Children's Programs
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
Monthly Children's Programs:
SPECIAL NOTE: Head over to the Elkins Virtual Library page for Children's Services.
DIGITAL PROGRAMMING IS AVAILABLE DURING THIS QUARANTINE TIME!
We have some exciting programs for your babies and toddlers. If you care for a child age birth to 5, please come! Every Tuesday at 10:00am you can find fun activities and children’s programming at Elkins Public Library. Here is an idea of what to expect:
1st Tues of the month: JUMPING BEANS: this program is our most physical offering. After a brief introduction we get right down to a wiggle dance followed by an interactive reading. The 45-minute program revolves around dance, storytelling, singing, yoga and stretching. After a quick goodbye song, we break out into active games or activities.
2nd Tues of the month: ROCK AND READ: this program developed 7 years ago, features an established routine each time we meet. Babies and toddlers are encouraged to dance and wiggle, sing and play instruments. The consistency of the songs and activity allow the younglings to anticipate and feel confident when they can sing along and remember what comes next. This program is followed by a craft or activity and time to socialize and have a snack.
3rd Tues of the month: STORY HOUR: although every program at the Library revolves around a book, this program is a more traditional story time. After Wembly greets the children by name, we enjoy our favorite dances, finger rhymes, felt stories, picture books and book discussion. After a quick break for snack and refreshment, we enjoy a take-home craft. Remember that all ages are welcome!
4th Tues of the month: SENSORY CIRCUS: keeping in mind that children born in the last 5 years have an entirely new way of learning and engaging in the world, this program features 10 center-based activities that the child can circulate through, taking the time that they need with each stop. Music fills the room and parents and caregivers can visit while engaging in the play.
LEGO CLUB! Children and families are welcome to come and build together with Lego bricks. This club meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 4:00. We have over 12,000 bricks and plenty of ideas to inspire the young builders in your household. This is a drop-in club, no sign up required.
TEENS AND AFTERSCHOOLERS!
Come and recommend books, movies and programs you would like to see at your library! Do your homework with help, occasionally enjoy a snack and hang out and talk. Children are allowed in the library without a parent when they are 9 and older. Ask at the Circulation Desk for more information and rules.
1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN! We are excited to introduce our participation in this national program. The single most important thing you can do to prepare your child to read independently is to read to them every day. Congratulations to all of the children participating in the program! These kids make us SO proud! If you complete a chart showing that you have read 100 books and turn it in to Mrs. Baker – the next time you come to the library, there will be a present waiting for you! Come to the library to find out more!
MAKER SPACE! The newest trend in libraries is at Elkins! It’s a creative, DIY space where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. Stay tuned to the newsletter, this website, Facebook and the town-wide email to hear what we will feature each month. Come every afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00pm to enjoy this fun time after your homework is done.
TODDLER TOWN: Come in ANY TIME and play and spend time in your library. We have all sorts of toys to choose from thanks to the Friends of Elkins Public Library.
YOUTH OUTREACH: We are pleased to be in the classrooms every month at CES and Dewey School at Canterbury Shaker Village It is a pleasure to serve the young people of this town, you are reading at record numbers!
WINTER WARM UP, BIG TRUCK DAY AND SUMMER READING EVENTS LISTED BELOW!
Adult Programs
SPECIAL NOTE: Head over to the Elkins Virtual Library page for Digital Resources.
PUZZLE SWAP: All puzzles should be at least 500 pieces and in very good condition.
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP every third Tuesday of the month. The books are in and available at the Circulation desk. Join this group for interesting discussion and fellowship. Email the Library to get signed up for the Zoom meeting of this group!
ADVENTUROUS LADIES AND DARING MEN SOCIAL CLUB!
Formerly known as Zen Coloring Beginning Oct. 3 and weekly on Thursdays from 1:30 to 3pm. You are invited to experience a variety of programs such as Chair Yoga, a pizza party, speakers, games, holiday cookie decoration, book discussions, movies, coloring and more! The schedule will be posted on the Elkins Public Library Facebook page, in the Canterbury Town e-mail and in the newsletter.
