of the great hockey books Mrs. Ashton has at the library. My favorite one is "The Magic Hockey Stick" by Peter Maloney.

Watch out! The Black team is about to score! Hey I have to get back to the game. Come see me soon at the Amherst Public Library!

Love,

Ike