Category: Library News

Cooking With Kids @ Seneca Free Library (November 15, 2024 Update)

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Cooking with Kids is going on another break as we speed along into family time during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Keep an eye out here and on our social media outlets (Facebook and Instagram) for our return date in December!

REPORT:
Cooking with Kids hit a sweet note in Thursday’s session! Deb Haverkamp gave them a reason to be Thankful for pumpkin as they mixed and baked Pumpkin Cookies! They even made their own almond butter in the food processor and maple cream cheese icing to frost the cookies with. And I gotta tell ya, folks, these cookies were G-O-O-D! They’re like happiness in a tiny baked treat. While they waited for the cookies to bake, our cooking crew did clean up and made pumpkin smoothies. It was originally Deb’s hope to teach the kids how to make pumpkin pie, but sadly, oven limitations and time constraints made it too restrictive to do. Hopefully our young master chefs will get a chance to help with pies over the upcoming holiday! You couldn’t ask for better help than our cooking kids! We look forward to hearing about their culinary adventures when we come back from break in December. Special thanks to our participants, and especially to Deb Haverkamp for making this another awesome event!

Want to give the pumpkin cookies a try? Visit sallysbakingaddiction.com/pumpkin-cookies/ for the recipe! (It’s there, I promise, just go to the print friendly version to get around all the fluff and filler.)


REPORT:
This Thursday’s Cooking with Kids brought back breakfast for dinner! (11/7/2024) Deb Haverkamp started the kids off by making home style breakfast burritos with browned sausage, scrambled eggs, and home shredded cheddar topped with fresh cut avocado and salsa. (Take notes, adults, we’ve got kids that can de-stone an avocado like a pro!) Once the first round of dishes were done, the kids went back to work making strawberry and banana smoothies with Greek yogurt, peanut butter, oatmeal, and honey. The kids had a blast and this librarian is lucky to share that the breakfast burritos were awesome and the smoothies were creamy and delicious. Great job, kids! And special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for teaching another installment of this fan favorite program!

REPORT:
Thursday’s Cooking with Kids was wickedly wonderful! (10/24/2024) Deb Haverkamp led our cooking crew through how to build a frightfully festive veggie tray and they made their own ranch dip from scratch (without even using a ranch seasoning packet!). Deb said she even plans to use this recipe at home from now on instead of using the season packets, everyone liked it so much. They also made popcorn balls and learned first hand how humidity and temperature variations can impact cooking. Special thanks to Librarian Deb Haverkamp for hosting another fun and educational Cooking with Kids event!

REPORT:
Cooking with Kids hit the harvest season running on Thursday, September 26. They made chili cheese dogs in honor of fall sports, apple cake from scratch, and fresh applesauce with zero additives. The kids had so much fun mashing apples in the sieve they didn’t want to go home at the end of the session! Special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for hosting yet another fantastic session of Cooking with Kids! This session, we also extend an extra special thanks to the Knapp family for sharing their orchard fresh apples and inspiring this week’s cooking projects!

REPORT:
Deb Haverkamp and the Cooking with Kids crew went full meal prep on September 19. They started with Deb’s daycare-famous goulash recipe, chopped and mixed a classic broccoli salad with real freshly fried bacon crumbles, and topped off the session with toasted garlic bread. This crew could open a restaurant if they had the mind to. They did such an awesome job! It looked great and tasted amazing, as evidenced by the extras they shared with this lucky librarian. Bravisimo, kids! And a special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for hosting yet another fantastic session of Cooking with Kids!

REPORT:
Cooking with Kids returned September 12 in the corniest way possible! Librarian Deb Haverkamp and the kids popped into harvest season with all things corn. They started with a baking project and made some amazing cornbread. Next they shucked full ears of corn and boiled them for corn on the cob. Then they learned three different methods for making popcorn which included air popped, machine popped, and stove top popping. Because the kids did such a great job following instructions and keeping up on the cleanup, they even had enough time to practice making oven baked CARAMEL CORN! And let me tell you, I’m not a big fan of most caramel corn, but this lightly glazed batch was pretty darn tasty and had a great texture. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to try it! And you can too with the recipe shared in the images below! Special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for hosting this class and all of our participants who made it possible!

