Summer news from the Cedar Springs Public Library for June and July always centers on our annual Summer Reading Program. We go all out to make it the extravaganza of the entire year!  This year was no exception. It’s true, people do read for fun and prizes!

Our reading logs were designed with a mission this year for ages 0-2, and five levels for PreK through 6th grades. For 7th grade through adult readers we logged number of books and pages read. Participants logged in as follows:  Ages 0- 2: 8 finished their reading activities; PreK- 2nd grade: 84 participated; 1st – 3rd graders: 99 participated; 4th – 6th graders: 77 participated; 7th – 12 graders:17 participated, reading 59,478 pages & 17 hours via audio books (Joey Sherman read the most with 4,509 pages), adults – 61 participated, reading a total  of 590 books or 151,561 pages and 10 audio books! Top readers were Cynthia Gross (16,973 pages) and Karyl Garrette (14,344 pages)!

We are a community of readers! We had a total of 20 different programs in 6 weeks with 2,317 in attendance overall. We had preschool programs, tween (4th – 6th grade) programs, teen programs, general family programs and adult programs.  At our grand finale Reading Celebration Carnival, July 27, at Morley Park, 355 attended, including our 35 volunteers!

What fun we had!  Our entire community was there or represented. We had games and prizes galore provided by our business partners, including eight Wii games, a motorized scooter, 400 bottles of water, bubbles enough for 300 children, hundreds of smaller prizes, inflatables, water games, water balloons and launchers, two bicycles, 400 ice cream sandwiches, 400 cans of pop products, 300 cookies and a cooler of drink, and a water trough to keep the water cold. It takes a community!

All of the City Departments were represented from the Fire, Police, to the Dept. of Public Works.  Mayor Watson welcomed readers to the party, mixed with the crowd and oversaw the dunk tank event. City Councilor Pam Conley, garden club president Chris McFarlane and Parks and Rec director Amanda Gerhardt all got a good soaking!

The Boy Scouts, troop moms, sisters and friends helped staff games. Great music was provided by Larry and Deb Eadie.  (See POST July 22 for an exhaustive list of our hometown heroes who provided programs, prizes and food for all 6 weeks.)

How do such programs happen?  A Community is great from within…you make our community great.  Judging by the numbers of you who used the library week after week, attended programs, read to your children, used the computers and checked out books, I’d say that we are a community of readers. Great things are in store for Cedar Springs!

As the school year approaches, the Library looks forward to providing weekly Tuesday and bimonthly Friday Story times for preschoolers.  For adults, we have monthly book discussions centering around a great read every 3rd Monday of the month. September 7 begins our annual “READ TO RIDE” program with Elliott’s Amusements, the Red Flannel Festival and Jackie Gillow where students K-8th grades can read to earn 2 FREE tickets/coupons to ride the rides during Red Flannel Days. Download a reading log at redflannelfestival.org or cedarsprings.llcoop.org.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

“Hear ye, hear ye…Mark your calendars for June 14—July 24. The Cedar Springs Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is about to begin!

Make a Splash, Water Your Mind, Make Waves @ Your Library…that’s what this summer is all about at the Cedar Springs Public Library. We are gearing up for a wet and wild summer and have a very splashy group of programs planned to impress young and old alike. Our plan is that hundreds will be “marooned” at the Cedar Springs Library this summer!

Last year over 700 registered and over 600 came into the library on Opening Day for free Kelly’s ice cream and the free themed book bags. It does take a community to put on a Summer Reading Campaign of this magnitude each and every summer. Each year we ask ourselves at the Library, “In a perfect world where money and space are not obstacles…what programs and professional presenters and prizes would we offer to the Cedar Springs Community?”

Then you, all of our local businesses, service organizations, local churches, schools and individuals make the dream come true. Already hundreds of dollars are pouring in! Last year, counting every prize and every presenter and every piece of paper, the cost of the Summer Reading Program was $4,888. If you would like to give a cash donation of any size, or give a prize for any age, or donate some of your time…contact the library!

Special dates:  June 14, noon to 6pm – OPENING DAY! There will be a Friends of the Library book sale going on outside…a petting zoo and some stories, free ice cream  handed out by City Council members and other neighbors, and more. Sign up now to avoid the rush on June 14.

We have fantastic performers and programs. Ee have five programs  from 11:15-12pm every Tuesday just for preschoolers;  we have six family programs Tuesdays @ 2pm and one at 7pm—programs from a ventriloquist, a magician, a puppeteer, comics, even our very own Red Flannel Queen, Jenna Johnson, and her court, Kali Oberdorfer and Audrianna Boomgaard will be presenting!  We have two programs for 4th – 6th grade, two for 7-12th grade and 3 for adults!

We have prizes galore for every age. K-8th grade can win a trip to New York City for four, including $1000 in spending money and tickets to a Disney
Broadway show, and many other prizes. DIVE into some good books this summer! Ride the waves to 43 W. Cherry Street!

