Story Times and Book Chats in Biglerville

Story Times and Book Chats in Biglerville

School is in full swing, and it’s time for families to settle into new routines.  If you are a parent, grandparent or home day care provider taking care of young children, consider joining us for story time at the Harbaugh~Thomas Library in Biglerville.  We have family story time at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday with Miss Julie, and preschool story time at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday with Miss Wendy, no registration required.

              During story time, children listen to great books, and enjoy creating a hands-on craft they can take home.  In the process they learn new vocabulary, and develop a cultural literacy of rhymes and stories, all while having fun.  It is great preparation for school, from learning how to behave in a group in a casual, friendly situation, to improving cutting and drawing skills, which serve to help the muscles used for writing.  There are benefits for adults also!  Connections and friendships are formed, and it is always a treat to check out new books and movies.  The theme for the week of 9/15 will be barnyard animals, and there will be a focus on robots the following week.

For adults, the Harbaugh~Thomas Library is offering the free computer class Introduction to the Internet at 1:00 on Thursday, Sep. 18^th.  Please call or stop by the library to register. Classes are small and informal, offering many opportunities for questions and individualized instruction.

Also, adults can join ACLS librarian Jess Laganosky for a discussion of this year’s Adams County Reads One Book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce.  At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 18^th stop by the library to discuss the ins and outs of this engrossing book.  If you need a copy of the book, you can place it on hold or check it out at any ACLS library.  The main character, Harold Fry, a retired man in his sixties, receives a letter from a friend who he has not seen in decades.  She shares that she is in hospice.  As he despairs over how to write a remotely meaningful reply, he jots something down and walks to his mail box, but instead of mailing the card, he simply continues walking.  At some level he has decided that she will stay alive as long as he is walking to see her; hospice is 500 miles away in northern Great Britain.  Along his spontaneous journey, aspects of his past and current relationships are revealed and explored, and a very ordinary man’s life becomes extraordinary.   Check www.adamslibrary.org for more events hosted by the ACLS related to this novel.

Finally, the Harbaugh~Thomas Library would love to host a monthly book club for adults.  If you are interested, please let us know your preferences regarding the best day and time to meet, and the type of book you like to read!

              The Harbaugh~Thomas Library (677-6257) is open Mondays noon-6, Tuesdays and Thursdays noon-8, Wednesdays and Fridays 10-6, and Saturdays 9-5.

Summer Reading Club in Biglerville

Summer Reading Club in Biglerville

It is hard to believe after the long, snowy winter Gettysburg endured, but summer vacation is near at hand.  Most kids in the county have their last day of school on Friday, June 6^th.  This summer the Adams County Library System kicks off its annual summer reading club on June 1^st.  Children through the age of 13 can earn prizes by reading.  A win-win situation!  Every week readers keep track of how long they have read.   If they reach 2 hours for the week, only about 15 minutes a day, they report to the library staff and receive a prize.  Prizes include bookmarks and books, and there is an incentive each week of the 8 week club.  The smallest members of the family can benefit as well.  They accumulate time by having someone read to them.  An older sibling can read to a child and the time will count for both of them.

Reading through the summer ensures kids’ reading skills stay sharp.  But, above all, reading is fun, and there is time in the summer to explore at one’s will, without a teacher’s mandates.  Children expand their world by seeing through another’s eyes, they learn new things and they improve their reading skills.   In my opinion, all reading is worthwhile reading, whether it be the classics, graphic novels or the latest best-sellers, and the ACLS has a great selection of all of these. 

In conjunction with our summer reading club, the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville will host a number of free family events.  First, on June 10^th at 7 pm, join master gardener Kalai Wherley as she demonstrates how to grow vegetables without a garden.  All supplies are provided, and each child will be able to take home their own container gardening project.  Please call or stop by to register.

Other events in June include a performance by magician David Rojahn, a “shocking” show on electricity by the Whitaker Center, and free play with LEGOS, always a popular program.  In July, we’ll host a duct tape extravaganza:  we supply the tape and instructions, and the kids take home whatever they create.  We’ll have an afternoon of hands-on simple science experiments, and a discussion and demo by naturalist Andy Yoder on lava rocks and volcanic eruptions.  Stop by the library for a complete calendar of summer programs, or check  www.adamslibrary.org to find a listing for each ACLS library.

