Boo-tiful Costumes

We're in the Halloween Spirit here at the library. Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, we'll never pass up the opportunity to have a little fun. Have a peek at the costumes found today at the library.

Spider Witch

Hippie

Severus Snape (Potions Master)

Cat in the Hat

Witch



Gypsy/Pirate

Jester

Pumpkin

Library Funding Cuts

The Library System of Lancaster County and our library are both in the news today, as part of the 2007 Lancaster County Budget Process.

Read this article from today's Lancaster Online for information:

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/28779

More on the story will appear on tonight's "Fox 43 News @ Ten" as well, featuring interviews with our director, Debra Rosser-Hogben, and our system administrator, Susan Hauer.

Thoughts and Prayers

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Lancaster Public Library go out to the Amish families in our community who have suffered as a result of yesterday's school shooting.

Book Bargains This Weekend!

As part of the celebration of "Hometown Days" here in Lancaster on Saturday, the FRIENDS of Lancaster Public Library will be holding a book sale in the Bates Auditorium on Saturday, the 9th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come shop and get a look at some great book bargains for the holiday season (can you believe it's around the corner again?)

The Staff of the library will have a white elephant and bake sale as well.

Shifting Around Series...

The Youth Services Department has shifted around our paperback materials, and has expanded our offerings of series books (such as Boxcar Children, Hardy Boys, etc.). Since locations of several titles may have moved since your last visit, we invite you to ask a librarian for help in finding what you're looking for.

Kudos to colleagues!

While this blog is officially listed as part of the Youth Services Department at the library, we hope to use this space to share thoughts, web links, and when the need arises, exciting library news as well.

Our colleagues in Mount Joy, PA, at the Milanof-Schock Library, were named as Library Journal's "Best Small Library in America" for 2006! We offer our warmest congratulations, and invite you to take a look at the article in it's online form.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6299831.html

Director named "Employee of the Year"

At the library's general staff meeting today, the Staff turned the tables on our director, Debra Rosser-Hogben. Traditionally, Debra solicits nominations from members of the staff for an "Employee of the Month," but in recognition of her hard work, dedication, and vision for the future of the library, she was named as the first ever "Employee of the Year" for 2005. Staff and Board members presented her with several gifts to signify our appreciation, and then we enjoyed some special cake.

The library, including all of us in the Youth Services Department, are looking forward to a wonderful 2006 with leaders like our Director guiding us along the way.

A day of judging....

Today, the library is full of patrons as the weather outside tries to decide whether it will stay warm, or if we're due to get a little snow and people are stocking up on both leisure reading or finding a good Science Fair project to work on.

Several library staff members have joined with others in the community to serve today as judges in the Scholastic Writing Awards. We will post a list of local winners, as well as any who qualify for the National Judging and awarded prizes.

Check out http://www.scholastic.com/artandwritingawards/about.htm
for more information about the contest.

New Year, New Start for Department!

Welcome to the first entry in the new blog for the Youth Services Department at Lancaster Public Library!

This will be the newest, best spot on the web to find out about the wide variety of happenings in your local public library's children's department. As we go along, we will share more with you about the people who work behind the library's desk....with a new staff addition coming Monday, the 23rd!

For now, we invite you to call the library at 239-2106 or e-mail us at youthservices@lancaster.lib.pa.us to register for any of the following events on our calendar:

Thursday, January 26: Pre-school Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Theme: Dinosaurs

Thursday, February 2nd: Pre-school Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Theme: Groundhog Day

Thursday, February 9th: Pre-school Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Theme: Valentine's Day

Have a good weekend! Check back here Monday for news of some new Award-winning books!