Wayne County Life

Shawn McConnell, Executive Director

SUBMITTED by Marjorie Torelli (25-Sep-2014)

Monthly Director's Column

Communities throughout the U.S. increasingly expect more programming from their libraries. Quality programming for all ages is seen as essential a service as lending books and DVDs. The Newark Public Library staff has worked hard in the past to provide such programming to the community, and we are working to provide more to Newark in the future.

This past summer our talented Youth Services staff provided amazing science based programs like building lava lamps, making bouncy balls, and providing a natural sciences program complete with live animals. The Newark community endorsed our expanded programming efforts by attending in numbers that dwarfed the previous summer: 2166 attendees in 2014 compared to 652 in 2013. Adults got into the action as well. Dozens of Newark area adults participated in our Adult Summer Reading program, reading 83 books and submitting 34 reviews.

As great as our summer programs were, I am excited for the programs in line this fall. On October 8 at 6:30 PM, Joe O'Toole will kick off and host a six-part monthly adult reading and discussion program "Woman and the World Wars". Along with our popular Storytime, LEGO Night, and craft programs, our Youth Services department will introduce new fall programs like "Geeking Out!", a time for all teens to come and geek out over their current obsessions, from TV and movies to books and internet awesomeness.

Volunteers are bringing great programming to the library as well. The Friends of Newark Public Library, a volunteer organization that exists to support the library, start their popular "Book Review Luncheons" on Friday, October 10 at noon in our Community Room. Local author, John Zornow will provide a lecture on the Great Sherman Opera House Fire of 1925. The Friends will organize luncheons at noon on the second Friday of November, December, January, February, and May as well. The Alzheimer's Association will also provide free programs to the public at 6:30 PM on the third Wednesday of every month.

To find out more about the great programs the Newark Public Library has to offer and to register for upcoming programs, call the library at 315-331-4370 or visit our on-line event calendar on the Newark Public Library website, www.newarklibrary.org and click on the Calendar tab.

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