Family Safety Fair! ~ June 8, 2015

A highlight of this year's Summer Reading Program was our Family Safety Fair, held on June 8 from 6:00-7:30 PM on the library grounds.  Major funding for this program was provided by a grant received from the Bellevue Police Community Foundation.
We estimate at least 175 people of all ages attended the event.

Capitalizing on our Summer Reading Program theme, “Every Hero Has a Story”, we planned this event to feature some of the heroes within our community who work to ensure our safety and well-being.  We focused on safety issues that directly affect children and young families, offering activities and displays that would be educational and memorable.  The event was open to the general public although our main focus was on children and young families.


Our special guest presenters included:

Sgt. Larry Lampman and Officer Matt Hoffman, Bellevue Police Department 
Brian Koontz, Bellevue Fire Department
Roger Cox, National Night Out
Kyle Gravlin, KETV Meteorologist
Jane Husz, Safe Kids Coordinator, Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness
Jim DiMauro, Emergency Response Program Specialist, Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness 

Also helping to make this event a success were:
* teen volunteers from Junior Friends of the Bellevue Public Library
* members of the Bellevue/Offutt Kiwanis Club
* residents and staff of Sheltering Tree
* Bellevue Library staff
* members of the Bellevue community.

McDonald's (Galvin Road) provided orange drink as well as drinking cups and the use of a large drink dispenser.  Runza (Galvin Road) provided the "dessert" for our hot dog meal, donating freshly-baked chocolate chips cookies for our guests.  We thank these businesses and their managers for their generous support of this program!

During the 90-minute program, guests visited the check-in table to get their Safety Passport, received a few instructions, and reserved their spot for the free hot dog supper. Guests were then invited to move about the library lawn, stop at the safety stations, visit with each presenter, pick up freebies and safety literature, and play games designed to help reinforce specific safety tips and rules.


The safety topics covered at the event included:
Weather Safety
Fire Safety
Home Safety
Poison Safety
Stranger Danger
Bike Safety/Concussion Prevention
Pet Safety
Water Safety
Emergency Preparedness

In addition, attendees were invited to be measured for a free bike helmet (76 helmets were given away!) and were given the opportunity to learn more about hosting a National Night Out party for their neighbors. As an incentive to sign up as a first-time host of a National Night Out neighborhood party, a Hosting Kit (folding quad chairs, tablecloths, plates, napkins, cups, games, etc.) was awarded to a lucky winner.
Finally, we offered an inflatable obstacle course which was a popular activity throughout the event!!

My grateful thanks to everyone who helped in ways large and small to make this event such a success!

A few of our terrific Junior Friends (teen volunteers) felt it was important to 

test out the obstacle course, "for safety purposes", before our guests arrived!

Papa Bear and Me ~ April 28, 2015

This Papa Bear and Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on April 28, 2015.

Books:

The Zoo is Closed Today! by Evelyn Beilenson, illustrated by Anne Kennedy

How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

The Mouse Who Ate the Moon by Petr Horacek

Each Papa Bear & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Pajama Storytime ~ April 14, 2015

This Pajama Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on April 14, 2015.

Books:

Pizza at Sally's by Monica Wellington

Silly Doggy! by Adam Stower

Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House by Eric Litwin, illustrated by Scott Magoon

This Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Amy Walrod

The Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn and Jack Tickle

Each Pajama Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).