AL&DMSC!
OMBBC (Old Man Boring Book Club): Join us for reviews of the latest history and biography books available at Elkins. The club consists of several adults from the community. This group will meet the first Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. Women are invited and encouraged to attend! This group typically decides to take July and August off. Join them again in September!
RUG BRAIDING! Kate Goegel teaches oval rug braiding here at the Library. Usually there is a small materials fee, sign-up is required and the class size is limited. Some experience recommended. Please contact Sue at 783-4386 for information concerning the next session. .
Adult Programs
PROGRAMS 2020
Elkins Library’s presents The Pointine Theater and their original puppetry on Wednesday, December 9 a 7pm. Pontine Theater’s, ‘A White Heron,” was written by Sarah Orne Jewitt, a celebrated Maine author from from the turn of the Century. A wonderful story that will appeal to all ages.
This year’s edition of “A New England Christmas” features an original adaptation of Sarah Orne Jewett’s short story “A White Heron.” In the mid-1880s, after the Atlantic Monthly turned down her newest story, Sarah Orne Jewett wrote to her friend and companion Annie Fields, “What shall I do with my ‘White Heron’ now she is written? She isn’t a very good magazine story, but I love her, and I mean to keep her for the beginning of my next book.” Jewett kept her word and used it as the title story of her next book. Readers were universally delighted, and nearly every reviewer singled out “A White Heron” for praise. One critic exclaimed that the story “is a tiny classic. One little episode of child-life, among birds and woods makes it up; and the secret soul of a child, the appeal of the bird to its instinctive honor and tenderness, never were interpreted with more beauty and insight.” Recently “A White Heron” has found new life as feminist scholars have reconsidered the story’s themes. It mimics and then subverts the old-fashioned fairy tale, in which the arrival of a princely figure challenges a young girl to reassess her place in the world. All of which explains why this rejected magazine submission remains Jewett’s most celebrated story.
Special Programs
IMAGINE YOUR STORY 2020 Summer Reading!
SUMMER READING 2020 "Imagine Your Story" was a success! We had a wonderfully busy summer celebrating the theme of "Imagine Your Story". Hundreds of kids and families participated in our virtual programming. The
wonderful thing about digital content is that it is still available in case you missed any of the fun. Head to the Virtual Library page on this website to watch and join in with Wildlife Encounters, Marek Bennett Comic Workshop or Mrs. Baker's Summer themed craft programs. We show you how to make your own magic wands, medieval shields and swords, dragon eggs, fairy houses, wizard and witch hats with things
you have around the house. Learn about animals and the stories that they tell and bring them to life in your own comic book creation.
Winter Warm Up!
WINTER WARM UP! We had a wonderful time!
February 27, 2020 (the Thursday of the February school vacation) was a super fun day of entertainment and homemade macaroni and cheese and fruit treats. It’s always so much fun on a cold, wintery day at the Library. This year we featured the fabulous Lindsay and her Puppet Pals! Lindsay brings her larger than life Puppet Pals to child and family audiences across NH, MA, and ME. Funny, fast paced, and interactive, this variety show delights the young and the young at heart!
Learn more at
https://www.lindsayspuppetpals.com/ and stayed tuned for our 2021 event!
Big Truck Day 2020
The Big Truck Day 2020 was amazing!
In cooperation with Shaker Regional School District we combined efforts to bring you a great parade!
On Wednesday, 4/29/20, Shaker Regional teachers, support staff and the Elkins Public Library staff assembled and joined in the parade. We saw plenty of smiles, waves, and some noise-making! Children enjoyed coloring sheets, fresh pencils and activity books to bring home. For pictures, head to the "Virtual Library" page of this website. We can't wait to bring you details on the 2021 Big Truck Day Event!
