What's Your Vision for a Main Library?

The Lincoln City Libraries Board of Trustees has embarked on a Main Library Vision and Concept Study.

Bethany Branch Library to Offer Toddler Time This Summer

Lincoln City Libraries’ Bethany Branch Library, 1810 North Cotner Blvd., will offer Toddler Time on Tuesday mornings from 10:30-10:50 a.m., June 4 through July 30th.

Toddler Time is for children 18 to 36 months and their parents or caregivers. Research indicates the importance of the adult-child bond in building early literacy.   During Toddler Time, a librarian reads aloud and leads adult-child pairs in activities.  Toddler Time also supports early literacy by building vocabulary and sharing age-appropriate literature in an atmosphere of fun, engaging activity.

Pre-registration is not required. Newcomers are always welcome.

Children Can Improve Their Reading Skills by Reading to a Dog this Summer

This summer, Healing Heart Therapy Dogs will be offering 20 minute drop-in sessions for children to read aloud to a dog.  This is an opportunity for children ages 6 to 12 who have experienced reading difficulties or who just need to practice their reading.  No preregistration is required.

Gere Branch Library
2400 S. 56th Street, 402-441-8560

• 10:30-12:00 noon on Tuesday mornings in June and July starting the week of June 4
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons - June 5, 19, July 10, 24, and August 7

Walt Branch Library (15-minute sessions)
6701 S. 14th Street, 402-441-4250

• 1:30-2:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoons -  June 15, June 29 and July 27

Libraries Highlight 100 Best Picture Books

To call attention to some of the best picture books published in the last 75 years, Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) has developed a list of the 100 best picture books. The list is based on suggestions by LCL staff who work with children and children’s books in the library system. Each library has printed lists of the available books, as well as multiple copies for borrowing.

Families with young children are invited to take the challenge of reading all 100 books this summer. If a family reads all 100 books in June and July, they will be recognized on the library’s website in August. Please let us know if you and your child read all 100 books in June and July and we will post your name on our website during the month of August. E-mail your name, as you want it to appear, and any comments about your experience to 100best@lincolnlibraries.org. Please include the term 100best in the subject line.

Heritage Room Featured in 2013 Nebraska Passport

The Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors is one of 80 attractions included in the 2013 Nebraska Passport. The program, created by the Nebraska Tourism Commission, encourages travelers to explore the state. Participants collect stamps from participating attractions and then redeem them for prizes. The Heritage Room is on the third floor of the Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S. 14th Street. Attractions selected for the 2013 program are organized into 10 special interest tours, and the Heritage Room is one of eight stops on the "Turn the Page" tour.

Nebraska Passports are available at the Heritage Room or the first floor service desk of Bennett Martin Public Library. Travelers have until Sept. 30 to visit attractions and redeem their stamps for prizes. For each completed tour, participants receive a Nebraska Passport t-shirt. Participants also will be entered into an October grand-prize drawing for an Apple® iPad® mini.

More information on the Nebraska Passport is available at  NebraskaPassport.com.

Lincoln City Libraries Offers Parent-Child Book Groups

Parent-Child book groups are a great way to encourage your kids to read, as well as share some special time together. Reading the same book as your child gives you a common bond and is a great conversation starter. Lincoln City Libraries offers parent-child book groups year round.

Information about current groups is available here.

Annual Report

The Library's Annual Report for 2011-12 is now available.