I’ve recently transferred from the Littlestown Library to the Harbaugh-Thomas Library.    Both are beautiful libraries, and valuable resources for our Adams County residents, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy and serve each community.  Jess Laganosky, the previous manager of the Harbaugh-Thomas Library, has not left the ACLS­­--she now heads the Public Services Department at the Gettysburg Library.   The Littlestown Library welcomes new manager Val Hoski.  Feel free to drop by and say hello!

The Harbaugh-Thomas Library (677-6257) is open Mondays noon-6, Tuesdays and Thursdays noon-8, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 -6, and Saturdays 9-5. The library is located at 59 West York Street, Biglerville.

Saturday, February 15

**UPDATE**

Due to the weather, the Adams County Library System, including the Harbaugh~Thomas Library, are now CLOSED for today, February 15. 

Stay safe!

Friday, February 14

The Harbaugh~Thomas Library will be opening at 11am this morning.

Thursday, February 13

Due to the predicted wintery weather conditions that are heading our way, thanks to Winter Storm Pax, the Adams County Library System (including the Harbaugh~Thomas Library) will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, February 13th.

Stay warm and safe!

Tax Forms

Great news! 

The 1040 tax booklets have arrived! The library currently has the federal tax forms and booklets and the state form and booklet.

Basic Adult Computer Classes

Know someone who may be interested in taking basic computer classes? 

The first class, Using the Mouse, will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 1pm and again at 6:30pm. 

Registration is required; just let us know what time works best for you!

Winter Happenings at the Harbaugh~Thomas Library

Winter Happenings at the Harbaugh~Thomas Library

Brrr! It’s cold! As I write this article, the temperature has dipped below zero a few times today, and the wind chill factor makes it feel very frigid outdoors. Maybe by the time you read this article it will not be as cold, and this first full week in January will just be a memory.

If you’re looking for something to do during these cold days, why not visit the Harbaugh~Thomas Library? The library offers more than just books; we have something for everyone. Books, movies, music, magazines, computers, wi-fi…it is all here at the library. Read the latest issue of a favorite magazine. Check out a cookbook and find new recipes for dinner. Catch up on your favorite TV shows. And, as always, if a copy of an item is not available at the library, we can put you on hold for the next available copy.

While visiting the library, check out some of the programs we offer for everyone. Storytimes take place Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Wednesdays at 10:30am. Tuesday storytimes are perfect for preschoolers and early elementary school-aged children. Wednesday storytimes are perfect for preschoolers aged 2-5. Each storytime features stories, activities, crafts and fun. No registration is required.

If you attend a Tuesday night storytime on the third Tuesday of the month, or wish to do something fun with the family, come to Family Game Night at 7pm. The library supplies board and card games; families can select a game and play anywhere in the library. The next Family Game Night will take place Tuesday, January 21. No registration is required.

The 2014 Teen Book Chat starts on Thursday, January 30 at 6pm. Typically held the fourth Thursday of the month, from 6pm-7pm, January through October, Teen Book Chat lets high schoolers come together and discuss a book while munching on pizza and snacks. The January book is “An Abundance of Katherines” by John Green. Copies are available for pick up at the library; registration is required.

Adults interested in historical fiction novels and mysteries may want to attend Journey through Time book discussion. Held the third Tuesday of every month at 7pm, this book discussion is a new program at the library. The first meeting of the year will be January 21, and we will be discussing “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain. Copies are available for pick up at the library; no registration is required.

Our adult basic computer classes will begin again this February. Held the third Thursday of the month, February through October, each class focuses on a different aspect of the computer. The first class, Using the Mouse, will take place on February 20 at 1:00pm and again at 6:30pm. Choose a class time that best fits your schedule. Each class size is limited, so registration is required.

The Harbaugh~Thomas Library is located at 59 West York Street in Biglerville. Our hours of operation are Mondays 12pm-6pm; Tuesdays 12pm-8pm; Wednesdays 10am-6pm; Thursdays 12pm-8pm; Fridays 10am-6pm; and Saturdays 9am-5pm. For more information about any of our programs, you can call us at 717-677-6257. Also, visit our web page at harbaughthomas.blogspot.com or our Facebook page – just search “Harbaugh Thomas Library” in the search box to find us! Hope to see you soon!