Ames Free Library

"Where the Community Connects"

Youth Services

Family Fun: Write to an Author

Letter writing has become a bit of a revived craft over these past months as people are looking for creative ways to connect with loved ones near and far. It’s also a great practice for kids learning how to organize a letter, work on their handwriting, or just learn a life skill (stamp goes on the top right!). Consider writing to your favorite author or illustrator. Many are inundated by too many letters to respond, but others do try to send some sort of reply. Maybe you’ll get a surprise in the mail too!

Program Updates: Take Apart Table

My hairdryer broke recently. It’s not a big deal; I almost never use it. But now what do I do with it? Well… a few times a year, we run a “take apart table” at the library – a chance for kids to look under the hood, so to speak, of common electronics and devices. We’ve dismantled a computer, a stereo, keyboards, a cell phone, a laminator… and parents have almost as much fun as their kids!

Program Updates: Storytime

If you’ve somehow missed it, here’s your reminder to check out our virtual storytimes! It’s been hard not being able to see our favorite smiling faces every week, but we’re trying to keep your kiddos engaged with some online entertainment instead. If you’re a storytime regular, you’ll find a lot of familiar content along with familiar faces. If you haven’t been to storytime before, welcome! Now’s the time to check it out! There is a version of each regularly scheduled storytime updated every week.

Family Fun: Backyard Games

Spring has been teasing us for quite some time now, but one of these days it will stick! It’s on us to create entertainment for our kids these days, so how about taking your family outside for some good old-fashioned backyard fun? These games may not look like traditional “literacy,” but chances are there are at least directions to follow, some fun conversation, and score-keeping going on (all of which… shhh... support literacy skills!).

TEENS: College Sampler

This school year isn’t ending the way we all hoped it would, but it will end soon enough. Do you already know what you want to do when you leave high school? Whether you do or don’t, you can check out these free online college courses to get a feel for what to expect in college and find out what path you’d like to take!

Browse free online courses in a variety of subjects. Harvard University has made these courses available. https://www.edx.org/school/harvardx

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