Here’s an interesting question: When was the last time your child sailed on the high seas with cutthroat pirates in search of sunken treasure? Or, go back in time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, or perhaps taken a trip a thousand leagues under the sea?
If the answer is no, then this summer head to the Octavia Fellin Public Library - Children’s Branch and let them explore adventures like this and many more.
The Children’s Branch, located at 200 West Aztec, has numerous activities for kids to engage in this summer, and in fact for the entire family. This summer, the library, has kicked off the, Summer Reading Program 2015, June 6 - July 25.
Library Director Mary Ellen Pellington said, “Our goal is to focus on all age groups and the family, we want it to be interactive so as to continue to engage students with reading.
“We all learn differently, we want to encourage kids, strike different interests, and help them learn different formats of learning with outside activities as well and include cultural interests,” she added.
Pellington explained that they invite whole families to events, not only to support the kids in their reading, but hopefully help them to achieve academic success.
“When the kids see their parents reading, they become a role model to their kids,” she said. “It also creates a bonding for families when parents read to their kids, and thus, reading becomes a positive building block.”
The Children’s Branch has activities coming up such as: puppet shows, theater groups, a Rainforest presentation – and all “interactive”.
“We want the public to know the library is a fun place to be, you don’t have to be quiet as well, we offer Gameboys, board games, and this is not your old school library where you have to be quiet. The Octavia Fellin Children’s Branch really rocks!” Pellington said.
She also invites the public to visit the main library, located at 115 West Hill Ave,
They offer free library cards, free access to the computer and the Internet, free passes to the National Museum in Albuquerque, free computer training classes, Excel training and soon we will be offering job training classes.
“We also offer DVD rentals at both library’s for only one dollar,” she said. “And our many of the activities are sponsored by local businesses & organizations, as well as local individuals.”
So much activities are planned and its all for the entire family. The season kicked off with a, “Family Superhero Carnival,” with the theme, “Every Hero has a story.”
Children were encouraged to dress up in their favorite superhero costume and engage in fun activities.
“We like to create a theme for all ages, whether it be a story, crafts, special performances, we want to make it fun and encourage kids to stretch their mind,” Children’s Branch Youth Services/Manager Jenny Thurman said. “Children tend to slip backwards when out of school, and thus, spend more time renewing and are unprepared when school starts up again.”
The Children’s Branch has activities for all ages, Tuesday is teen movie night with craft time afterwards. Toddlers engage in music and movements to build motor skills.
“We have all ages story time from pre-school to elementary,” Thurman said. “The staff gets involved and we all have a great time.”
Prior to summer, Thurman, goes out to the public schools and promotes the Summer Reading Program.
“We do this for kids who normally don’t come here, those are the ones we try to reach,” she said. “We like to be creative, to showcase new items such as our new tablets, new learning computers, and to help the kids use their imagination. In fact we have something coming up that will definitely get the kids imagination rolling.”
A complete schedule is on hand at the library regarding the activities coming up.
Visit: www.galluplibrary.org or call (505) 863-1291. Children’s Branch: (505) 726-6120.