Children's Department

February Events & Announcements!
Be a part of our "Literacy Tails!" Open to kids ages 6-12. See below for more information, and register today!
We Crafts! Come to our Valentine's Day Drop-in Craft Tuesday, February 14 from 3:00 - 7:00 pm!	Celebrate Tell a Fairy Tale Day at our Fairy Tale Celebration on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00! Enjoy stories, a craft, and food! You can even dress up! Ages 3-8! Register today!
Check out our Children's Department Blog! Follow what's happening in the Children's Department, from programs to new books to interesting moments throughout the day! Just visit http://jmskids.blogspot.com!
The Library is hosting a Poetry Slam on April 11, 2012 @ 6:30 pm! Open to ALL AGES (meaning children are welcome to participate!) Contact Beth for more details! Any poems must be submitted by March 31

About the Children's Department

Welcome to the second floor! The Jesse Smith Library is committed to providing quality materials (in print, electronic, and other formats), reference services, and programming to patrons of all ages.

The Children's Department is home to thousands of books, magazines, videos, and audiobooks. We also have puzzles, board games, and a puppet theater! Check out our Poetry Corner, located outside the Program Room, or the Calendar, found in the Juvenile Room. Join our LEGO Club, Knitting Group, or Mother Daughter Discussion Group, attend a Story Time or Drop-in Craft, or use the computers. Enjoy a view of the river from our Family Nook, and try to spot the creatures featured on our "Seasons on the Clear River" mural.

Be sure to follow the Children's Department Blog at http://jmskids.blogspot.com. Read about events, programs, books we love or that just came in, new displays, and more! It's a great way to keep up with what's happening upstairs!

Older students should be sure to check out our Young Adult Room, located next the Reference Desk on the first floor!

Children's Programming

Storytimes and Children's Programs are offered throughout the year. Most are tailored to specific age groups, so please note the age guidelines given for each storytime or children's program listed.

Age Guidelines

Storytimes are organized by age, but these ages are only guildeines. Sometimes a two year old may not have enough self-control to be part of a toddler program while a three year old may be ready for a preschool program. Parents, you know your child best and you should use your knowledge and the advice of the Children's Department staff to place your child in the appropriate program. Staff may also suggest a change if your original placement proves inappropriate.

Weather Cancellations

Story Time Programs will be cancelled if classes in the Burrillville Public Schools are cancelled, even if the library elects to remain open. Please call to confirm cancellations of other Children's programs.

Questions

If you have any questions about our children's programs, please call the library and speak with one of our Children's Librarians, Cindy Szymanski or Casey Pellerin.

Upcoming Programs  [ TOP ]

Yo Kids! Yo-yo Program

The Yo-yo Program is currently being rescheduled. Check back soon for a new date!

Come learn about the history of the yo-yo, and try some tricks, with local high school student Jesse the Yo-Yo Man! Crafts, snacks, and games are all part of the fun! So bring your yo-yo if you have one, and come even if you don't, to have some fun at the library!

Open to children ages 7 - 12.

Poetry Slam

The Jesse Smith Library is hosting a Poetry Slam on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 6:30 pm in the Community Room! Poets of all ages, from 2 to 200, are invited to read their original poetry to the audience. Audience members will vote, by ballot, on their favorite reading!

All poems for reading must be submitted by Saturday, March 31, 2012. Contact Beth (often found in Reference) for more information!

Regular Storytimes

All storytimes and children's programs consist of age-appropriate stories, fingerplays, and occasional crafts and movies.

The library offers regular storytimes tailored to these specific age groups:
 
Baby (Birth - 24 mo), Toddler (2 - 3½ yrs), Preschool (3½ - 5 yrs).

Registration for Storytimes

Storytimes are NOT drop in programs and registration must be done for all age groups.

Registration for March & April Toddlertimes and Preschool Storytimes is going on now!

Please note, Babytimes has rolling registration, so please join whenever!

> > >    Registration may be done in person
> > >    or by phone (401-710-7800)
> > >    during regular library hours.

Winter 2012 Storytimes     [ TOP ]

Babytimes

Ages birth to 24 months

The Jesse Smith Library offers programs for babies ages birth through 24 months.

Baby storytimes are about 45 minutes long.

For years, babies have been considered "too young" to benefit from the library. It is only recently that parents and librarians have recognized the value of exposing the youngest of children to the sounds of people talking, the tunes and cadences of songs, and the rhythms and repetitions of poems and stories. The public library provides a warm and welcoming place for babies and their caregivers to experience the richness of the English language and the companionship of other babies and adults.

The goals of the program are to promote literacy and the love of language from the beginning of the child's life, and to provide a time and place for caregivers and their babies to share books and to socialize in a group setting. Each session begins with rhymes, and continues with songs, stories, and toys.

Fridays 10:30 to 11:00
Babytimes runs through Spring, and has a rolling registration. Join whenever!