REPORT:
Librarian Deb Haverkamp hosted the last summer program session of Cooking with Kids on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The threatened rain held off and the overcast skies made for a perfect day to do another round of campfire cooking! This time they made breakfast with camp sausage patties and pancakes from scratch over wood coals. The kids had a great time and the library took on an aura of camp nostalgia as the smell of burning wood trickled in from outside. It was a great way to wrap up our season of adventure before the kids go back to school for the fall semester. Thank you to our participants, and a big thanks to Deb Haverkamp for providing our young chefs with these amazing experiences!

REPORT:
Cooking with Kids met on Thursday, July 25, with Librarian Deb Haverkamp leading the group. Plans had to pivot rather quickly for this session as it was determined that cooking the kids along with the menu items outside would be an unfortunate side effect of the unanticipated spike in heat. Instead, Deb and the kids made snickerdoodle cookies in the community room that came out with a delightfully crisp and airy texture as well as a warm and light flavor! As you can see in the pictures, the kids were eager to add creativity to their culinary skills today. Great job kids! (And thanks for sharing!)


REPORT:
Thursday, July 18, 2024’s Cooking with Kids session with Librarian Deb Haverkamp was a summertime home run! The kids took to the campfire again and made Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler! The librarians working the circulation desk were fortunate enough to get to try the results, and I think everyone agrees, the results were super good! Great job kids, and special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for stepping up each session and coming up with fun and exciting new things for the kids to try!

REPORT:
Cooking with kids took a turn for the rustic on Thursday, June 20, 2024 as Librarian Deb Haverkamp brought the crew outside for a session of camp cooking! Deb brought in a portable fire pit and set up in the rock parking lot behind the building. She pre-fired a batch of coals to be ready for the kids to arrive. The kids diced onions and peppers while the hamburger browned in the Dutch Oven on the coals. Once the meat was cooked, they added their vegetables and tomato sauce, and finally stirred in some cubed Velveeta. The final result of the Hamburger Corn Casserole looked amazing and it was a great experience for the kids to try a new cooking technique!


REPORT:
Thursday, June 13, 2024 the Cooking with Kids crew got one of their biggest wishes fulfilled. They made their own pizzas, with crust from scratch, homemade sauce, and their choice of freshly browned hamburger, sausage, pepperoni and cheese. The aroma coming from the pizza oven was out of this world amazing. Everyone was super excited with this cooking project and it sounded like they had a lot of fun as well!


REPORT:
Thursday, May 9 2024 Deb Haverkamp and our cooking with kids crew made fruit pizza!

This is where the gallery would go if our social media guy had remembered to post the pictures he and Deb took from the event. They were some really good pictures. But here’s an example of what the kids made, “borrowed” from the internet instead:


REPORT:
Thursday, April 25, 2024 the Cooking with Kids crew made Corn and Black Bean Salsa, fresh Guacamole, and Blackened Fish Tacos. Librarian Deb Haverkamp admitted the kids were a little tentative about the tacos at first, but once they tried them, the majority agreed they were a hit. Going in for pictures early on, the salsa smelled and looked amazing. And you know the kids loved what they made when the circulation desk workers don’t even see any leftovers!

Stay tuned for future Cooking with Kids Sessions with Deb coming up in May. She’s already got the wheels turning on what she wants to do next with the crew!

REPORT:
Thursday, April 4th Cooking with Kids featured spaghetti with homemade meatballs and sauce! It looked and smelled amazing. These kids have skills and keep learning new things each time! Special thanks to Librarian Deb Haverkamp for running this program and making it as fun and successful as it is!

As a reminder, we only have a total of 6 spaces for each Cooking with Kids session due to space, safety, and supervision reasons. Slots are filled on a first come, first serve order, as much as we hate having to turn anybody away for a session. Make sure your little chef is signed up well before the class starts. This isn’t a class we can slip in a last-minute addition as much as we might want to.

REPORT:
Cooking with Kids had another full turnout on Thursday, March 21, as Librarian Deb Haverkamp taught the class how to make biscuits and gravy from scratch! The kids had a great time working together and Deb reported that the biscuits and gravy were a big hit with everybody. Great job to our chefs in the making and Deb Haverkamp in cooking up a classic this session!


