Kate – Seneca Free Library

STEP Foundation Match Day August 23! (This Friday!)

Step Up to Make a Difference with the STEP Foundation Match Day on August 23!

The STEP Foundation is organizing their annual STEP UP Match Day on Friday, August 23, 2024. Over 30 Nemaha County funds are available to donate to, and each donation will be matched, dollar per dollar up to $4,000 per fund. The Seneca Free Library Fund is just one of dozens of options to donate to through the STEP Foundation and the money goes directly to programs and resources that benefit Nemaha County communities and their residents. Match Day activities at the library will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in the Library Community Room. Online donations can be made until midnight and will still receive the matched fund benefit. For a list of current funds you can go to www.stepupnemaha.com or follow the Match Day link at www.nemahastep.org.

The Seneca Free Library Fund is focusing this year on upgrading the kids section of the library. We are planning to add, update, and rearrange furnishings to make the environment more organized and functional, as well as more inviting for our younger patrons to hangout and read.

A printable donation form can be found at the following website. Electronic donations may normally be made at this site also, but the option appears to be down currently until the Match Day event begins. https://www.stepupnemaha.com/nonprofits/Seneca-Free-Library

Seed Ball Workshop Held Monday, July 8

The Meadowlark District Extension Office presented their Seed Ball Workshop on Monday, July 8 at 1:30 PM. The kids made wildflower seed balls, learned why seed balling is beneficial to growing plants and helping pollinators, discussed a bit about soil conservation, and took home the start to an adventure in growing their own wildflowers!

A special thanks to Laura Phillips, Extension Agent and Horticulturist, for presenting this fun and educational opportunity here at the library!

Adventure Begins in Your Library: July Adventure Theme is Stargazing

July is for Stargazing!

July’s monthly adventure theme is Stargazing! Who doesn’t want a summer activity that isn’t based in the heat of the afternoon sun? Want to do more than walk out your backdoor and look up at the sky? Why not pack a snack cooler with ice cold drinks and travel snacks (precut fruit like strawberries, cantaloupe, or watermelon make great options)! Take a blanket or two to sit on, drive out into the country to escape the light pollution from the street lights, find a safe place to park, sit out in the bed of your truck or set up a picnic spot, and take in the wonders of the night sky. Have a special someone? Make it a date night and have two adventures for the effort of one! Want to bring the kids instead? Make a game of identifying constellations and planets! We have a number of books on constellations and stars to help get you started. Our Adventure Backpacks are also a great option to bring with you

Want more tips on how to get the most out of your stargazing adventure?

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/…/stargazing-top-tips

Story Time and Crafts, Summer 2024

Episode Four (Wednesday, June 26, 2024)

Miss Dee wrapped up our Summer Story Time Series on Wednesday, June 26. We had a fun and energetic group for this round of storytelling and craft making. Miss Dee brought the following books to life for our guests: “There is a Bird on Your Head,” by Mo Willems, “This Books Will Get You to Sleep,” by Jory John, “This is Not My Hat,” by Jon Klassen, “Please Don’t Read This Book,” by Deanna Kizis, and “Don’t Trust Cats” by Dev Petty. Our preschool group made Butterfly Feeders and our elementary group made Dream Catchers.

We’d like to thank all of our youngsters and adults who came out to join us for our June series! We had a great time with you all and hope you had fun too! Happy reading and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Episode Three (Wednesday, June 19, 2024)

Miss Dee hosted another Story Time and Crafts session with a group of 40 kids and parents in attendance on June 19th. She read “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates” by Ryan T. Higgins, “Ten Pigs: an Epic Bath Adventure” by Derek Anderson, “Nobody’s Duck” by Mary Sullivan, “My Toothbrush is Missing,” by Jan Thomas, “Let’s Go on a Hike!” by Katrina Liu, and “Ribbit!” by Rodrigo Folgueira. The preschool group designed and crafted their own “Bitty Bugs” using plastic Easter eggs. Our elementary grade group made “Bottle Bugs” out of recycled Mt. Dew bottles. Between the awesome storytelling and creative craft projects, it was pretty clear everyone had a great time at the end of each session!

