CRDL Dinner and Discussion...Tonight

CRDL Dinner and Discussion is a book discussion group for children in grades 5th-7th. Tonight we’ll discuss Chasing Vermeer while munching on some free pizza. CRDL Dinner and Discussion happens tonight at 6pm at the Veterans Memorial Library branch of the Chippewa River District Library system.

Children and teens who actively participate in discussions about books they find interesting develop into critical and careful readers. They learn how to express their opinions in a group setting while developing the skills needed to articulate their own ideas about a variety of subjects.

Children’s and teen book discussion groups offer the opportunity to share and consider differing viewpoints and develop comprehensive and empathetic thinking skills in a relaxed setting.
Participating in book discussion groups at an early age develops today’s readers into tomorrow’s leaders.

What do you want from your library?

2008 was an eventful year for the Chippewa River District Library. The millage passing in August means that basic operations have been secured for the next 10 years but many decisions still need to be made on how to best utilize the library’s limited resources. The needs of the community as well as the ability of the library to meet those needs have changed since our last plan in 2002. Throughout 2009 the CRDL will be looking for community input to help the library Board of Directors decide how to best maximize library resources to meet current community needs. To do this, we will be undertaking the Public Library Association’s Strategic Planning for Results to develop a plan for the next three years.

We will rely on a committee that will be a combination of people who can speak for all the constituencies in our community and who can reflect the demographics of the community. The focus of the planning committee will be to defne a vision for the community, identify what needs to happen to reach that vision, and how the library can make a contribution toward achieving that vision.

We are also fortunate to have the Central Michigan University Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies working on a community wide survey about library services and community needs to help collect more statistical information. The results of that study will be used by the Strategic Planning Community Committee to help make their recommendations to the Library Board of Directors.

If you're interested in more information about the library's Strategic Planning, click the Strategic Planning button at crdl.org, and click to read the article from the Morning Sun.

CRDL Twilight DVD Premiere

The best selling book by Stephenie Meyer turned blockbuster movie is being released to DVD on Saturday March 21st and your Chippewa River District Library is celebrating. Saturday the 21st, we’re going to keep the lights on after hours and show Twilight on the big screen in the CRDL Annex Meeting Room.

The CRDL Twilight DVD Premiere is free, but seating is limited. The doors to the CRDL Annex Meeting Room will open at 5:30pm. We’ll pop the popcorn, you just come and enjoy Twilight on the big screen.

At the end of the night someone will go home with their own copy of the DVD so don’t forget to register to win.

Celebrating March

Chocolate-chip cookies, Kevlar, potato chip bags and windshield wipers. What do these things have in common? Each was invented by a woman!

Last week, we at CRDL told you March is National Reading Month. Did you know March is Women’s History Month, too? The best part is CRDL has resources for you to learn all about it!

We promise history can be interesting. For example, Hillary Clinton is widely recognized for her campaign for President, but she wasn’t the first to make the run. Way back in 1872, Victoria Woodhull ran for President of the United States–and this was before women could vote! You can read all about her in “A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull,” by Kathleen Krull.

I bet there’s a lot more you might not know about women’s history. Luckily, CRDL has many exciting books for you to check out!

Tonya Bolden’s “33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women’s History” uses poems, essays, letters and photographs to help you learn tons of great facts and important female figures throughout American history.

Other great books to look for include Louise Bernikow’s “The American Women’s Almanac: An Inspiring and Irreverent Women’s History,” Virginia Law Burns’ “Bold Women in Michigan History” and Constance Jones’ “1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Women’s History.”

It’s fun to learn even more about all the well-known women in history, too. CRDL has lots to choose from, including books on Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Madame C.J. Walker, Amelia Earhart, Pocahontas and tons more.

With so much to read for Women’s History Month, it should be easy finishing your four books for CRDL’s Books Are Lifesavers. Don’t forget to pick up your log sheets today at Veterans Memorial Library or Faith Johnston Memorial Library. After completing and logging four books, bring in your sheet, because you’ll be very sweetly rewarded.

As always, great books, fun events and awesome activities can be found by visiting our newly-designed Web site at crdl.org. You’ll see why everyone’s saying, “I Love My Library!”

CRDL Music & Movement "Dance Party"

It's a CRDL Dance Party. We'll open the doors to this special edition of CRDL Music and Movement on Wednesday March 11th at 10:15am at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant.

Sing and dance with your child! Wave some ribbons, play with scarves, tap some rhythm sticks, and shake some shaker eggs. What do music and paper plates have in common? Find out! Let your inner child come out and play as you help your child develop the ability to learn!

Children are born with the ability to respond to music and sound. That means that before a child learns to speak, they connect with song and sound. Active participation in musical activities alters the anatomy of the brain. Early musical experiences intensify the development of interconnections between brain cells (neuronal synapses). Essentially, early musical experiences enhance a child’s ability to think, learn, reason and create.