REPORT:
Thursday, February 22, Cooking with Kids met for another learning experience in food and fun, this time baking coffee cake and trying out an assortment of smoothie recipes. The entry smelled like fresh baked cinnamon, drawing comments of delight from patrons and librarians alike.

Smoothie Recipes to try
Smoothie Moves
Smells great! Cake in the oven.
Baking Coffee Cake

REPORT:
Thursday February 8 Cooking with Kids was busy making Ham Loaf, Meat Balls and 7 Layer Salad! Don’t come on these days, if you are hungry, it’s hard to resist the aroma.

Let’s get messy.

The pictures below are from the January 11th class making Chicken Noodle Soup.

Making noodles!
Cooking chicken and dicing veggies.
Enjoying the results.

Food Pantry Donations at the Library: November Focus is “Personal Hygiene Items”

Seneca Free Library is a proud supporting partner with the Nemaha County Food Pantry, collecting food and personal hygiene items for community members in need of assistance. November’s Donation Focus takes a step away from food items and asks instead for personal hygiene items: soap, shampoo, combs and brushes (unused), toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving razors, shaving cream, and feminine hygiene products.  It’s hard to be your best when you’re struggling to afford the basics, and these are items that often get overlooked because people often assume the food pantry only deals in food. Donations can be delivered to the library during our regular hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Pay it back! Pay it forward! Or just make a contribution for the sake of doing good for others.

This is a service we offer the community. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers and is open one day a week. Rather than having to remember what day and hours they are open, you can drop your donations by the library and we will deliver them for you! We highlight different items to donate each month just to offer some direction and promote awareness. When everything is needed on a regular basis, it can be helpful to have some guidance.

If you have large donations it is best to deliver them directly to the food pantry. We can help facilitate a drop off time if needed. Call us during regular business hours at 785-336-2377.

Some Important Points to Note:

* The Food Pantry is closed the second Wednesday of every month.

* Paper goods and personal hygiene products are also always needed!

* Opened and outdated products are NOT accepted at the Pantry.

Each Family receives the following items Once a Month.

  • 1 breakfast item
  • 4 cans of vegetables
  • 1 can of beans
  • 1 package of rice
  • 1 pasta and sauce
  • 1 jar of peanut butter
  • 1 box of crackers
  • 2 cans of fruit
  • 1 can of tuna or chicken
  • 2 cans of soup
  • 1 dessert
  • 1 pound of meat.

While we highlight different donation items each month here at the library, the following items are ALWAYS NEEDED:

  • Paper products [toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex]
  • personal products [feminine hygiene, sanitary wipes, etc.]
  • boxed cereals
  • oatmeal
  • pancake mix and pancake syrup
  • canned vegetables
  • rice
  • pasta and pasta sauce
  • peanut butter
  • boxed crackers
  • canned fruit
  • canned tuna
  • canned chicken
  • boxed tuna and chicken helper
  • canned soups
  • jello and pudding mixes
  • cookies
  • cake mixes and frosting
  • pie mix
  • and more!
  • They also accept laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, and bath soap.

The Adventures of Nelson the NEKLS Gnome and Sherri the ShareIt Gnome (UPDATE 10/10/2024)!

The Adventures of Nelson the NEKLS Gnome and Sherri the ShareIt Gnome!

Sherri and Nelson are the best of friends. They popped into existence together at the Seneca Free Library just as the last throws of winter began to sputter out. They came to the library to spread good cheer and excitement about the upcoming summer reading program.

“Adventure Begins at the Library,” Sherri mused. “What fun! There’s so many adventures to have and explore. Thrilling ones, mysterious ones, funny ones, mushy romantic ones, action-packed ones… oh my, and those are just the adventures to READ about!”

“Just imagine all the things our friends can do themselves in the real world!” Nelson agreed with excitement. “Camping, exploring, traveling, star gazing, picnicking, flying kites, solving puzzles and mysteries, playing games, swimming, bird watching… gosh, the possibilities are endless, really!”

And so, these two cheerful friends spent the remainder of the winter and all through the spring tickling the minds of their new librarian friends and whispering ideas and inspirations to them. Before they knew it, the end of the school year arrived, and Summer Reading was just around the corner! There were even plans for the adults at the library to have fun too! Everyone at the library was eager and excited to get started. Sherri and Nelson did such a good job helping to get things ready, they even inspired each other to consider their own adventures!

