September is library card sign up month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and we want to make sure that your child has smartest card of all – a library card.

Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.

A library card has always been the most important school supply of all. Kids can come to the library to get homework help and check out books, but they can also check out DVDs and use the Internet .

A recent study by the American Library Association also showed that families use libraries to spend time together. Forty-four percent of survey respondents report taking their children to the library for this reason.

Florida weather

We are all interested in the weather...especially at this time of year and after we've just come through Tropical Storm Fay. Weather Information from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) is a good source of up-to-date weather information.

Florida Division of Emergency Management is another good source of emergency information and includes information on current conditions and preparing a plan for emergencies and disasters of all types.

Do you know Bulwer-Lytton?

It was a dark and stormy night....

These words start the book Paul Clifford (1830) by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton. Today would be writers compete to write the most awful first sentence in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

The contest is run by the English department of San Jose State University. Entries are judged and the winner receives his 15 minutes of fame.

Take a look at some of the entries and winners..makes you appreciate all the good books that libraries have.

Olympics 2008

On this most auspicious day in Chinese culture (8/8/08), the 2008 Summer Olympics began.

There is much discussion and interest about the games...political discussion about China and interest in the athletes.

Here's the International Olympic website: http://www.olympic.org/ and the website of the Beijing Games.

If you like to read about the Olympics, the libraries have many books and videos on the games, the history of the Olympics, and biographies about Olympic athletes. Sports Illustrated magazine is also another good place to read about Olympic events.

Look in the sports section--nonfiction 796, or ask library staff to help you.