By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

The Library Board and staff would like to take this opportunity at the close of 2009 to wish all of you, our community, a very joy-filled and prosperous New Year in 2010.  We join our hopes with yours for progress toward the realization of our collective dream, a larger library facility.

We are grateful for the way you all have supported the library’s efforts to offer materials and programming that would be useful, current and foster a lifelong love of reading.  In fiscal year 2008-2009 we logged in 32,250 patron visits, 62 programs for children with 4,568 attending and 18 adult programs for 132 patrons.  This year we will be adding about 400 more adults due to the 4 Travelogue programs the Library added in October.  Our collection stands around 22,000 since we are locked into our 2,000 square foot building.  When we bring in the new, we weed out the old and worn…with the exception, of course, that the timeless classics have to stay.  It’s a tight fit.  One day we will have a larger space for collection and for YOU.

Our six public access computers have served many purposes this year.  We have seen an increase in the number of residents using them for unemployment, to look for jobs, create and send resumes, email, search Craigslist  or ebay for bargains or to sell items, shop online, listen to music, chat with friends and relatives, download photos, and some just to relax to music or play games.  Soon, there will be those filing their income tax online.

We are celebrating the partnerships we have in the community which made it possible to plan, organize, initiate, advertise and promote the Library’s services and programs this year.  Service organizations, businesses, churches, other nonprofits and private individuals,  too numerous to mention in this short article,  have wrapped their arms around their library and its efforts offering their finances, space, time, products, leadership and participation.  Your library staff see your contributions on a daily basis and are very blessed to be working for such a wonderful community as we have in Cedar Springs.

Michigan’s economy is affecting us all, the library included.  We are projecting a $10,000 shortfall due to a reduction in revenues and a $1,000 quarterly increase to belong to the Lakeland Library Cooperative.  Our Cooperative, which facilitates our sharing and borrowing materials from 80 other libraries in Western Michigan and delivers materials from around the State through MelCat, is facing a loss in revenue of right around $167,500.  How this deficit will be met is a matter of much concern to all of us who have enjoy first-class service and reciprocal borrowing for many years.  I will keep you posted as more information becomes available soon.

I do know this, Cedar Springs residents know how to stick together and work together.    As we stand on the brink of 2010, our hearts are full of hope.  We do believe in miracles.  One of those miracles is located at 43 W. Cherry Street.

Happy New Year,
Donna Clark, Director

By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

I think of the harvest and Thanksgiving when November rolls around. At the library we are reaping a harvest of seeds planted early on—seeds of programs old and new.

Our newest program is the Travelogue Adventure Series. November’s program brought in 105 people. The preshows at 6:30 p.m. are fun, too. In October we had a small ensemble of flutists, “Flauto Accordo,” and ini November we had guitar music with brother and sister team  of Alexis and Ryan Kaiserlian. We hope to get a school choir and perhaps the jazz band for March and April.

Our goal is to have ticket sales and patron donations to cover the full cost of the four programs. So far $2,633 has come in. If the last two programs (March 8 and April 12) bring in another $1000, we will meet our goal this year. This doesn’t include money donated by our patron sponsors. Our second goal is to have money left over for our new library.

We had our 3rd annual spooky event at the Library on October 29. We called it “Nightmare on Cherry Street.” We planned some ghostly stories and poems for the 4th-6th graders who came, and for a little detective fun, nothing gets kids stirred up better than a little murder mystery and a crime scene. Local actors volunteered to play their part in being interrogated by the young detectives, and once the real murderer was evident, our own local Police Woman, Officer Mandy, came to place the culprit under arrest with handcuffs! We had 17 tweens, four staff and 10 actors that evening. Thanks to Chris Bigney for rounding up a great cast of local talent: Liz Clifford, Russ Cole, Katie Myers, Laura Johnson, Laura Bonarski, Herb Vanderbilt, Wayne and Caitlyn Pierce and Aaron and Trent.

A couple of new programs this month—Girls Night Out and Boys Night Out—happening one week apart for 4th-8th graders. The point is a really good book and a really fun party/discussion around that book. For the girls and their favorite female role model, it was “Star Girl.” For the boys it was “Leepike Ridge.” We shared some snacks, a few crafts, and a lot of laughs.

The City’s “Spooktacular” was a lot of fun and really good for the businesses downtown. The Library opened from 6-7pm and joined the fun. Sixty extra people tramped through our door that evening, some for the first time.

The “Read to Ride” program for Red Flannel Day generated 314 free tickets to students from preK-6th grade who read a minimum of 3 books. We are grateful to those who worked with us to make this happen.

The Library is blessed to have an active “Friends of the Library” group who get involved with fundraising for a new library facility. You’ve seen them grilling and selling hotdogs, working at the Red Flannel Chili Cook-off, organizing our bi-annual book sales and assisting at the Travelogue Programs.