“Gosh! All of these adventures sound wonderful and exciting! Do you think we should do something on our own?” Sherri suggested with nervous anticipation.

“Let’s do it!” Nelson agreed with excitement. “Then we’ll have our own adventures to tell our friends about!”

And so, just like that, Sherri and Nelson started making their plans and prepared to make their way out into the world. Each adventurer planned a different journey so they could share their stories with each other when they got home as well! Their librarian friends wished them good luck, and off they went to explore and discover wherever their journey might take them next!

This is Our Library! Show us Yours!
Sherri and Nelson Prepare for Their Adventure!

Sherri is making her journey through the Kansas ShareIt Library System (courier transfers only please!). Nelson is traveling across the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) via courier. They are leaving Monday, May 20, 2024, and should start their journey back to the Seneca Free Library on or around Friday, August 16, 2024. The goal is for them to visit as many network libraries as possible and hopefully learn a little bit about the library, their communities, and, of course, the wonderful library staff who work there!

Here at the Seneca Free Library, we’ll be posting updates on where Sherri and Nelson are at, tracking their journey on our Kansas map where our patrons can see it, and sharing all the fun and interesting pictures, info, and whatever else our creative librarian peers across Kansas might come up with. (Library Staff, please submit updates and media to Librarian@senecafreelibrary.org. Thank you for participating!) We are super excited to follow and share this journey with all of you RIGHT HERE! So don’t forget to check back often to see what our intrepid duo are up to!

Kansas is Bigger than we Thought!

Track That Trip! (Updated 10/4/2024)

Click the map to view the image closer.

Nelson Returns Home to Seneca Free Library!
(Stop #8 – 9/18/2024)

After 4 months on the road, hopping courier deliveries across Northeast Kansas, Nelson the NEKLS Gnome has made his return to Seneca Free Library in Seneca, KS! He made 7 stops in his journey: Bonner Springs, Basehor, Osage City, Richmond, Pomona, Williamsburg, and Everest. He made a lot of new friends, explored some terrific libraries, helped with some summer crafts, and even got to help with a food stand at a county fair! It was a big adventure for a little gnome! He got home, took a long nap, and spent some well-overdue catch up time with his best friend Sherri.

Zzzzzzzzzz…
“What do you mean it’s October already? How did that happen?”
“You shot arrows at a what?!”
Two friends comparing travel tales.

Nelson Stops at Barnes Reading Room!
(Stop #7 – 9/11/2024)

Nelson hit the road again and made his way to Barnes Reading Room in Everest, KS. It’s a library fit for a gnome! His visit was cut short, however, as he checked his travel itinerary and realized he was a full month behind schedule! Time really must have flown, he was having so much fun!


Barnes Reading Room
640 Main St
Everest, KS 66424
Website: everest.mykansaslibrary.org

Everest, KS has an estimated population of 258 (2022) and is located in Brown County, South of Hiawatha and East of Horton.

Nelson Sighting in Williamsburg!
(Stop #6 – 9/4/2024)

Nelson finally came out of hiding after disappearing for a while! Williamsburg reported on his arrival and shared some pictures of his visit to their library. Nelson was a little leery of Library Lion at first, but then he realized, if Tess the T-Rex hadn’t eaten him yet back home, a lion his size probably wouldn’t try to make him a snack. Probably. Next, Nelson found inspiration in abundance in the kids’ book section, because kids books are always the best, of course! Special thanks to Williamsburg for hosting Nelson, and especially for reminding him to write home!


Williamsburg Community Library
107 S Louisa St
Williamsburg, KS 66095
Website: williamsburgcommunitylibrary.org

Williamsburg, KS has an estimated population of 386 (2022) and is located in Franklin County. In addition to the library, Williamsburg is home to Guy and Mae’s Tavern, a local hot spot for barbecue ribs. There’s also Pome on the Range, Orchard and Winery.

