Celebrate Reading -- Contest!! Enter to Win by Monday February 28

Winter Read Like a Champion Program


The New Jersey State Library, local libraries and school libraries from across the state have partnered with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority to encourage readers to “Read Like a Library Champion” by giving them the opportunity to win tickets to IZOD Center events by logging in the books they read at www.njlibrarychampions.org.

For a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus March 2 - 13, send an email to bwljuv@sclsnj.org with the subject "Contest," and in the body of the email include your name, the town where you live and your phone number. A winner will be drawn on March 1.  Discount tickets for select IZOD Center family shows are also available at www.IZODcenter.com, by using the code LIBRARY.

Library Champions is a community based public awareness campaign featuring role models from the sports, entertainment and literary fields designed to encourage reading and educate the public about the important role New Jersey libraries have in transforming the lives of their customers. Celebrity Library Champions include Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, Harlem Globetrotter Blenda Rodriguez, Devil’s forward Zach Parise, Giant’s defensive end Justin Tuck, Net’s guard Devin Harris and best-selling author and New Jersey native, Judy Blume.

The Library offers many other ways to help every member of your family “Read Like a Champion” throughout the year – Check these out:

E-Books


This winter, The New York Times wrote E-Readers Catch Younger Eyes and Go in Backpacks and the Children’s Book Review explored the The Potential of Interactive Children’s Books on e-Readers. 

SCLS libraries have thousands of e-books and downloadable audio books available for loan 24/7 free of charge.   Check out the list of supported devices and our quick start guide or just start searching for a title.  (This section of our catalog can be reached from the SCLS home page by selecting the “Digital Media” tab on the right hand side.  The “Digital Media” option is also available on most catalog search screens.)

Incidentally, the library has many of our Test Practice Books in this Format.  We also offer online test practice as well.   All you need is a computer and a library card to be prepared for NJASK, SAT, and more!

If you have further questions, Reference Librarians are happy to help.  (Or come use the “plug and play station” adjacent to the adult reference desk.)

Book Suggestions


Looking for a good title to read?  Ask Us!


SCLS Librarians are delighted to make suggestions – in person, by email, or by phone (908 526-4016 x126)


Like to do it yourself? – These databases & websites are available 24/7:


Novelist K-8 Plus   (From the SCLS home page, select the tab on the right side marked Electronic Resources then toggle “journal title” to “database name” and type in “Novelist.”   You can also find it by choosing the subject Children’s Resources or Literature and then scroll down to select “Novelist K-8 Plus” --  either way you will be prompted for your barcode & PIN to get started.)


There are many ways to use Novelist K-8 Plus but the easiest is to type in the title of a favorite book, click on the title of the book in the results…then look to see the other books that Novelist K-8 recommends (they are located on the right hand side of the page.)  There may also be a tab marked “lists & articles” with additional suggestions.  If you see a title you want, you can click on the purple book labeled “Check the library catalog” to see if we own it & place it on reserve.   There are also LOTS of other things you can do with Novelist K-8 Plus (and the adult version, Novelist Plus as well), feel free to ask a librarian to give you a guided tour or check the online tutorials.


Also, be sure to check out the many Book Lists, Reading Websites, and Characters & Author Links on the Good Reads Tab atop the SCLS Kids Home Page. We have many web-based book suggestion sites your kids may want to use --one of our favorites is James Patterson's Read Kiddo Read! (Author James Patterson and ex-Van Holten School Librarian Judy Freeman  select books for babies through age 10 and up. Author interviews too!).   A Book and A Hug offers lots of great suggestions as well.


Looking for ways to make sure your young child is ready to read when s/he starts school?



SCLS libraries are committed to early literacy activities.  We emphasize the Six Skills for Early Literacy in our Story times, Toddler Times, and Baby Lap Sits.  Come join us! Research has shown that exposure to these skills during the preschool years directly correlates to reading success when children start school so try these reading tips at home.  Habla Español? These tips are also available in 15 other languages.








Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:


From National Public Radio: For Kids, Self-Control Factors Into Future Success
Social scientists say three things matter for success in life: IQ, family's socioeconomic status and one thing that's easy to influence: self-control. A child's self-control in preschool helps predict possible health, substance abuse and financial problems later in life, researchers found.

Programs:


Correction: We inadvertently left out the date of this program in our last blog. 
“KIDS IN THE SYNDROME MIX”     Thursday, March 10 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Fuld Auditorium, Somerset Medical Center  Registration Required. Call 908-203-6234 or online at somersetmedicalcenter.com/events.   
Do you have a nagging feeling that your child’s behavior seems more  extreme than the other kids at school?  Could it be autism,  ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, anxiety or some other disorder?  Parents and teachers may have trouble solving the problem because it’s a combination of each occurring with its own degree of intensity.
Presented by Martin Kutscher, MD, author of  “Kids in The Syndrome Mix”     This free program is presented in conjunction with Somerset County Office of Youth Services and the Arc of Somerset County.                 
 
A  reminder, Story Times, Toddler Times, and Baby Lap Sit will resume the week of March 8th.  For a list of March programs in the library and around the community, please see our previous blog.