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!

Park & Read - Summer Reading Program 2015 - Updated Weekly!

Park and Read, a weekly storytime event offered during the Summer Reading Program, is held at Washington Park, located at Franklin St. and 20th Ave. in Olde Towne Bellevue.

I will update this blog weekly, adding new lists of books read at this event, and adding a few photos, too!



June 1, 2015:

Rodeo Red by Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle

Froggy's Birthday Wish by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Press Here by Herve Tullet

June 8, 2015:

Super Guinea Pig to the Rescue by Udo Weigelt, illustrated by Nina Spranger

T.L.C. by  M. H. Clark, illustrated by Shahab Shamshirsaz

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

June 15, 2015:
(Canceled due to rain)

Omaha Gives 2015: Thank You!!

The Bellevue Library and Bellevue Library Foundation extend their gratitude to all who contributed to the Foundation during the OmahaGives24 nonprofit fund-raising event and the "I Love My Library" raffle (winners in the raffle were notified as of June 1). Our thanks to: Antiques on Franklin; Bedouin Star Dance Company; the Bellevue East High School AFJROTC members and Lt. Donna Brown; Bob's Gym; Charkay Salon; Chick-fil-A; Dairy Queen; Drizzles Bakery; Erwin's Jewelers; the Fab 3 band members; Famous Dave's Barbeque; Fin-Tastic Fish; Hairmasters; Hiland Dairy; JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts; Mama Kelly's; Mangelsen's; Marathon Ventures; Mary Peterson (and Paws dog Cooper); Merchandise It Up; Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant; Nebraska Parrot Rescue; No Body's Perfect; Omaha Bee Club; Phyllis Bonds (and Paws dog Brody);  Rachel Bielstein; Runza (Galvin Road); Skate City; Victoria Edwards, Pampered Chef consultant; Village Inn; and Westlake Ace Hardware. Here is a short video of the Library expressing our "thanks" for all our business and community support.

OmahaGives 2015: A Promotional Video for The Bellevue Library Foundation

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015, the Bellevue Public Library will participate in OmahaGives, a 24-hour fundraising campaign aimed at encouraging philanthropy and offering percent matches for donations made to qualifying nonprofits.  The Bellevue Library Foundation will be soliciting donations which, this year, have been designated for Youth and Young Adult Programming. 

The link below will take you to a video that shows some of the programs offered through the Children's Department. Here is the link to the video.  Enjoy!

We have a fun day planned at the library!  We will have a Beatles cover band, a belly dancing performance, a Meet and Greet with some of our Pawsitive Reading dogs, a ROTC drill team demonstration, refreshments, a solo violinist, a beekeeping presentation, and more!

We will also hold a raffle for a number of prize baskets!  

I hope our wonderful patrons will consider donating as little as $10 to the Bellevue Library Foundation during OmahaGives on May 20!  (https://www.omahagives24.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=overview&fwID=1315)  

The library's books and other materials are the "brains", 

the collective knowledge and wisdom of our community, 

but our patrons are the heartbeat of the library!

                                             ~ Mrs. B.

Every Hero Has a Story - 2015 Summer Reading Program Promotional Video

The Summer Reading Program at the Bellevue Public Library will be held from May 26 - July 17, 2015.  We have a reading program for those children entering Kindergarten - 6th grade, as well as a Read-to-Me program for those from birth - Pre-K.  We will also be offering 56 programs, parties and storytimes during the 53 days of SRP!

Here is a sneak peek at "Every Hero Has a Story"!

Getting to Know...Mac Barnett!

I had the opportunity to meet author Mac Barnett at The Bookworm Bookstore on May 3, 2015. While just about everybody in Omaha was focused on getting investment advice at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting that weekend, I invested my time in learning more about one of my favorite authors.  And I got a great return on my investment! It was a chance to bond with my assistant, Michelle, while having the opportunity to rub shoulders with this blue chip author!  Interest was high and, since it was a free event, I left no broker than when I arrived!  My current assets did allow me to purchase several books for signing, although my big disappointment was not being able to purchase a copy of "Count the Monkeys" anywhere in the metro. I was even willing to pay more than the fair market price!  The next time I get to hear Mac speak I'll need to stock up on books ahead of time, which might yield a better selection of titles! Okay...enough investment talk! 

I first heard Mac speak a few years ago at the Nebraska State Reading Association annual convention and was anxious to learn more about him and enjoy his goofball sense of humor!

He started off by reading his newest picture book: The Skunk

Because of the acoustics at The Bookworm, as well as the fact that they were busy with many customers, I did not get the best sound quality.  I have added captions to this video, and the ones that follow, for those who might find it helpful.

So many unanswered questions. Who is this skunk?  Why is he following the man?  Why doesn't he like milk?...or does he just resent being served from a saucer?   What's a pocket watch? Is it the same as an iPhone?  

Even Mac seems perplexed...and HE'S the author!

Be sure to read the rest of this little gem to find out what this skunk is up to!


Next, Mac pulled out Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, which won a Caldecott Honor for illustrator Jon Klassen.  In fact, this is the SECOND time Jon Klassen has won a Caldecott Honor for illustrating a Mac Barnett story!  Do you know what the other book is? **

Here is a fun promo video made by Mac and Jon

The final book Mac highlighted was his most recent novel, The Terrible Two, co-written with Jory John and illustrated by Kevin Cornell.

This story is about two students in the idyllic little town of Yawnee Valley who try to outwit, outsmart, and out-prank each other.  

Before Mac read the first chapter from the book, he had to initiate us into his secret prankster society.  Here he is showing us the Mac Barnett/Jory John prankster two-finger signal.

More "magical" moments with Mac (Or, "The Case of the Case of the (Almost) Purloined Camera"):

Now that we know the secret hand signal, it's time to take the Prankster's Oath!

Following his presentation Mac stuck around for book signing and picture taking!

 "Watch it there, Michelle.  You're gonna give Mac writer's cramp!

My thanks to The Bookworm Bookstore for hosting Mac Barnett's visit to Omaha!



** Jon Klassen also received the Caldecott Honor for Extra Yarn!

http://www.macbarnett.com/

https://www.ted.com/talks/mac_barnett_why_a_good_book_is_a_secret_door?language=en

http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Mac-Barnett/45720819