Children's Librarians Go to the Zoo!

Do you have any plans for Saturday yet? If not, join us for a little zoo fun! Miss Tegan and Miss Michelle will be at the Elmwood Park Zoo on Saturday, March 24 in the morning for a special event featuring games, crafts, and the author/illustrator of Stop Snoring, Bernard! We hope you'll visit us at Elmwood Zoo!

College Planning

Is college planning in your future? Give yourself a head start by attending the last two College Planning Sessions at WVPL - Blue Bell.

On Tuesday, March 20, at 7 PM, learn how to craft the perfect college essay at our College Essay Workshop. Essay experts will tell you what you will need for that winning essay. Register to be reminded. Presented by Chyten of Blue Bell.

On Tuesday, March 27, at 7 PM, learn how to Select a College that is best for your student. Choosing a college is not as simple as it may seem. There are many factors to consider. Join Willoughby Consulting as she tells you what you need to know to begin selecting the perfect college. Register to be reminded.

All events are free and we ask that you register to be reminded of the event. These events are open to teens and parents of college bound teens (recommended for juniors or seniors).

Bottle Avatar Studio

Has your child checked out Bottle Avatar Studio yet? Still unsure what exactly Bottle Avatar Studio is?

Bottle Avatar Studio, which meets on Tuesdays at 4:30 PM for the month of March at WVPL- Blue Bell, is an hour-long program of art. Students will be given a bottle to create an artistic expression of their choice. So far we've had a pink rabbit, pink cat, black and white penguin, purple bear, and green kangaroo made by Bottle Avatar students. Students ages 8 and up are welcome to attend any session of their choice (or all of the sessions left). Students wishing to attend must register in advance.

For ages 8 and up. Registration required. Tuesdays at 4:30 PM

GEEK OUT AT YOUR LIBRARY - eBooks

Grab your eReader, your library card, and get to WVPL.org by computer or eReader. Click “Overdrive Ebooks” and experience a new way of reading a library book. In Overdrive you can check out books for 1, 2, or 3 weeks and make a “wishlist” to return to when you are looking for some books.

Overdrive works with the majority of eBook readers and we have a large selection. HINT: Before you browse, sign in with your library barcode number and then take a look around. Those orange “A” Advantage books are extra books, just for you. When time runs out on the book, that’s it. You’ll have to check it out again, or place a hold. Feel free to place a hold on your next favorite title. Overdrive will email you when the book is ready to “check out.”

Overdrive also features eAudio books which work with many popular devices.

GEEK OUT AT YOU LIBRARY – Test Prep

Test season is just around the corner. If you’re a junior or a senior, this resources is a must in your test taking strategies.

On our site, you’ll find an unassuming little lightbulb. That lightbulb is another addition to your test prep tool box. Learning Express Library, as the little light bulb is actually known, features a great College Preperation section with AP, ACT, and SAT practice exams. The best part of these is that you take the test and it is instant about how you did. When AP students were introduced to this last year, many were excited to have a resource to use before the test. This is probably one of our best kept secret eResources available to you.

Not taking a college prep test? There are certainly courses to help you brush up on your reading, writing, math, and science skills. You can also take some time to look at career help or GED preparation. There are eBooks available to help you study as well. Take some time to look around Learning Express Library.

GEEK OUT AT YOUR LIBRARY – Must See Homework Help

It’s the middle of the night. You have a paper due tomorrow. You need one more resource to round everything out. You need one more factoid. The library is close. In fact, a lot of stuff that could help you right now is closed. What are you going to do?

Visit WVPL.ORG and check out one of FOUR resources that are open while the library is closed. Think of this as the virtual, 24 hour library because these resources, don’t care if we’re open or closed. They are open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

eReference Books: You need one more book. Take a look at our E-Ref books available on our home page. These are virtual books, based on actual books (this should count as a book resource, but it is in eBook format). Everything is searchable, save-able, and citable with nifty citation tools (always make sure it  matches what your teacher wants). We have a variety of topics available from art to history to medicine to science. Even if you don’t have a project due, or you  just got your project, this eBook collection is a must.