Sherri Came Home!
(Stop #8 – 8/20/2024)

After 3 months on the road, hopping courier deliveries across Kansas, Sherri the ShareIt Gnome has made her return to Seneca Free Library in Seneca, KS! She made 7 stops in her journey: Louisburg, Derby, Whitewater, Ellinwood, Phillipsburg, Manhattan, and Wamego. She met countless new friends, saw some amazing libraries, learned archery, tried some rodeo riding, helped serve food at a county fair, participated in countless story times and craft projects, and even found herself embroiled in a skirmish between other gnomes and some knights! It was truly an amazing and exciting adventure, indeed!

Reviewing the Trip
Sharing with Friends
Happy the Plants Survived
Reviewing Some Changes
Waiting for Nelson
Taking a Much Needed Nap


A special thanks to all of the libraries and their staff who played along and helped to make Sherri’s adventures through the ShareIt Courier System a fun and memorable experience! You all are awesome and we wish you the absolute best as we all wrap up the current year and prepare for next year’s Adventure!

Sherri Arrives in Wamego!
(Stop #7 – 8/13/2024)

Sherri made a deceptively short trip east to Wamego, KS. (15 minutes for a regular drive can be a few days by courier since it’s not a direct trip from point A to point B.) Wamego Public Library welcomed Sherri and gave her a tour of their newly renovated facilities. Sherri was thrilled to share in the library staff’s excitement in the updates and changes they had accomplished with the support of their community and patrons.

Wamego Public Library
431 Lincoln Ave
Wamego, KS 66547
Website: wamego.lib.nckls.org

Wamego, KS has a population around 4,880 (2022 Census), and is in Pottawatomie County. Wamego, KS is home of the OZ Museum, Columbian Theatre, Vanderbilt’s, Totos Tacoz, OZ Winery and the Schonhoff Dutch Mill. Wamego also hosts the Tulip Festival and OZtoberfest.

Sherri Arrives in Manhattan!
(Stop #6 – 8/7/2024)

Sherri made her way east again and found herself in Manhattan, KS! Her new friends at Manhattan Public Library welcomed her with excitement and had a full itinerary planned for her in the library and around Manhattan, but apparently our intrepid adventurer caught wind of a much bigger plot and arrived at Manhattan Public Library with a mission. Library staff assisted Sherri in her research, as documented by this fantastic video below…

@manhattanpublib

We’ve chosen our side… #gnome #knights #publiclibrary #librariansoftiktok #BookTok

? original sound – Black Bat

Manhattan Public Library
629 Poyntz Ave
Manhattan, KS
Website: mhklibrary.org

Manhattan, KS has a population around 53,829 (2022 Census), and is in Riley County. Manhattan, KS is known as “The Little Apple,” a play on Manhattan Island in New York, NY. It is home to the Flint Hills Discovery Center, Sunset Zoo, Tuttle Creek State Park and Reservoir, Manhattan Regional Airport, countless dining and shopping opportunities, and, of course, K-State University, the Home of the Wildcats. Manhattan is a unique gem in Kansas that offers big city opportunities and activity, while maintaining a small town atmosphere and sense of community.

Nelson Sighting in Pomona!
(Stop #5 – 7/25?/2024)

Nelson made it to Pomona Community Library where he hung out with staff and some of the younger patrons. Check out that kids’ section! How fun is that? And we all know by now that Nelson is all about the educational computer games! E-mailing? Apparently not so much. But if you’re looking for some outdoor time too, Nelson recommends PCL’s new outdoor patio, which includes a music garden, planters, seating and even a mini-free library exchange!


Pomona Community Library
115 E Franklin St
Pomona, KS

Pomona, KS has an estimated population of 886 (2022) and is located in Franklin County. From Travel KS.com: “Nine miles West of Ottawa you will find the busy town of Pomona. History tells us that the Sac & Fox Indian Reservation was once on this location. Twelve to fifteen thousand acres was purchased by John Whetstone who founded the city of Pomona in 1869. The Flint Hills Nature Trail will soon be open in Pomona. Pomona’s business district runs along 68 highway. They offer several restaurants, an antique shop and service stations. The contrasting beauty of rolling prairie with low hills and bountiful streams draw people to this part of Kansas as well as the recreational activities at Lake Pomona built by the Corp of Engineers.”

