June 17, 2008
The Summer Reading Program, sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), is a cooperative effort among the public libraries in Rhode Island to promote reading during the summer school vacation. The prgram encourages reading for pleasure, the development of positive attitudes about the public library, and provides constructive activities during this long break from school. Eligible children include preschoolers whose parents read aloud to them to sixth graders.
The Summer Reading Program varies in specifics from library to library but in general incentives are provided to encourage children to read a book each week such as weekly raffles, free admission passes to 13 places like the Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Providence Children’s Museum for each book read, and prizes and a party at the end. There will be performances by storytellers, entertainers and educators, along with crafts, activity sheets, and many special theme-related events to encourage continued participation throughout the summer.
Children are encouraged to sign up at their respective library branches during the week of June 23 – 27.
Details:
• Rhode Island:
For the complete statewide summer reading program schedule, visit Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS).
• Providence:
Providence Public Library Summer Reading Program begins June 23 with sign-ups at branch libraries and a complete line-up of activities and events through August 18. For complete program descriptions and schedule of activities and events, click here for the Summer Reading Bug link.
2008 Providence Summer Booklists
In addition to daily and special events, PPL has collaborated with the Providence School Department to produce age-specific summer reading booklists for children—available on paper bookmarks at your library or viewed online. Click on your child’s age range below to see their booklist and reserve the books from the library.
April 3, 2008
This is one event that our whole family looks forward to every year. No limit on anyone’s purchases. In fact the more the better….you can never have enough books. Friends of Rochambeau Semi-Annual Book Sale starts Monday. Shop early and often.
Here’s the schedule:
Dealer’s Night. $30 Admission. All are welcome!
Mon., April 7, 5 pm - 8:30 pm
Members only! Memberships available at the door.
Tues., April 8, 6 pm - 8:30 pm
Open free to the public.
Wed., April 9, 10 am - 5:30 pm
Thurs., April 10, 1 pm - 8:30 pm
Fri., April 11, 10 am - 5:30 pm
Open free to the public - Fill a bag for only $5!
Sat., April 12, 10 am - 5:00 pm
Twenty thousand used books, audiovisuals, puzzles sorted into over fifty categories will be available. These have all been donated by generous East Side neighbors. Hardcovers, software and audiovisuals are $1 each. Paperbacks and children’s books are 50¢. Specials and Rarities are priced individually as marked.
At last year’s book sale one of my friends scored a mint condition of “Owl Babies” board book for her son, a paperback set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books for her daughter and a first edition lithograph copy of “Happiness is a Warm Puppy” by Charles Schulz which is now a family favorite. Total purchase: $2. Less than the cost of a cup of coffee!
Location: Rochambeau Branch Library - 708 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906
(401) 455-8110
March 12, 2008
By Katy Killilea
What is that thing you’ve been hearing friends rave about but haven’t yet investigated? Until recently, for me, it was joining the Providence Athenaeum. And the raving friends were right. I’m so glad we joined.
The Athenaeum is the city’s private library, located on Benefit Street, right across from the courthouse. It is a drop-dead gorgeous building filled, of course, with books (everything from hot off the presses to too rare to touch without an appointment), comfortable places to sit, every good-quality magazine you could want (not a Ladies Home Journal or Maxim in sight), and more DVDs than you can shake a stick at. Upstairs in the stacks, you might notice several weary and bespectacled researchers working diligently on what must be their dissertations. However, no one under the age of eight is allowed upstairs, so it’s unlikely you and your brood would disrupt anything too serious.
The children’s room is heavenly, with thoughtfully selected picture books and chapter books, books on CD, and an overflowing basket of soft puppets, heavy on the dinosaurs. Here you can easily find every kids’ book you’ve been wanting and find new authors and series to suit any child’s literary sensibility. The children’s librarian chooses truly enticing books, not just whatever crud is being heavily promoted. I did notice the Walter the Farting Dog books taking its rightful place among the other smart choices. There’s nothing stuffy about the collection.
Kids’ events, like pizza and movie nights or tooth-fairy box decorating are always happening, and a schedule can be found here.
Everyone working in the Athenaeum seems to have just emerged from a relaxing massage: they’re all serene and smiling and ready to help. I can’t say enough how at home we felt right away. I had a little fear that the Athenaeum would be a clubby or snobby place. It isn’t. And you do not need to be a member to go in and read and play with the puppets. Everyone is welcome!
Details
Providence Athenaeum - 251 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 421-6970
• website
• kids’ event calendar
March 5, 2008
By Katy Killilea
We all know it is not good for them, but ah…the pleasures of being able to hypnotize children into silence with television! This morning, both of us parents having overslept, I came upon my children sitting goggle-eyed before the screen, watching ladies on a chat show discuss a brassiere that, as one boy summarized it, “makes your chests look bigger because you can fill it with wine, and then you can also drink the wine through a hidden straw when you want to get drunken.” These are not the sorts of wholesome good times I had planned. But, despite warnings from public health authorities, there are some shows I am happy to have my kids watch.