Philadelphia Inquirer: A full text, searchable database of the popular Philadelphia Inquirer. You can search from 1829 to 1922 in the historical archive or you can search the full text from 1981 to present. Don’t have an assignment? Take a look for your birthday and see what happened on your day of birth.

Ambler Gazette: Search our local paper’s historical archive (1894-1945) or search present issues in this database. We admit it is a little clunky to look for and you really need a good idea of what date you are looking for, but it is fun to look around at what happened in Ambler years and years and years ago.

EBSCOHost: A searchable full-text magazine database. Simply that.

GEEK OUT AT YOUR LIBRARY – Learn a Language

Learning a language? Want to learn a language? MANGO is the resource for you.

Mango Languages is similar to another popular language computer program, but this one is online and has mobile apps. Yes, apps that you can download to your favorite devices like the iPod or iPad. All you need to do is create a username and password, log-in and start learning. Mango is a simple-to-use interface with lessons from basic to more advanced. You can also use a feature to “talk” to the computer and it’ll rate how you did.

If you need extra language help, there is a translator available on Mango as well. Type in text, tell it which way you want to translate, and you’re done! Easy (although it may not be perfect).

Mango does work both ways: Learn from English to a language or from a language to English. There are over 32 different languages to learn and many features to try.

Hey, they have Pirate.

GEEK OUT AT YOUR LIBRARY - Teen Tech Week Intro

You may have seen our poster with the words “GEEK OUT” on it. Or maybe you saw our Young Adult (Teen) book display (pictured) with science fiction and steam punk books. You may have seen the words “Teen Tech Week.”

Just what is “Teen Tech Week”? I look at Teen Tech Week, which is happening this year from March 4 to March 10, as a week long celebration of techy fiction, tech books, and the various technologies you can get from your library. For example did you know we have a test prep database or that we have eBooks? How about our learn-at-home language database? Not to mention Internet computers to use and free Wifi. Didn’t know we had this stuff?

Well, we’ll spend this next week showcasing our eResources and technology available to you at WVPL. And all you’ll need is a library card to Geek Out with our resources.

Kids and Teen March Events

Have we got events for you and your family this month! To start off Spring, we have a lot of events for your children and teens at both Ambler and Blue Bell. We hope you can make it to some of these events.

Blue Bell – Children’s and Teen Events

Continuing Children’s Event!

Let’s Read Math

Wednesday, March 7 at 5 PM for Grades K-2 and NEW, a time for Grades 3-5: 5:30 PM to 6 PM.

Let’s Read Math! where stories and math combine! March will feature a measuring exercise for those in grades K-2 and a geometry topic for those in grades 3-5. For grades K-2 and 3-5. Registration required, space is limited.

Grades K-2 meets at 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM Register here

NEW Grades 3-5 meet at 5:30 PM to 6 PM Register here

Paper Art Club! is a group open to anyone interested in learning beginner origami. Sessions will consist of learning step-by-step origami instructions to make simple origami figures, mainly animals. Paper Art Club will be held on Saturday afternoons at 2:30 PM starting on January 7 and ending March 24 (12 weeks). If you are under the age of 8, please bring a trusted adult to help you construct the folds. If you are interested, sign up online by clicking here. Drop-ins are welcome. You do not have to attend every session. Sign up anytime.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Blue Bell Lego Club

Lego Club continues to meet on the second and third Thursday of the month! March dates are March 8 and March 15 at 4:30 PM. Build, design, and create @ Your library. Legos and Duplos provided. For ages 3 and up (parents of children ages 5 and under must stay in the room). Walk-ins welcome!

Family Movie Matinee

Saturday, March 10 at 1:30 PM

Featuring Cars 2 (rated G). Stop by the library for a free movie on our big screen! Special front row seating for children.

Special Children’s Events!