Sherri Arrives in Phillipsburg!
(Stop #5 – 7/23/2024)

Sherri made it the furthest west she’s been so far, stopping at Phillipsburg, KS. She had a great visit with the staff and patrons of Phillipsburg City Library, even making it in time to see their Summer Library Program section with the awesome camping back drop they created for the 2024 reading program theme. She played in the kids’ kitchen area and on the train table, and then read a magazine with a great group of new friends. Sherri later had the chance to help stuff the Summer Library Program give away bags with flashlights, compasses, and notebooks. How fun! Phillipsburg is the home of the biggest rodeo in Kansas so the library staff made sure she had a chance to check out the window paint promoting the rodeo and fair. She joined the staff also while the Exploration Place from Wichita was there with their Lego Camp. Sherri wrapped up her adventure with some girl time, dishing dirt and spilling tea about local events with the Phillipsburg library ladies – Marlene, Denise, Gina and Kim. Overall, Sherri had a lovely time in Phillipsburg, and we thank Phillipsburg City Library for hosting Sherri and sharing her adventures with them!


Phillipsburg City Library
888 4th St.
Phillipsburg, KS 67661
Website: cityofphillipsburg.com/136/Library

Phillipsburg, KS has a population around 2255 (2022 Census), and is in Phillips County. In addition to hosting the Biggest Rodeo in Kansas, Phillipsburg is home to Fort Bissell where the Phillips County History Museum is housed. The C & R Railroad Museum, with its 57-foot mountain range and animated 0-scale trains on 1200 feet of track, is also in Phillipsburg. Feeling more outdoorsy? Phillipsburg is home to Phillipsburg Golf Club with a top quality 9-hole golf course. Phillipsburg Disc Golf Course is located in the City Park and offers an 18-hole/basket course. There’s also the Phillipsburg Aquatic Center with zero entry indoor and outdoor pools, diving boards, slides and a splash zone.

Nelson Arrives in Richmond!
(Stop #4 – 7/17/2024)

Richmond Public Library is our latest stop for Nelson the NEKLS Gnome! He made it just in time for the Franklin County Fair and had the opportunity to help the library staff and board members work a food stand that they have used as a library fundraiser for over 30 years! Nelson returned to the library and had a chance to check his e-mail and socials on the patron computers before joining summer reading program activities with both younger and older kids for crafts.


Richmond Public Library
107 E Central St
Richmond, KS
Website: richmond.mykansaslibrary.org

Richmond, KS has an estimated population of 446 (2022) and is located in Franklin County. Richmond is 16 miles south of Ottawa and is reported as being an agricultural town with a strong sense of community.

Sherri Arrives in Ellinwood!
(Stop #4 – 7/2/2024)

Sherri made a stop in Ellinwood, KS and had the opportunity to hangout with the Ellinwood School and Community Library staff and summer program participants for their last Summer Library Session and their End of Summer Library Bash! They had story time, games, crafts, and so much fun! Sherri had a blast with her new friends and was excited to be a part of wrapping up a successful summer program.


Ellinwood School and Community Library
210 N Schiller Ave
Ellinwood, KS 67526
Website: hslibrary.usd355.org

Ellinwood, KS has a population around 1980 (2022 Census), and is in Barton County. Other attractions in Ellinwood include the Ellinwood Underground Tunnels, Wolf Hotel, and the Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira Wildlife Refuge, both of which are natural wetlands.

Nelson Arrives in Osage City!
(Stop #3 – 6/28/2024)

Nelson visited Osage City! He reportedly had a lovely visit with the library staff at Osage City Public Library, but had to keep his stay brief before hopping the courier to his next destination.

Osage City Public Library
515 Main St
Osage City, KS 66523
Website: basehorlibrary.com

Osage City, KS has an estimated population of 2,816 (2022) and is located in Osage County. While not readily boasting about its own attractions, Osage City sits between Topeka and Emporia, positioned as a jump off point for several attractions in the surrounding areas.

Sherri Arrives in Whitewater!
(Stop #3 – 6/20? – Date Not Confirmed)

Sherri made her way through Whitewater, KS and stopped at Whitewater Memorial Library

Whitewater Memorial Library
118 E Topeka St,
Whitewater, KS 67154
Website: whitewater.scklslibrary.info

Whitewater , KS has an estimated population of 667, and is northeast of Wichita in Butler County. Recent library activities include story time, “Take and Make” crafts, fused glass art, and butter making.

