Every year in August, librarians Dianne Gunderson and Barb Bode present to the Elgin City Council an annual report on activities at the Elgin Public Library.
The duo did just that last week and, to sum up their presentation in a few words – it’s been a very good year.
The library’s summer reading program just wrapped and participants were treated to a ‘Jurassic Magic’ show Saturday afternoon at the Elgin Community Center.
Altogether, close to 50 youngsters, some joined by their parents, watched magician Jeff Quinn mix magic with dinosaurs.
Gunderson said the summer reading program once again included story time on Mondays and Wednesday mornings and an activity time for older children on Thursday afternoons with about 90 children participating. Of that number, 21 kids finished a reading challenge and each received $15 in Elgin Bucks.
Other highlights Gunderson and Bode noted during their presentation were:
• Lego League continues to be popular. They added a ‘Maker Monday’ for K-5th grade.
• Book club met throughout the year.
• As part of the library’s outreach program, they continued the Book Bag program for day care providers; visited classrooms at Elgin Public and Pope John schools for story time through third grade; and handed out America 250 booklets to students at both schools.
Programs at the library include regular VFW meetings; retired group; Brook from the Extension office came and did Christmas crafts with children; Participated in the ‘Festival of Trees’; Held crochet night from January through April; Participated in a ‘petting zoo’ in conjunction with the Way Out West 4-H club and balloon animals for Vetch Days where 100 children attended; Acquired new signs for Story Walk with help from Merle Moser; and hosted ‘Dinosaur Dimensions’ to kick off the summer reading program.
