In celebration of the upcoming Arts@Clark Fifth Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit – which will take place on July 28th, 1:00 to 5:00 PM – our displays for this month will feature books about artists of all kinds, their works, and the process of making art in general. Take the chance to learn about the people who bring so much wonder and color into all of our lives, and make sure to mark the Outdoor Art Exhibit on your calendar so you can meet the artists in our community in person!
Share your favorite childhood book and enter our raffle!
Add your favorite title to our butterfly display to help readers of all ages explore our collections with tried-and-true suggestions. What ‘grabbed’ you as a young reader – an animal story, a picture book, or an adventure? Which book would you recommend – or like to reread? At the end of summer we will draw names for our raffle basket of restaurant gift certificates and edible treats.
Our book displays have metamorphosed to match the theme of our Summer Reading Kickoff for June! Read about bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, learn more about insects and their relationships with humans and the environment, or enjoy some fiction featuring not-so-creepy-crawlies in starring and supporting roles. Stop in and pick up a book today… and don’t forget to attend our special What’s the Buzz? Presentation on June 8th, 2:00–3:30 PM!
The growing season is in full swing! Garden Tomes are sprouting on the Library’s displays, featuring guides for gardeners and aspiring botanists, stories set in gardens and on farms, and protagonists who care for their local natural and green spaces.
Stop by and pick a few!
Don’t forget, there’s a permanent Horticulture and Gardening display upstairs, just outside of the Teens & Tweens area – and our nonfiction collection also includes a selection of books recommended by Sustainable Bethany.
On Saturday, April 6, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, the Friends of the Library will be on site to collect new and gently used books for the Library’s ongoing book sale in the entryway. Children’s and adult books in good condition will be considered.
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents” – Emilie Buchwald
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national early literacy program for parents and caregivers to take part in with their young children. The goal is to read 1000 books aloud to your child before they start kindergarten, helping them gain the confidence to become strong readers and successful in school and life.
Is it possible to read 1000 books? Yes it is! Reading 3 books a day for 1 year = 1095 books, reading 1 book a day for 3 years = 1095 books — and repeat reads do count towards the total! Clark Memorial Library’s goal is to develop a program that supports young families by providing incentives and materials to help reach their reading goals — including special 1000 Books Before Kindergarten book-bags containing a curated selection of award-winning children’s books.
Stop by the Library starting January 31st and sign up to get started! You will receive an Activity Journal to keep track of your progress and a pamphlet that provides more information about the program and the benefits of early literacy. When you reach a reading milestone, drop in again to have your journal marked and get a special sticker!
With the end of 2023 on the horizon, we’re looking back to see which books were the most popular among our patrons! Check LION Consortium’s top circulation lists for books and large print below to see what your fellow patrons were reading this year, and be sure to check Hoopla, Libby, and Palace for ebook and audiobook copies – Palace even has a “LION’s Most Popular Books of 2023” lane made specifically for our patrons!
Have you checked out our Teens & Tweens area upstairs?
In addition to reading chairs, we have two activity tables and an assortment of games and pastimes for older children and teenagers, including checkers and chess, dominos, Structures building blocks, and board games like Scrabble, Clue, and Sorry!