Listen Up!

There's nothing like a good book. Nothing like feeling it in your hands, turning the pages, delighting in the written words inside. Children share that same attraction, and some days would love it if you would just sit with them and read all day long! When that happens, and you’re short on time, never fear ~ audiobooks to the rescue!

In the past, there were audio cassettes, and then CDs. These days the library offers several other audio formats to match your busy lifestyle. While audio cassettes have gone the way of the dinosaurs, CD books are still alive and well on the shelves, and today there are several digital audio formats from which to choose, so there's bound to be one that suits your lifestyle and time constraints. eAudiobooks are plentiful, and listed in our catalog along with their print counterparts. Playaways are pre-loaded MP3 audio books, featured in both the adult and children's collections. Our Tumblebook Library for young readers also gives you loads of choices of fiction and nonfiction titles that are suitable for children of all ages.

Hoopla, a benefit accessible through the library’s web site, features eBooks, music, movies, comics, and more. Items are always available and ready to be downloaded quickly and easily onto your computer, tablet, or phone, or streamed through your device so you can take them with you when you’re on the move. During the month of March, the regular limit of ten free downloadable items from Hoopla has been doubled to twenty! The kids' version of Hoopla offers children's stories, movies and more for young listeners' pleasure.

So give a book a listen. Don’t be surprised if you and your children discover some narrators you really like, and find yourself seeking out anything they’ve done. You're not cheating by listening instead of reading; you're just being smart, taking advantage of all of the wonderful resources available to you!

Guest post by Bridget W. 

Beat the Spring Break Blues!

Some of you might be wondering what in the world I could be talking about—Spring Break Blues?! I mean, who doesn’t LOVE Spring Break?! Well, if you’ve ever taken little ones out of town, you’ve probably experienced at least a little bit of the madness that can occur during a long ride in a car (or plane, or train…you get the point). Kids get bored and cranky, and that tends to make everyone a little cranky. Luckily for you, the library has some great ways to entertain your littlest travel companions and combat the Spring Break Blues:

-Audiobooks: We have tons of audiobooks for your little listeners, from collections of shorter picture books to family-friendly chapter books that can entertain the whole gang. CD books are great for a car ride when everyone wants to listen, and playaways are perfect for individual listeners or times when you don’t have access to a CD player.

-Bagged Books: Our bagged books, as we call them, are bags that contain a picture book and CD. These are perfect for times when there’s only one adult in the car (please don’t read and drive) or if you’re like me and get carsick trying to read on the move. Kids get to listen to the story while following along with the words and pictures.

-Music CDs: Listening to music is a great way to pass the time on a long trip. Check out our extensive selection of children’s CDs to find new songs to learn or some of your old favorites. I’m going to be honest and say that I can really jam to some of the old Disney soundtracks, like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.

-‘Brary Bags: While great anytime, our ‘brary bags are fabulous for trips. Each themed bag includes three books related to its theme, a game or toy, and an early literacy tips sheet that gives parents extra information and extension ideas. Our wide selection includes baby, toddler, preschool, and kindergarten bags.

-eCollection: If you’re traveling with smart phones, laptops, or tablets, our eCollection will certainly come in handy. The library offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMusic, and more. This is a great way to access our collection without weighing down your luggage!

Finally, if your Spring Break Blues are caused by the fact that you’re staying in town, come visit the library’s Spring Break Activity Center. We’ll have fun, springtime crafts set out all week (March 27th- April 4th) at both libraries for you and your kids to enjoy!