Flag Day

We pledge allegiance to the flag...did you know that June 14 is Flag Day in the United States? The Second Continental Congress adopted the flag of the U.S. on this day in 1777.

President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag day in 1916 by proclamation. In 1949 Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

The National Flag Day Foundation works to make known the history of our flag.

Medical information online

You'll see a new online information source on the New River webpage: Magill's Medical Guide. This guide provides authoritative up-to-date information on a wide variety of medical issues. You can read the entire article on line or print it. From home, login with your public library barcode number.

Summer Library Programs

The libraries are busy getting ready for summer programs. Each has a great schedule of programs of interest to children and teens to keep them reading during the summer. Books, stories, activities and performers are planned. Check the schedule on our webpage or pick up a copy at the library.

Programs start in June and continue through July. Dates and times vary at each library.

Studies show that children who participate in summer library programs increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension scores. We want to keep children reading so they don’t lose their reading proficiency while on summer vacation.

And of course, we want children to enjoy summer library programs and reading.

Power Search

The libraries subscribe to many online databases...information from magazines, newspapers, general reference books,and health information (just to name a few) that are available to you through the library. By subscribing to this online information (this is a statewide subscription provided to Florida libraries by the State Library of Florida) you have access to many more magazines and newspapers that we could possible have in the library.

There is a new search box on the library webpage...PowerSearchIt. By putting in your search term in the PowerSearch box, you will automatically be linked to the online information and a list of results. Click on the result title that you are interested in and you can see your magazine article. You can read it online or print it out.

Magazines and newspapers provide the most current information; information in print long before a book comes out. This online information is updated each night.

If you are searching from home, put in your public library card number.

National Reading Ambassador

Did you know that we have a national Reading Ambassador?

Jon Scieszka, children's book author, was named ambassador earlier this year. The press release says (in part):
"Scieszka, the writer of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and the Caldecott Honor-winning The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, will use his two-year term to promote reading and to reach out to reluctant readers through the media, personal appearances, and project development."

In addition to his work as an author and ambassador for reading, Jon Scieszka has developed a webpage for reluctant boy readers called Guys Read. Mr. Scieszka says “I’m speaking to that knucklehead in the back of the classroom, because that knucklehead was me.”

Summer programs at the library

Libraries locally and across the state are gearing up for summer programs at the library. The goal is to keep children reading during the summer so that they maintain their reading skills while school is not in session.

Reading is like learning to play the piano...children get better with practice.

Library staff will be visiting schools to tell children about programs and distribute schedules. Schedules will also be available at the libraries and online.

Anne is 100 years old.

Anne of Green Gables is 100 years old. The first Anne Shirley books were published in June 1908.

Many generations of readers have read the Anne of Green Gables books, and millions more have seen films and television movies of Anne's adventures.

L. M. Montgomery (Lucy Maud) was a prolific writer. In spite of problems with her health and her husband's health she wrote eight Anne stories. She also wrote a total 16 more novels, and over 500 short stories and poems.

Anne Shirley is L. M. Montgomery's best known work and she would live to see her books and character become an international sensation. The author died in 1942. The books have been translated in 36 languages.

Anne gets into 'scrapes' as Marilla would say. The books tell of Anne's life and adventures on Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province. Through the series of books we can follow Anne's life.

Many visitors go to Prince Edward Island each year visiting this fictional character's home.

The books and videos are available at your library.