Autumn Story Time

Monday, September 21st was the first day of fall. We’re likely to have more summer weather for a few more weeks, but the evidence of changing seasons is around us. Farmers are already harvesting and many trees are turning colors. We are celebrating the start of autumn this week with story time! Check out the stories below, accompanied by a fun craft.

Autumn Tree Q-Tip Painting

We made these at the library a few years ago and they were a big hit. All you need is a few supplies — a piece of paper, a few colors of paint, q-tips, and something to draw your bare tree with. Enjoy!

How much does your library benefit your community?

How much does your library benefit your community? The Nebraska Library Commission asked that very question in an NCompass blog post a few weeks ago. They also had some compelling numbers that show what a community would look like without a library. Yikes!

The NLC used data from several different sources. Local government revenue, information from the most recent public library surveys, and population size were taken into account. They determined that libraries cost the Nebraskan taxpayer only $41 a year.

When the cost of books, movies, magazines, digital subscription services, printer ink, internet connectivity, and other library materials are taken into consideration, that $41 is an excellent bargain. Without libraries, Nebraska residents would pay a total of $287,943,514 a year for these materials and services.

For example, it will cost you $19 to buy the latest Danielle Steel hardcover on Amazon. Buy two of those and you’ve spent nearly all of your $41. Also take into account the fact that you need an Amazon Prime subscription, (which costs $119 a year) just for free shipping.

Here’s another example. At Tekamah Public Library, we limit our patrons to 10 items per checkout. Let’s say you check out 10 items every week for a year. That’s 520 books, magazines, or movies for only $41. That number might only be feasible with our picture books, but you get the idea.

I’ll stop tormenting you with story problems. Weren’t those always the worst in math class?

Libraries also offer many services that aren’t free anywhere else. Our meeting spaces, computer and internet access, exam proctoring, reference transactions, homework help, and children’s activities are all free.

Here at Tekamah, we have also done many odd jobs for patrons. These have included activating someone’s new phone, showing someone how to post pictures on Facebook, and helping someone setting up their first email account. People are often shocked when there is no charge, which just goes to show how valuable our services are.

The math is simple. Using your library saves everyone big money, for only a small amount of tax revenue.

The NLC breaks these numbers down even further.

“Camping Theme” Virtual Story Time

Camping is one of the only summer activities that wasn’t canceled this year, and lots of families spent quality time in the great outdoors. We are celebrating that activity this week with a couple stories and a fun craft.

Below, check out the accompanying craft. It is a cute foam scene your kids can put together. We get these kits from Oriental Trading Company, a business based in Omaha, and they are always a huge hit. Stop by the library to get one for free!

“This Book Just Ate My Dog!” Virtual Story Time

You’ve heard of the old excuse about the dog eating a child’s homework. Dogs have also been known to snack on the occasional library book. (Yes, this has happened at our very own library more than once.)

But have you ever heard of a book eating a dog? Watch the video to learn more about this very hungry book we have here at the library! Then you can come to the library and see it for yourself.

A new story time format

One of our most missed activities during this pandemic has been Story Hour. We sorely miss the kiddos that visited us every week, and we have heard the kids miss us too!

Right now, we are playing around with two different formats for story times that are “social distancing friendly.”

Zoom Story Time

One option is to have a live story time via Zoom. We have our dates listed for September, and parents can sign up here. You will be sent an invitation link via email after you sign up. The available dates and times can be viewed on the form.

If a live story time isn’t an option, we are also experimenting with…

Virtual Story Time

This is a prerecorded story time that can be enjoyed at any time. One or two stories are recorded per video to keep the files small and manageable. Miss Megan recorded one last week.

What do you think? Would you prefer we hold story times via Zoom or do your children like to listen to the prerecorded ones? Let us know!

Welcome!

Tekamah Public Library is excited to announce the creation of its new website, which was made possible through the Nebraska Library Commission.

We have used Facebook as our main method of digital communication since the page was created in 2009. We will now be moving away from the Facebook platform and using this website exclusively for updates.

Only urgent updates will be posted to Facebook for easy sharing. We encourage patrons to both follow us on Facebook and check our new website for updates.

Patrons are also encouraged to signup for our email list.

We hope you love our new website as much as we do! Please feel free to contact us at teklibdirector@gmail.com or (402) 374-2453 if you have any suggestions or comments.

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