Bottle Avatar Studio

Every Tuesday in March (March 6, 13, 20, 27) at 4:30 PM

Bottle Avatar Studio is where beginners learn easy crafts and get to make their own bottle avatar creation to express themselves. Session starts off with tutorials to introduce new methods of art creation followed by creating their ideal avatars. We aim to enhance creativity and teach children how to freely express themselves to other people and how it identifies an individual in their own uniqueness. (This is a graduation project for a student).

For ages 8 and up. Registration required.

Sign Language Class for Kids

Saturday, March 3 at 11 AM

Does your child want to learn sign language? An instructor will teach children basic sign language in this workshop.

For ages 7 to 15 Registration Required

A to Z Magic Show,

Thursday, March 15 at 7 PM

Enjoy a free and funny magic show at the library!

For ages 6 and up. No registration.

Library Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 31

10:00 AM: Craft and Coloring

10:30 AM: Egg Hunt

Everyone’s favorite Spring Tradition is back at the library. Find eggs in the library! All ages of children welcome. Bring your own basket.

Blue Bell Teen Events

Teen Advisory Group

Saturday, March 3, at 11AM

Help the library plan teen events or volunteer opportunities! Earn up to 1 volunteer hour for attending. For ages 13-17. E-mail Youth@WVPL.org if you are interested in joining.

Tween/Teen Felt Creation

Wednesday, March 7, at 7 PM

Learn new stitches as you make a nifty project. Registration required. Space is limited. Sign up here

College Planning Series

Tuesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27

Plan for college with these events.

For teens (ages 14 and up) and parents of teens. Registration required (this link takes you to all the registrations), but drop ins welcome.

·         Q&A College Round Table

Tuesday, March 6 at 7 PM
Come join Wissahickon College Counselor Chris Plentus for a casual hour of Q+A about college. Topics may include SATs and ACTs, college choices, applying to college, financial aid, and general timeline questions. Discussion will be led by the audience, so come prepared with questions, but please keep them general so that others may benefit from the discussion. 

·         Financial Aid
Tuesday, March 13 at 7 PM
PHEAA, FA, FAFSA! What does it all mean?   Willoughby Educational Consulting, LLC can guide you through understanding the financial aid process, cost of attendance for college, and acquiring supplemental funding for higher education. 
Presented by Willoughby Educational Consulting.

·         College Essay Workshop
Tuesday, March 20 at 7 PM
Learn some tips and tricks on writing the college essay. Presented by Chyten of Blue Bell.

·         Selecting a College
Tuesday, March 27 at 7 PM
Selecting a college or university can be a very stressful time for students and their families.  Need help narrowing your college search?   Students and parents will receive information on how to make informed decisions on selecting the best fit college.

Ambler – Children’s and Teens Events

Ambler Children’s Events

Bingo for Books – Thursday, March 8 at 7 PM.

Art with Benita – Saturday, March 10 at 10:30 AM. Class sized limited. For preschool aged children. Registration required.

Arts ‘n Crafts with Miss Michelle – Monday, March 12 at 4:30 PM

Art with Laura – create amazing things! Saturday, March 24 at 10:30 AM. For grades 3-6. Registration required.

Ambler Teen Events

Teen Advisory Group – Please note new date: the third Saturday of the month!

Saturday, March 17, at 11AM

Help the library plan teen events or volunteer opportunities! Earn up to 1 volunteer hour for attending. For ages 13-17.

E-mail Youth@wvpl.org if interested in joining.

Teen Craft

Wednesday, March 14 at 4:30 PM

Use a CD to weave a work of art!

For ages 13 to 17. Registration required.

Teens Talk Books

Wednesday, March 21, at 5 PM

Ages 13 to 17. Enjoy discussing your favorite books with a snack. Registration required. Sign up at Ambler.

Don’t forget to check out our event calendars for more events, including a look at our March and April events, at WVPL.org.

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Check out our Youth Blog and our Youth Blog at Ambler Patch.

We hope to see you at these events and around the libraries!