Sherri Arrives in Derby!
(Stop #2 – 6/15? – Date Not Confirmed)

Sherri made her way through Derby, KS and stopped at Derby Public Library.

Derby Public Library
1600 Walnut Grove Rd
Derby, KS 67037
Website: derbylibrary.com

Derby, KS has an estimated population of 25,939 (2022). It is located in Sedgwick County and is the largest suburb of Wichita, southeast of the main metro. Area attractions include the Museum of World Treasures, Field Station: Dinosaurs, and Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park.

Nelson Arrives in Basehor!
(Stop #2 – 6/5/2024)

Nelson spent some good solid quality time taking in the sites and services of Basehor Community Library. He got to hear all about Outdoor Story Time, Reader’s Theater, Beginning Birding, ATLAS Education with Animals, and Family Trivia Night. But rather than tell you about his time at Basehor, Nelson and his new friends decided to bring you with him in the following video!

@basehorlibrary

Nelson the NEKLS Gnome from the Seneca Free Library is on an adventure to visit Kansas libraries, and he stopped by the Basehor Community Library today! #librarytiktok #librarytok #fyp #basehor

? Aesthetic – Tollan Kim & Kudasaibeats


Basehor Community Library
1400 158th Street
Basehor, KS 66007
Website: basehorlibrary.com

Basehor, KS has an estimated population of 7,544, is located northwest of Kansas City on the eastern border, and is part of the Kansas City Metro Area. Main attractions include Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery and Falcon Lakes Golf Club.

Sherri Arrives in Louisburg!
(Stop #1 – 6/5/2024)

Louisburg Library welcomed Sherri with excitement and got her straight into the action! Sherri attended the Summer Blessings Lunch and Fun where they served food to over 100 kiddos and distributed bags of groceries as well. Then she joined the kids in drawing on the parking lot with sidewalk chalk until it got too hot! The next day Sherri joined Adventure Camp for 3rd-5th grade kiddos and helped give pointers on how to hit a bullseye! She went back to the library and got to help supervise the Teen Guitar Building Class where they were hydro-dipping the bodies of their guitars. Yep, you read that right, they make their own guitar. Rock on Sister Sherri! Rock on!


Louisburg Library
206 S. Broadway
Louisburg, Kansas 66053
Website: louisburglibrary.org

Louisburg, KS is on the eastern border just south of Kansas City. It has an estimated population of about 5,052 people and is the home of Louisburg Cider Mill, Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory and Education Center, and the Powell Observatory. Louisburg Library hosts no shortage of events on site, but they are also partnered with multiple organizations and services to expand their coverage and presence in other locations such as the Vintage Park Assisted Living Center and Louisburg Senior Center.

Special thanks to Louisburg Library for hosting Sherri and letting her join in on some great activities! Next stop, Derby!

Nelson Arrives in Bonner Springs!
(Stop #1 – 5/23/2024)

Our friends at Bonner were delighted to meet Nelson, but unsurprisingly buried in work with their own Summer Reading startup. They introduced Nelson to their busy beaver friend and let the duo do some camping before Nelson had to go on his merry way.

Bonner Springs City Library
201 N Nettleton Ave
Bonner Springs, KS 66012
Website: bonnerlibrary.org

Bonner Springs has an estimated population of 7,666 (as 2022). It is part of the Kansas City Metro area, but is itself home to the Azura Amphitheater, Kansas City Renaissance Festival (August 31-Oct 14), Moon Marble Company, and Exit Games KC (Escape Room challenge available for our Summer Adventure Theme!)

Thanks to Bonner Springs City Library for hosting Nelson and sending him on to his next destination!

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

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

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

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!

“Tuck Everlasting” and “Between the Lines”: On our Shelf and On Brownville Village Theatre’s Stage Summer 2024!

Two classic books, two great stage shows, and your student can experience either combination for FREE! Check out either book here at the Seneca Free Library and get 1 free student ticket good to attend either show. Literature and Theater go hand-in-hand, so why not get this experience in the hands of your student?

Want more information on Brownville Village Theatre? We have pamphlets here at the circulation desk with their 2024 season schedule and program information or visit them at BrownvilleVillageTheatre.com .

Need more information about this program opportunity? Visit us at the circulation desk or call 785-336-3277.

Tickets and books are available as first come, first serve, so don’t delay!