Posted by: montclairlibrary | November 17, 2010

National Family Literacy Month

Reading together, from Fairfax County Public Library

November is National Family Literacy Month®, a month-long effort to celebrate and remind people of the importance of families learning together. It’s sponsored by the National Center for Family Literacy.

The website ReadWriteThink has some suggested activities families and schools can do this month to promote reading with kids of different ages, from sharing family stories to reading a bedtime story together.

Here are a few more ideas, from the Reading Connection newsletter:

  • Visit a used-book store, and let each person in your family pick out a book.
  • Read a book that has been made into a movie. Watch the movie when you finish. Talk about how the two are similar and different.
  • Share reading with others. Ask if you can read to your child’s class, or if a relative lives in a senior home, offer to read aloud to residents.

Coming to one of the Montclair library’s Thursday morning storytimes is a great way to share reading with your family.  Toddler Storytime (for kids under 3)  is 10:15-10:45am, and Preschool Storytime (for kids ages 3-5) is 11:15-11:45am.  Both groups feature stories, songs, fingerplays and fun with our children’s librarian!

You can stay up to date on storytime and other events at the library by checking the Events page of the Oakland Public Library website.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | November 9, 2010

Closures this week

Closed sign by tonx via Flickr

Reminder: The Montclair branch (and all OPL locations) will be closed this Thursday 11/11 for Veterans’ Day and Friday 11/12 due to budget cuts. Plan accordingly.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | November 9, 2010

Libraries in the news

There were a couple of interesting articles in the papers last week about other local libraries, in case you’re interested:

S.F.’s Parkside library back after makeover
SF Chronicle – November 6, 2010
The San Francisco Public Library unveils its renovated Parkside branch, designed to meet green building standards.

Piedmont Avenue branch library in dire straits
Montclarion – November 4, 2010
Faced with a 4000-fold rent increase, the Piedmont Avenue branch of the Oakland Public Library may move or close.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | November 3, 2010

Recycled art today

Photo of MOCHA art by Benjamin Chan via Flickr

Today (Wednesday 11/3) at 3:30 PM, artists from MOCHA will help kids create art using recycled materials at the Montclair branch. Then enter your art in MOCHA’s Re-Create recycled art contest for kids in grades K-12 – details here. This program is brought to us by a grant from Oakland Public Works.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | October 26, 2010

Day of the Dead Mask Making

Sugar skulls courtesy of Flickr user peppergrasss

After the Village Halloween Parade this Friday 10/29, you’re invited to stop by the Montclair Library to celebrate the “Day of the Dead,” Dia de los Muertos.

Since decorating skulls is an important part of Day of the Dead celebrations, the library will be hosting a special mask-making class that’s perfect for kids. You’ll use markers, glitter and feathers to decorate your own mask.

This fun art class starts at 3:30pm. If you have questions, please call the children’s librarian at (510) 482-7810.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | October 25, 2010

Get ready for NaNoWriMo!

National Novel Writing Month
Just a few more days until National Novel Writing Month begins! NaNoWriMo encourages participants to attempt to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. Crazy, right? But also fun and inspiring and a great way to shake up your writing and get you in the habit of writing daily, if that’s your goal.

You can learn more about NaNoWriMo and sign up to participate on their website, www.nanowrimo.org. We’re thinking about hosting a writing group at the library, either Tuesday evenings or Wednesday mornings. If you’re interested in either slot, drop us a line with your day/time preference and we’ll keep you posted. Even without a formal group, you’re encouraged to “Come Write In” and write your novel in the library – what better inspiration than to be surrounded by books!

If you know a kid or teen who loves to write, NaNoWriMo also offers a Young Writers Program.

Posted by: montclairlibrary | October 12, 2010

Book sale this Saturday!

Book spines photo by Flickr user Pudontour

Our Fall Book Sale is this Saturday October 16 from 10am-3pm at the Montclair Library. We’ve got lots of great books to choose from, most priced from $0.50-$2.00.

Don’t miss the fill-a-bag discounts from 2-3pm!

What’s for sale: Lots of fiction (hard- and soft-cover novels, sci-fi, romance, mystery); cookbooks; craft & hobby books; picture books, board books, easy readers and chapter books; young adult novels; self-help books; guides to managing everything from your weight to your finances; amusing books about cats; and much, much more!

Posted by: montclairlibrary | October 7, 2010

Feeling crafty?

Tote designed by Holly Keller of Beeper Bébé

If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you might be interested in this cool free Library Tote tutorial featured on Whip Up today — I love the little pocket on the front to hold your library card.

If you time it right, you could work on the tote bag Saturday, October 9, while the library is closed for a mandatory business shutdown, and have it all ready to haul your purchases home after our book sale October 16!

Posted by: montclairlibrary | September 29, 2010

Craft workshop

Papel Picado

Today — Wednesday, September 29th at 3:30pm, celebrate Latin American Heritage Month by making papel picado, beautiful cut-paper decorations, at the Montclair branch. For all ages.

Photo by Timlewisnm at Flickr

Posted by: montclairlibrary | September 21, 2010

Banned Book Week

Think for yourself and let others do the same

Booksellers, librarians, authors, readers, students and other friends of free expression will celebrate Banned Books Week September 25-October 2. Think book banning isn’t an issue in our modern times? Check out the list of books challenged or banned in 2009-2010, including the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. Then go out and exercise your fREADom by reading something someone somewhere considers inappropriate, from “Walter the Farting Dog” (challenged in 2004) to “To Kill a Mockingbird” (challenged pretty much every year).

P.S. We sorted book sale books today, and we have at least one of the 2010 banned books for sale at our book sale October 16th, along with lots of other great titles. Mark your calendars!

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