The Children's Department at the Fredericton Public Library

The Fredericton Public Library has been undergoing extensive renovations.  The first phase of the project was the children's department.  We are happy to give you a small look into our new space for families.  In this space we hope to continue to create memorable experiences for all members of the community and foster lifelong literacy.

Currently, the library is closed because we are renovating the second floor, knocking down walls, carpeting the floor, creating welcoming spaces and a flashy and much needed teen lounge (The Hub)!  We reopen on May 12, 2014 and hope that you drop by for a visit (and to return your books and borrow more!)

What are your favourite things about your library?

Children's Art in the Library

Libraries are more than just book storage warehouses. I love how libraries have become places where communities connect and create lasting experiences. The Fredericton Public Library is proud to offer kids the chance to not only make art, but have it displayed prominently on our gallery wall. It is important to give children's art a special place in the library for audiences to appreciate.

Friedrich Froebel, the father of kindergarten, believed that young children should be involved in both making their own art and enjoying the art of others. This is imporant in the development of the whole child and their ability to foster empathy with others.

If you've ever facilitated a library storytime...you can relate

Let's take a moment to appreciate teen volunteers!

All libraries agree that volunteers play a key role in our existence.  Volunteers make generous contributions and without their enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment, many library services would not be possible. 

The Fredericton Public Library is very fortunate to have several teen volunteers who have dedicated their time and talents to programming in the children’s department.  Simply put...they ROCK!  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the dynamic sibling duo of Sebastian and Julianne Richard who have been very generous with their contributions of time and ideas.  Whether its acting and singing at a large pirate-themed event with 200 young children in the audience or creating elaborate mazes out of hundreds of cardboard boxes and ample imagination, this volunteering dream-team continues to impress us!

Once upon a time, not so long ago, these teen volunteers were young children who enjoyed visiting the library and checking out children’s books.  They were regular participants in our Fiction Factor program for school-age kids and enjoyed interactive library activities like building robots, making claymation videos, creating elaborate plaster masks, and designing towers and bridges.  In fact, once they outgrew these fun and engaging programs, they realized that they’d like to try their hand at planning them instead.   

This was a real “eureka” moment for us.  If kids grow up appreciating their library and valuing the programs and services we have to offer, they will want to come back and contribute their time to the greater library good!  

Thanks Sebastian and Julianne!  We appreciate your enthusiasm and have enjoyed watching you both grow up to be inspiring young adults.

Teen volunteers Sebastian and Julianne Richard helping LibraryLoralie at the Fredericton Public Library's  Fiction Factor program where children enjoyed creating elaborate mazes out of hundreds of cardboard boxes.

A picture is worth a thousand words: the importance of wordless picture books

I engage in storytelling daily.  As a storytime facilitator, I don't get to explore wordless picture books often.  However, on numerous occasions I've discovered children curled up in a corner in the library telling their own story while reading a wordless picture book.   Although all books inspire creativity, the wordless picture book invites the reader to play an active role in discovery. 

These books are gaining popularity.  The 2014 Caldecott Honor Book, Journey by Aaron Becker is wordless.  Its strong visual narrative hooks the reader immediately and invites them to come along on a story-making journey of creative interpretation.  Since the reader helps create the story, it appeals to a wide range of ages.  Children can spend hours dissecting the images and putting them together in plot sequence.  Wordless picture books offer a wonderful foundation for creative writing.

Wordless picture books help stretch a child's imagination, encouraging them to explore language and creativity. Every time a worldess picture book is read, a brand new story in created!  Please check out more of my favourite wordless picture books that are sure to delight and inspire. 

http://vision.bibliocommons.com/list/show/93864152_libraryloralie/102453781_wordless_picture_books

And the award goes to...2014 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards and More!

For a complete list of all the winners and honors, go to Pragmatic Mom.  Live cast of the awards is here!

Let's build Rube Goldberg machines at the library!

It is my personal and professional philosophy that all school age children should enjoy diverse programming that interests them.  Getting school-age kids involved in library activities is vital and should be made a priority.  It is too often the case that preschool children who have enjoyed regular storytimes and crafting at the library phase out of a library routine when they reach the age of seven.  For more insight on this important subject, check out this blog: The Show Me Librarian

The Fiction Factor program at the Fredericton Public Library invites children 7-12 to participate in interactive project-based activities.  School age kids delve into various subjects like science, art, ancient history, mythology, culinary arts, and engineering.   We offer them the opportunity to explore various topics and ideas that they may not have experienced before.  

Last Thursday kids at the library were introduced to the subject of Rube Goldberg machines and created their own contraption to complete the task of breaking an egg in a complex series of chain reactions! It was awesome!