Just like their parents, our kids are cable TV deprived, and so they binge on multiple episodes courtesy of the DVD-rich statewide Ocean State Library (OSLRI) system. We use the library’s internet reservation system to order the DVDs (and books too, in case you were worried) we are interested in. Sometimes there is a long wait, and other times our selections arrive faster through the library than through Netfilx.
These are our favorites, and all are readily available through the OSLRI system (anyone with a Rhode Island Public Library card is eligible to partake).
Charlie & Lola: An English import. Charlie and his little sister, Lola, live in a world that is a pleasure to look at (beautiful colors and patterns). They confront real-life obstacles like bedtime, eating vegetables, going to school, and taking care of a dog.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Stylized battles, beautiful animation, and the triumph of good over evil. This is a good one for school-age kids who think they’re tough, like fighting bad guys and have parents who don’t like even slightly realistic violence.
Jacob Two Two: A funny, animated show about a Jewish family in Canada whose youngest son, Jacob, is tired of being the youngest. He takes adventures such as going to get sesame seed bagels on his own.
Swallows and Amazons: You’ll have to fire up your VCR to watch these films. Released in the 1970s, the stories take place in the 1930s. English children sail from their vacation home to a seemingly deserted island. The adventures take off from there.
Please share your kid’s favorites and your recommendations with Kidoinfo.
April 23, 2007
I love books, I love deals and I love my local library! I’ll be there.
Friends of Rochambeau Semi-Annual Book Sale is this week!
More than 20 categories encompassing Fiction, Non-Fiction, Reference, & Children’s books. Public browsing of tables stacked with tons of books, audio-visuals and more starts on Thursday, April 26th.
Children’s and Paperback Books are 50¢ each, Hardcover, Software, and Audio-visuals are $1 each. Specials and rarities are priced as marked.
April 24 5 pm -7:30 pm (Dealer Night - $30 admission)
April 25 5 pm-7:30 pm (Friends Night)
April 26 1 pm -8:30 pm (Public)
April 27 10 am-5:30 pm (Public)
April 28 10 am-5:30 pm (Public)
April 29 10 am-5:30 pm (Public - $5 a bag)
April 30 1 pm-3 pm (Clearance-by appointment)
Location: Rochambeau Branch Library - 708 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906. (401) 455-8110.
April 3, 2007
Friday, April 6, 4 - 6 pm.
Russian folk tales for children, Little House (for ages 2 – 4) and Prince Ivan and the Firebird (for ages 5 – 10), will be told by a Russian Tsarina Victoria Richter and Princess Sonia.) The Russian children’s choir “Ivushka” will present Russian folk songs.
Saturday, April 7, 4 - 6 pm.
A Russian Music Concert, including gypsy songs, Russian folk songs by “Kalinka,” and the Russian children choir.
Rochambeau Library Branch 708 Hope Street, Providence. (401) 455-8110. There will be gypsy music and refreshments, including Russian pastries and a bake sale on both afternoons.This program is partially sponsored by the Friends of Rochambeau.
March 28, 2007
ROCHAMBOTICS
Robotics encourages science, technology, engineering and mathematics literacy while enhancing creativity, problem solving and collaboration skills.
Using the FIRST LEGO League model, participants will design strategies to enable autonomous robots to complete missions on an obstacle course. Beginning design, building and programming skills are introduced in this 90-minute workshop by Mary Johnson, coach of Engineers of Tomorrow, the First Lego League State Champions. This program is funded by the Friends of Rochambeau.
info
Wednesday, April 18, 2 - 3:30 pm (ages 10 - 13)
Rochambeau Branch Library, 708 Hope Street, Providence.
Call Tom at (401) 455-8198 to register.
March 9, 2007
This great event is FREE and open to everyone during the month of March. New Your City is part of the Providence Public Library’s Youth Art Month. Local artist Jean Cozzens engages kids, parents, library patrons, artists, and friends in the envisioning and construction of an imaginative city at the Fox Point Branch Library. Anybody and everybody is invited to come and help build with cardboard and other waste and recycled materials and to share their vision of what a city should be. Come create buildings, structures, and landscapes for New Your City.
build the city:
Fox Point Library, 90 Ives St., Providence, RI.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 3 to 5 pm. March 1-30.
visit the city:
Mondays: 9 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday: 1 pm to 8 pm
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 1 pm to 6 pm
celebrate the city:
When the city is done, join a community celebration featuring the rambunctious music of Providence’s own What Cheer? Street Band !!!
Tuesday, April 3rd — 5 to 8 pm
All city-builders, parents, helpers, friends, etc. are invited!
posted by Anisa at 6.17.2008 
comments (0)