There’s no telling what kind of weather we’re going to get from day to day (sometimes even minute to minute). So here’s a basic Weather Advisory Overview to keep in mind…
If the weather is severe enough for Nemaha Central Schools to be dismissed early, the library will close at 5:00 that day. We will also post on Facebook, KNZA radio station and WIBW TV if we close or open late due to weather. School closures for extreme weather do not guarantee the library will be closed, though we do reserve the option to open late if necessary. If city administrative offices are closed for weather, the library will also be closed.
Regarding sudden severe weather such as tornado watches or warnings, and severe thunderstorm watches or warnings, please be aware that Seneca Free Library is NOT a designated storm shelter for the city. If emergency sirens sound, the library will lock the doors and escort any patrons currently inside the building to the basement. Patrons not wanting to remain in the library during the storm event are free to leave at their own discretion, but will not be able to get back inside once the doors are closed.
It’s always best to check before heading out. Call us at 785.336.2377
SFL Prepares for Summer Programming, But Needs Your Help to Make Plans Happen!
ALL POINTS BULLETIN!!! We Need Your Help Again! Summer Reading is fast approaching and that means getting our craft supplies in order for the kiddos. Here’s what we’re looking for so far:
1. Twist off bottle caps like the ones shown in the pictures! All colors welcome. Brands and sources not relevant, these were just examples of the type and size of caps we’re looking for. This is for summer reading crafts, so the sooner we can get them the better.
2. We still need red and white fabric strips (single color or monotone patterns please) of 24″ minimum length. This is also for summer reading crafts. Uncut fabric pieces we can cut into the strips we need is great too! Check those scrap fabric stashes sewers!
Questions or clarifications? Drop in or call us at 785-336-2377! Thank you in advance!
Sun Sets on MyLibro as Aspen LiDA Takes Over Account Management in April
Our contract with MyLibro will end sometime in April and we are moving to the Aspen LiDA app for our patron account access and management services. Why? Because Aspen LiDA is produced by and linked directly to our library system software, which means big financial savings for us and easier access for you to the features you use most often, including a one stop “shop” to find and place holds on items available on Hoopla, Libby, and on our library shelves.
Download the Aspen LiDA app from your usual app source, pick Seneca Free Library as your local library, enter your library card number when prompted and enter your password (defaulted to your birth date mmddyyyy). If you have Libby and/or Hoopla installed on your device, accessing eContent is as easy as doing a search in LiDA and following the links to the content you crave. It’s really that simple! Questions or concerns, let us know! Drop in at the desk or call 785-336-2377 for assistance or more information!
Seneca Free Library Presents: YOUTH ART SHOW March 12-15 in the main library.
UPDATED MARCH 14, 2025: We were delighted to have such a wonderful turnout in artist entries for this event! We had 13 High School entries, 5 Middle School (grades 5-8), and 8 Elementary School (grades 1-4). Entries ran the gambit from graphite sketches to water colors, color pencils and crayons, scratch art, and even one knitted textile entry!
Our panel of guest judges had a challenge in narrowing the awesome entries down to the top picks in each age group. The Judges Choice Awards went to Laura Deters, 9th – 12th grade, “Calico Cat,” there was a TIE between Anna Jost, “The Piano” and Milo Heinen, “The Pollinator Plot” in the 5th – 8th grade category, and George Winkler’s “Brazilian Toucan” won in the 1st – 4th grades.
Patron’s Choice Awards will be determined by the end of day March 15, 2025. Here’s a quick look at our entries for our friends who couldn’t make it into the library to see them in person.
We’d like to thank all of our participants for sharing their work, our community judges, and everyone who came out to support the youth artists and participate in our patron’s choice awards! This has been a fantastic week here at Seneca Free Library!
Posted March 1, 2025: Submissions are open to Grades 1-12, 1 item per person, original artwork only that has not been submitted or shown before (i.e., if it went to fair last year it doesn’t qualify). We are following some of the suggestions for open class art that will be acceptable at the 4-H Fair. Paint by number kits and other kits are not original works and will not be accepted.
DRAWING AND PAINTING The Drawing or Painting size limit is 18×24 inches. These entries do NOT need to be matted or framed. Colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, chalk pastels, charcoal, ink, or pencils may be used for drawing. Watercolor, acrylic, oil, and tempera are all acceptable for painting.