Many were disappointed that our Red Flannel Book Sale was rained out. We are rescheduled for December 3, 4 and 5 from 10am to 5pm, INSIDE at the empty store next door to Melanie’s Creations at 37 N. Main. I hear that you can fill a bag for $4. Dozens and dozens of VHS for sale for $0.50.  2009 books for only $7. If you are looking for new gifts—the Friends also have RED 2010 calendars ($4) and nice, canvas book bags ($10) for sale. Do a portion of your Christmas shopping at the Library this year.

All of us at the Library wish all of you, our friends and neighbors of Cedar Springs, a blessed holiday season filled with joy, love and peace.

By Donna Clark, Director, Cedar Springs Public Library

School has started and we are on our Fall schedule. Our Summer Reading Program is a sweet memory, with 21 programs in 7 weeks! That’s pretty spectacular, considering that in 2006, for the entire year, we had 77 programs bringing in 2,764 people, and this year our Summer Reading Program alone brought in 2,124! That could only happen because of the warmth and support of our Red Flannel community!

Speaking of RED…we had 26 preschoolers at the Library yesterday for our weekly 11:15 a.m. Story Time to hear stories about Red Flannel Day. The craft for the day was a paint stick, printed with each child’s name, a circle to color of this year’s theme, complete with ribbon and a red streamer  and a bell. Armed with their music and festive spirit, the children marched around the block with Mrs. Shannon for their very own Red Flannel Parade. It was classic.

We launched our 2nd annual “Read to Ride” program for preK-6th graders September 1. We have contacted all area schools—private, public, charter and homeschools. Our message is the same, “Read 3 books for one FREE coupon or 6 books for two FREE coupons to ride carnival rides, grab a hotdog or FREE popcorn, compliments of Elliott’s Amusements, the Red Flannel Festival and the Library!  This event has been supported from its beginning by the Jack Gillow family, in his memory.”

Reading logs are available on the Library’s website: cedarsprings.llcoop.org or on the Red Flannel Festival’s website: redflannelfestival.org. We’re on Facebook and you can come into the library for a copy if that’s more convenient.  The last minute you can cash in your reading log is 6 p.m., Friday, October 2. Logs are already pouring in by all of you Lumberjacks out there. Keep ‘em rollin’ in!

October 12 will be the beginning of an exciting NEW program for the library, with an all-out effort to please families, in particular our adult and senior population. It’s a classy, cultural endeavor—the Travelogue Adventure Series, previously hosted by the CS Education Foundation.  Four fantastic programs are planned for the second Monday of the months of October, November, March and April at the CSHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6pm. We hope to have a preshow by local musicians for your entertainment.

Refreshments are generously being served by local service organizations during intermission:  Rotary Club, Lions Club, Garden Club and Women’s Club. Coffee will be provided by our new CS School Superintendent, Mr. Ron Mcdermed! A fun raffle will be conducted, as well. We’ll be giving an overnight stay at the W & W Lodge, compliments of Tim and Sue Wolfe on October 12. All ticket holders will receive a free ticket for the drawing.

We’re trying something new. Paying adults may bring school-age students for FREE. If not accompanied by an adult family member, student tickets are $3.50. We’re encouraging an inter-generational happening…so get your tickets at the Library, $25 gets you a ticket/passport for all four events. Tickets are $8 individually. Profits will go toward  our new Library Building Campaign! Come on, Community, let’s travel the world, fill that auditorium and put money in our new Library Fund! up to us. The State can’t help us, but with time and ingenuity, we can keep moving toward our goal!

The Friends of the Library are having their annual book sale on Friday, October 2 from 11a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The CS Garden Club is partnering with the Friends for their fundraising “Perennial Plant Sale.”  You can still get your perennials to us on Red Flannel Day. Just drop them off at the Library that morning. We’ll be watching for you as early as 8 a.m. Bring cash for books and plants…and sweets!

On the 3rd Monday of every month the Library has a Book Discussion Club, discussing an interesting books at 7 p.. at the Library. If you want to jump right into October, check out the book that recently took the young adult and adult world by storm, “Twilight,” by Stephenie Meyer. It has vampires in it and is a great read for Halloween month. Read it for an interesting discussion on October 19.

Though all is well at the Library, clouds do loom on the horizon as our State faces very serious budget crises. The 42-member libraries of Lakeland and W. MI are trying to figure out how to meet the deficit that $4 million less State Aid dollars will affect library services. I’ll keep you posted to changes. I feel we can meet any challenge as long as we pool our resources as individuals and as a community.  I’ve seen the heart of Cedar Springs first-hand. We are a strong, caring and supportive community. I’m glad we’re in this together, whatever happens.  It’s a time for faith, courage, and hope. Bring your Red Flannels and your sunshine downtown to celebrate! See you there!

Donna Clark, Library Director