Episode Two (Wednesday, June 12, 2024)

Miss Dee took our summer story squad on another adventure through Story Time and Crafts on Wednesday, June 12th. She read “A Couch for Llama” by Leah Gilbert, “Mom, the School Flooded,” by Ken Rivard and “The Bug Girl (A true story)” by Sophia Spencer and Margaret McNamara. The preschool group made their own Glimmer Discs to decorate their rooms with. Our elementary grade group made light up constellation jars. Everyone was super excited to hear Miss Dee’s story’s and show off their projects. We can’t wait to see all our friends again next week! We were pretty busy on the library side during this time also and didn’t get to catch as many pictures as we’d have liked this time. If any of the adults who were there have pictures they want to share, either of the story telling, craft time, or just of a finished product, we’d love to see them. Email them to librarian@senecafreelibrary.org, and we’ll get them posted! (Please note which day the pictures are from so we can post them to the right gallery! Thanks!)

Episode One (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)

Miss Dee opened up our Story Time and Crafts season with a group of 50 kids and parents in attendance on June 5th. She read “Silly Tilly” by Eileen Spinelli, “Frank and Bert” by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, and “a bear, a fish, and a fishy wish” by Daniel Bernstrom. The preschool group made their own binoculars to go out and explore with. Our elementary grade group made dream catchers. Everyone was super excited for their first story time of the season and we look forward to seeing all our friends again next week!

Jet Pack Jason of Mad Science RETURNS Tuesday, June 18!

Jet Pack Jason of Mad Science *RETURNS* to Seneca Free Library on Tuesday, June 18, at 10:30 AM! Kids of Kindergarten age through adults will thrill at the wild wonders and excitement of applied science though chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering presented in a way that is both entertaining and educational. Admission is free to our area patrons and residents. Don’t miss out on this local favorite!

Got a kid who’s a hard sell on science? Tell them there will be explosions and stuff and it’s kind of like a magic show. Shhh! They don’t have to know it’s educational till it’s too late!

*Program note, this event is recommended as unsuitable for preschoolers or toddlers.

New at Seneca Free Library: Adventure Backpacks!

After much anticipation and several misfires in getting the cataloging to program correctly, we are excited to announce the availability and release of our Adventure Backpacks! These super sharp-looking backpacks contain one pair of adult binoculars, one pair of youth binoculars and assorted field guides: The Moon: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Moon, its Surface Features, Phases and Eclipses; Kansas Butterflies & Pollinators: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species; Kansas Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species; Kansas Trees & Wildflowers; and Kansas Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species.

The Adventure Backpacks are available to Seneca Free Library patrons only and are obtained on a first come, first serve basis. They are checked out on a one week loan period and will accrue late fees if kept longer than the allotted time.

We look forward to checking these Adventure Backpacks out and hearing about the adventures our friends and patrons have exploring with them!

Old Cell Phones and Devices Wanted

Looking for another opportunity to give back?

The American Legion Auxiliary (Unit 21-Seneca) is collecting the following items: cell phones (all smartphones and iPhones or flip phones), phone chargers and USB cords, iPads and non-Apple Tablets or eReaders, iPods and MP3 Players.

ALA will ship these items to Big Sky Recycling who will then donate the items to U.S. soldiers through Operation Shoebox or recycle the items that are broken or too far out-dated to be used. By donating your old cell phones and tablets you will help provide phones and phone cards through care packages to our troops deployed overseas and returning home.

Items for donation may be dropped off at the Seneca Free Library (606 Main St, Seneca, KS), The American Legion (Basement, 812 Main St, Seneca, KS), or Sts Peter and Paul Mission Center (409 Amador St, Seneca, KS). For more information or questions about specific items for donation, email alaseneca21@gmail.com

**What NOT to Donate!**

x Original Boxes or Instruction Manuals for phones.
x Computers, Laptops, or Computer Parts
x Landline Phones
x Printers or Ink Cartridges
x Cable Boxes
x Damaged Batteries for any devices.

What About Data Security?

Before donating any electronic device, it is advised that you first save any important content (photos, contacts, etc) and then perform a factory reset to erase all data. If you are unable to power on or perform the reset, rest assured Big Sky Recycling ensures data destruction on all recycled cell phones and devices.