For music to have a profound effect on brain development, a child must physically engage in musical activities. They need to feel, make, hear, and memorize sounds and patterns; they need to sing, clap, dance, and remember movements. Musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language.

• Young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically.


• Music is now being recognized as a form of intelligence, not just a manifestation of it.


• Music enhances brain development


• Music improves your child’s memory, problem solving techniques, understanding and recollection


• Dancing, clapping and other choreographed physical movements develops a child’s fine and gross motor skills


• Music aids language development

CRDL Music and Movement for children up to 5 years old.

CRDL Music and Movement happens the second Wednesday of the month at 10:15am at the Veterans Memorial Library branch of the Chippewa River District Library System (dates may occasionally vary, call 989.773.3242 or click http://crdl.org/ to verify)

March is National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month. There's no better time to introduce young children to the early literacy skills they will need to succeed as adults. Early literacy is what children know about reading before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. You, as parents, set the first example your child has at learning important skills that will help them become great readers. There are six pre-reading skills that children start learning from birth. They are:

Narrative skills - Being able to describe things and events and tell stories.

Print motivation - Being interested in and enjoying books.

Vocabulary - Knowing the names of things.

Phonological awareness - Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Letter knowledge - Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters everywhere.

Print awareness - Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page.

At each different variation of CRDL Storytime, we pick one or two of the six pre-reading skills and put together a series of stories, music and activities designed to develop those particular skills. While we can't focus on all six skills at once, we make it a priority to spotlight at least one or two of the skills at each CRDL Storytime and give parents ideas of how to work on developing those skills at home. CRDL Storytime, designed for preschool aged children, happens each Monday and Thursday at 10:15 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant, and each Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Faith Johnston Memorial Library in Rosebush. CRDL Lapsit Storytime happens the last Wednesday of each month at 10:15 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant. CRDL Lapsit Storytime is designed for children up to two years old. CRDL Music and Movement, an additional variation of the CRDL Storytime, is designed for children up to five years old and happens the second Wednesday of each month at 10:15 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library.

To help celebrate March is National Reading Month, we're asking you to read as if your life depends on it. In fact we're claiming that Books are Lifesavers. You can pick up your reading log sheets at either Veterans Memorial Library or Faith Johnston Memorial Library and start reading. Finish four books during the month of March, and we'll reward you with free Lifesavers candy, kind of a sweet way to celebrate National Reading Month. Stop by either branch to pick up your log sheets today and start reading as if your life depends on it, because Books are Lifesavers.

There are a lot more fun events and activities on the calendar at your Chippewa River District Library. Click events on the newly redesigned crdl.org website and see why everyone's saying "I Love My Library".

Special CRDL Create Make & Take

Since our winter chill hasn't gone away just yet, we're planning some after school fun inside today at your CRDL. We'll open the doors to the CRDL Community Rooms at Veterans Memorial Library at 3pm for a special Create, Make & Take. Stop in anytime between 3pm and 5pm for a variety of fun after school crafts.

We hope to see you there.

Books are Lifesavers

March is National Reading Month. There’s no better time to introduce young children to the early literacy skills they will need to succeed as adults. Early literacy is what children know about reading before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. You, as parents, set the first example your child has at learning important skills that will help them become great readers. There are six pre-reading skills that children start learning from birth. They are: 1. Narrative skills – Being able to describe things and events and tell stories, 2. Print motivation – Being interested in and enjoying books, 3. Vocabulary – Knowing the names of things, 4. Phonological awareness – Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words, 5. Letter knowledge – Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters everywhere, and 6. Print awareness - Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page. At each different variation of CRDL Storytime, we pick one or two of the six pre-reading skills and put together a series of stories, music and activities designed to develop those particular skills. While we can’t focus on all six skills at once, we make it a priority to spotlight at least one or two of the skills at each CRDL Storytime and give parents ideas of how to work on developing those skills at home. CRDL Storytime, designed for preschool aged children, happens each Monday and Thursday at 10:15am at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant, and each Wednesday at 11am at Faith Johnston Memorial Library in Rosebush. CRDL Lapsit Storytime happens the last Wednesday of each month at 10:15am at Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant. CRDL Lapsit Storytime is designed for children up to two years old. CRDL Music and Movement, an additional variation of the CRDL Storytime, is designed for children up to five years old and happens the second Wednesday of each month at 10:15am at Veterans Memorial Library.
To help celebrate March is National Reading Month, we’re asking you to read as if your life depends on it. In fact we’re claiming that Books are Lifesavers. You can pick up your reading log sheets at either Veterans Memorial Library or Faith Johnston Memorial Library and start reading. Finish four books during the month of March, and we’ll reward you with free Lifesavers candy, kind of a sweet way to celebrate National Reading Month. Stop by either branch to pick up your log sheets today and start reading as if your life depends on it, because Books are Lifesavers.
There are a lot more fun events and activities on the calendar at your Chippewa River District Library. Click events on the newly redesigned crdl.org website and see why everyone’s saying “I Love My Library”.