With the variety of activities, fun, creativity and so much more for kids today … This is not your Father’s library. Take Valentines. This week the kids celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big fashion.
In addition to all their drawings and creative works all around the library, the bookmarks they created and which are available at no charge at the front desk, and the number of kids that always seem to be in there doing something or other, the kids wrote why they love this library for Valentine’s Day. Stop in and look at the arrangements of love notes about the library and its employees that tell why kids in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands are frequently sitting in this very comfortable and very homey atmosphere.
A few kids, like Roman, Loren and Gwen signed their love notes, but all of them say just about the same thing: they love the library because of “the great projects,” or the Elmo books,” or the fact there are “so many books.” Of course some like it as one youngster said simply because “I learn stuff!” or story time, or the computer access, or, like Howard, simply wrote because “I like it.”
Many like the library especially for Ms. Lauren, the children’s librarian who sings, jumps, exercises and dances with them both before and after story time. And some like it for other reasons, as Gwen said. Why does she like the library in Borough Hall? Because, as she wrote, “it makes me connect!” Be that connecting with people, other friends, knowledge, or something else, Gwen’s statement certainly sums it all up.
The newest book club taking advantage of all that’s offered right here on First Avenue is the recently formed OLPH St Agnes Book Club. Retired educator Joe Bullwinkle was the driving force behind this club, and all are invited to join and gather on the first Monday of every month to talk about the latest selections.
As Joe said, even if you haven’t read the book, stop in for some light refreshments, great friendship, and hear some discussion of the book; who knows, it might entice you to pick it up and read it sometime yourself. Their selections are certainly varied, so far they’ve run the gamut from the autobiography of former tv star Bishop Fulton J. Sheehan to Chika, the story of a youngster brought to the United States from her orphanage in her own country for necessary surgery. It did not save her life, as you learn in the very beginning, but she certainly captured hearts in the process.
This month’s selection is Faith Still Moves Mountains, Harris Faulkner’s series of short true stories about how faith of all kinds has made the difference in life and death situations. Even if you’re not a Fox News follower, Harris is a great story teller and a woman of great faith.
Next on tap after Faulkner’s book is another great one, Rome Sweet Home, with the Hahns, husband and wife, telling their story about how they changed their lives.
The club meets next on March 6 at 7 p.m. in the basement of St Agnes Church. Stop in, meet some new folks and bring your own ideas for books to read in the future.