Trail Mix and Scavenger Hunt Summer Program Kick Off!

We had a great turn out for our Monday, June 3rd Trail Mix and Scavenger Hunt program kick off event! Fruits and nuts and cereal bits got scooped and bagged for tasty power up snacks before our intrepid young adventurers took their mission slips and went hunting out in the wilds! (Predominantly the library yard from what we observed.) Thanks to all our visitors and participants for joining us in this fun and tasty event! We hope you had as much fun as we did!

The Mailbox Adventures of Gerald and Tess!

Our library mascots, Gerald Giraffe and Tess T-Rex, have indicated that they are super excited for all of our young readers to come in for Summer Reading, but they’re feeling a bit left out of the Summer Vacation Adventures scene. Can you and your young adventure seekers help them out?

Mail Gerald and Tess a postcard from the road or a letter telling them about your vacation and summer activities! If you forget to mail cards during your trip or didn’t have a stamp handy, you can always drop your postcard or letter in their personal mailbox in the library yourself (located on the circulation desk across from the kids’ pagoda). One of the best parts of adventuring is sharing your story with others, so why not tell us about yours! They’d love to hear what you’re up to! Send post to:

Gerald and Tess

c/o Seneca Free Library

606 Main St.

Seneca, KS 66538

Check back on this page later and you just might find your story being shared with Gerald and Tess in fun and unique ways!

5/28/2024

Director Kate discovered these notes to Gerald and Tess in their personal mailbox this morning. It’s their first official mailbox delivery so we were all quite excited. And, as a personal note, if you’ve never witnessed a plush giraffe blush, it’s quite the sight to see.

Passport Seneca: Your Guide to Summer Adventures in 2024!

Need a little adventure but running short on funds for a big ticket vacation? Need a chance to get away but your schedule says, “Not unless you can fit it in on this specific afternoon in June!”? Partner or friends disappointed that “We never do anything fun together anymore.”? Look no further than your local Seneca Free Library for your guide to all this and More!

Passport Seneca Extravaganza 2024 is a sizzling fresh new program for adult patrons 18+ sponsored by the Seneca Free Library! Inside this free passport is a page by page list of recommended activities to do Right Here in Seneca either by yourself or with a group of avid adventurers like you. Interested? Here’s what you have to do:

Step 1: Between May 20 and June 8, hot foot it down to the Seneca Free Library and visit the circulation desk. Talk to your Librarian and ask about the Passport Program. We’ll get you registered and ready to go with your physical passport* and a reminder of what to do with it! (*This is not a legal or government authorized document, that’s a completely different agency! But if you want us to take a really terrible photo of you just for kicks, we can.)

Step 2: Pick your path to Adventure! Decide which opportunities you want to knock out and when you want to do them! Most of them are even Free! (Savvy Adventurers should take note, Saturday, June 8th, is Museum Day and it’s a super efficient chance to check off a bunch of activities without having to schedule individual tours with the museums’ staff.)

Step 3: As with the official government document, Don’t Lose Your Passport! Why? Because your passport isn’t just a list of fun things to do and get checked off, it’s also your ticket to FABULOUS PRIZES! (If you do lose your passport, no worries, we can get you a new one at the circulation desk, you’ll just need to repeat the activities you already had checked off. Nothing replaces experiences, not even the magic of the library.)

Step 4: Keep track of your stamps and receipts. 5 stamps gets you the first tier prize from the library. 10 Stamps gets you the second tier prize. A full passport not only means you had a great summer, but it gets you entered into our Grand Prize Adventure Pack Giveaway drawing at the end of the summer!

Step 5: Turn in your passport at the circulation desk BEFORE JULY 31 to be eligible for the grand prize drawing! Tier 1 and Tier 2 prizes can be claimed and marked off at the circulation desk any time between June 8 and July 31. Only ONE passport is eligible for completion per Patron.

That’s it! Pretty simple, right? So come in and get registered between May 20 and June 8, get out there and have some fun, and be sure to tell us about your adventures when you come to report your progress! We look forward to seeing you this summer! Happy Adventuring!