Toddlertimes     [ TOP ]

Ages 2 - 3½ years

Toddler storytimes are for children ages 2 - 3½ years. These sessions consist of simple books, finger plays, music and easy crafts. Children are ready for this age group when they are comfortable paying attention for short periods of time and are ready to start being part of a sturctured group.

These children must be accompanied to each session by an adult.

Toddler storytimes are about 30 minutes long.

Choose Tuesdays 10:30 to 11:00
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 3, 10

OR Wednesdays 10:30 to 11:00
March 7, 14, 21, 28
April 4, 11

Preschool     [ TOP ]

Ages 3½ to 5 years

Preschool storytimes are for children ages 3½ - 5 years who do not need to be accompanied by an adult. The sessions consist of stories, music, and crafts. Children are ready for this age group when they are comfortable being separated from their adult caregiver for the duration of the program and are ready to be part of a sturctured and cooperative group of young children.

Preschool storytimes are about 45 minutes long.

Tuesdays 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 3, 10

About Our Ongoing Programs      [ TOP ]

Drop-In Crafts

The Jesse Smith Library Children's Department offers drop-in crafts for different age groups throughout the calendar year. Many of the crafts are related to holidays, or have themes associated with other programming. No registration is necessary for drop-in crafts. Children under age 6 must have a parent or guardian attend the craft with them.

Saturday Storytime Series

Celebrate special days at the library with these special Saturday storytimes! February's storytime celebrates "Tell a Fairy Tale Day", or come to our "Kick Out the Winter Party" in March! Each special Saturday storytime features stories, fun crafts, and food. Registration is required, open to ages 3-8, and parents are welcome to stay for the fun!

At our Fairy Tale Celebration, kids are invited to dress up as their favorite fairy tale character or creature, or come as themselves, while they listen to tales from once upon a time, followed by crafts and food. Let the imagination soar! February 25, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Literacy Tails (Formerly "Read to A Furry Friend")

Kids are invited to read to Theo the Springer spaniel and his friends, Guin, Tucker, and Tess, all certified pet therapy dogs, for twenty minute sessions in the Children's Program Room!

Reading to dogs has been shown to improve student's reading abilities by giving them a non-judgemental audience to practice reading aloud on. Therapy dogs are trained for just such activities, as they are friendly, trained to listen, and enjoy being around people. For more on pet therapy, and how dogs can help improve your child improve his or her reading skills, check out this news report on the benefits of reading to dogs, the Windwalkers Humane Coalition website, which certified Theo and his friends, or stop by the Children's Department for some interesting books!

• Read with Tucker or Tess on Saturday, January 28 & Saturday, February 18! Sessions at 1:00, 1:20, & 1:40 pm

 

• Read with Theo or Guin on Wednesday, February 8 & February 22! Sessions at 6:00, 6:20, & 6:40 pm

For ages 6-12. Registration and permission slip signature are required!

Clubs

Lego Club

This is a drop-in program for ages 12 and under. No registration is necessary. Children under age 6 must have a parent or guardian attend the craft with them.

Knitting Club

This is a drop-in program for ages 10 and up, and adults are welcome to attend, too. No registration is necessary.

All skill levels are welcome, and knitting guru Sue Dinola is available to help. Needles and yarn can be provided to participants, if needed.

Mother-Daughter Discussion Group

A great way for moms and daughters to connect as well as sharing lively discussion and fun activities with others!

For girls ages 9-12. Meets monthly. New members always welcome!

Information for Parents      [ TOP ]

These Library has put together these informational brochures:

Your Child and the Internet
"When you give a child a library card, you are giving that child access to a wide variety of library materials, among which is the Internet..."

Please Note: Restricting a Child's Library Internet Access
Parents who wish to restrict their child's Internet use at the library may request a "No Internet Use" notation be placed on the child's library card. Parents must request this restriction in person.

What is Your Child's Learning Style?
"...Knowing and understanding the types of learning styles is important for students of every age..."

Bullying: A Bibliography for Children and Parents
"As a community, we need to commit to providing a bullying-free environment for everyone..." This brochure contains a sampling of materials available on the topic to help prevent bullying, and to help cope with and stop bullying.

For more help on this topic, please ask at the Children's Service Desk or at the Reference Desk.

Copies of these brochures may be obtained at the Children's Service Desk or at the Reference Desk.

The online versions are in pdf format, and are free to download.

JMS Library Internet Use for Children      [ TOP ]

The Children's Department of the JMS Library reminds parents that it is the parents who are ultimately responsible for deciding if and how their children will use the Internet in the public library.

The computers in the JMS Children's Department are available to kids 13 years of age and younger who have a library card. Library staff does NOT monitor each child's individual use.

Parents who wish to restrict their child's Internet use at the library may request a "No Internet Use" notation be placed on the child's library card. Parents must request this restriction in person at the library.

For more information on Internet safety, please see our brochure, "Your Child and the Internet."

Suggested Web Sites on Internet Safety

safekids.com
Kids Rules for Online Safety and more

ala.org/greatsites
Great Web Wites for Kids from the American Library Association