3-DIMENSIONAL ART 3-Dimensional Artwork should be no larger than 12x12x12 inches. Acceptable entries include sculpture, ceramics, pottery, metalwork, or woodwork.
TEXTILES Textiles should be limited to a manageable display size. Embroidery, crochet, knitting, and cross stitch are acceptable. Quilted items will not be accepted for this show.
Entries are due March 11 by 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 11. They will go on display in the library from March 12-15. Artwork will be judged in one of 3 age groups (grades 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12) with prizes awarded to the top picks in two categories, Judges Choice and Patron Favorite.
Stop by the circulation desk or call 785-336-2377 for more details.
NOTE: It should go without saying, but the cover image generated for this posting is for promotional purposes only. AI generated “art” will not be accepted for submission.
UPDATE March 28, 2025: The survey is now closed. Thank you to those who provided their input!
While we were planning our Youth Art Show in March as part of Youth Art Month, we started wondering if we should do one in the fall for our adults also? Maybe even host a gallery night to add some fun and flare to the event? We’re all for it here at the library, but we want to take a pulse on the community interest before we put a lot of time and planning into it.
Follow this link to our survey page and let us know what you think and hope to see in our “Color Our World” programming for adults!
Love, loathe, or leave it, Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and if you’re a kid, odds are it doesn’t have all that emotional baggage and trauma tied to it yet that adults have, so why not make it fun while you can still enjoy it!
Tuesday, February 4, Seneca Free Library is hosting a free Valentine making session for kids grades 1-4, after school from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Due to limitations on space, supplies, and staff support, we’ll be limiting the class to 12 participants to ensure a safe, fun, and productive event. The kids will be making two unique card styles to share with someone special.
Preregister your little love-bugs to ensure they have a spot at the craft table! Call 785-336-2377 or stop by the circulation desk!
REPORT: The challenge was made. Six teams answered. Sadly, one team cancelled when the captain got sick the day before. Trivia Night at the Library: Holiday Edition was Friday, December 13. Don we did our gay apparel, oh yes we did, and the player with the most festive garb, Kylee Bergstrom, fa la la’d her way home with a lovely winter popcorn tin. The questions were fun and challenging, the competition was fierce, and two teams rose to the top at the end of 10 rounds. The tie-breaker was determined by the pregame question, “What score (out of 100) do you predict your team will get?” Team 4 was the closest to their prediction, taking home the gaggle of goodie bags, and in some cases reclaiming their champion standing from last September’s Trivia Night. We had a blast Friday night, and we want to thank all of our participants for coming out and joining us in making things merry and bright! Special thanks to our Christmas Queen and Moderator, Kate Haynie, and our Jolly Judge and Score Keeper, Cathy Enneking for all they did to make the night a success! Keep your eyes peeled for future Trivia Night announcements starting shortly after the new year!
Dee Lizzol to Read on Morning of Christmas Eve! (Tues, Dec 24)
Freshly added to our Christmas schedule, on the morning of Christmas Eve (Tuesday the 24th) our very own Dee Lizzol will be doing three short pop up reading sessions at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM.
Join us for “Dee Reads: Christmas Classics and Personal Favorites,” an all ages mini-event series and our gift of cheer and joy to you. Drop in for one or all three of the reading times, sure to entertain and brighten your spirits.
Winter Break Will Include Game Days at SFL December 27 and January 3!
GAME ON!!!!
On December 27 and January 3, Seneca Free Library is cracking open our Game Vault for an Official Game Day from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. These game day events are free to area kids and adults ages 7 and up. It’s an open attendance event so participants can come and go during this time as their schedule allows. You can play an assortment of games through the afternoon or just drop in to play a few quick rounds of your favorite game between appointments or errands!
Children 6 and under must be accompanied by an Adult (school age siblings do not count as sufficient supervision in the library). While library staff will be present to facilitate this activity, babysitting services are not available during this time. As typical with any library event, please provide us with contact information relevant to the times of the event schedule or give your child a written copy of this information to deliver to us when they check in. Please be advised, if participants exhibit disruptive or inappropriate behavior, we reserve the right to remove them from activities. A parent or guardian may be contacted and requested to pick them up.
With that all being said, we are very excited to offer this activity option to the calendar and to see our collected game vault put to good use!
