Category: Events & Activities

Can you believe our Pumpkin Decorating Contest is six years old already!! We’ve had so much fun seeing the creations our patrons bring in every year. This year  will be following this past Summer Reading theme: tails. You guessed it, your pumpkin needs to have a tail. Your pumpkin can depict something true or fanciful – think dragons and unicorns – as long as it has a tail. You know the drill: pumpkins can be no larger than a standard basketball and must NOT be carved. Feel free to use paint, markers, glue, and most craft supplies. Pumpkins can be brought into the library beginning Monday October 25 through Wednesday October 27. Judging will be Thursday, October 28 and winners will be announced that day. All entries must be picked up by 1:00 Saturday, October 30 or they will be thrown away. Age categories are the following: Pre-K – 2nd grade; 3rd – 6th grades; 7th – 12th grades; and Graduated folks. 

Remember, if you need inspiration, we can help you find a book or two to get those creative juices flowing.

Hoopla is a free service offering audio books, eBooks, movies, TV shows, music, comics, and more! We have added information for you to get the most out of the app below. We hope this helps and you get the most out of this new-to-you app!

Libby is another free app giving you access to eBooks and audiobooks. You will need to set up an account and pin with us, so call 785-336-2377– before you begin– between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm weekdays.

Here is a really quick look at how to use the online shared catalog. There is so much more than the video offers, but this will get you started. If you forgot your password, or are having trouble logging in, please call us.

Here is a quick intro to Flipster, our free online source of magazines. You use the same credentials that are needed to access our online shared catalog.

Below is a  link to  YouTube videos from Robin at our Regional Office in Lawrence about Learning Express:

Learning Express videos

Students and parents of Nemaha Central High School: have your student sign up for a Seneca Free Library account now! A Library representative will be at the high school during seminar each day, until September 30. A library card will give them access to books and other items from over 40 libraries in northeast Kansas. AND access to Hoopla and Libby, our digital resources. Online magazines are also available thru Flipster. We are so excited to get library books into the hands of students, we are having a drawing for those who sign up before Oct 1, 2021. A Chamber gift certificate for $25 will go to one lucky student who opens a NEW Seneca Free Library account. Renew your account and you will be eligible for a chance at a $15 gift certificate. When a student comes INTO the library with a parent to open or renew an account, they earn TWO chances for gift certificates! Keep your eyes open for a Seneca Free Library rep at school. New accounts and renewals must be done by September 30, 2021. Drawing will be held October 1, 2021. Applies only to Nemaha Central High School students in the 2021-2022 school year. Maximum 2 entries per student.

Information for all classes: Instructor~ Susan Mitchell, Location~ Seneca Free Library Community Room, Class fee is $30.00, Receive 10% discount on fabric and notions for classes at Seneca Variety, downtown Seneca

UFO CLASS [UnFinished Objects] Need help finishing a project? Let Susan give you a hand! Bring your UFO’s {UnFinished Objects} and get them done. Clear your conscience to sign up for another class and new project. Saturday July 31, 9:00 AM~5:00 PM

SQUARE DANCE – Beginner Level Saturday October 16, 9:00 AM~5:00 PM. If extra time is needed, class will continue on Monday October 18, 2:00~5:00 PM. Class fee includes book.

HUNTER’S STAR -Intermediate Level Master half square triangles! You will be a pro in no time. Saturday November 13, 9:00 AM~5:00 PM. If you need extra time, class will continue on Monday September 13 from 2:00~5:00 PM. Class fee includes pattern. This is a change of date from what was originally published!

CHRISTMAS PINE QUILT as YOU GO TABLE RUNNER – Intermediate Level Saturday November 6, 9:00 AM ~5:00 PM. Class continues on Monday November 6, if extra time is needed. Class fee includes pattern

What a blessing to live among such generous people. Thank you to everyone who donates to the Food Pantry.

Listen! the wind is rising,
and the air is wild with leaves.
We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves.
~Humbert Wolfe, 1936

This month we are highlighting desserts for the Food Pantry. This includes jello and pudding mixes, cake mixes and frosting, pie crust mix and filling. Or packaged cookies, and other sweets that are ready to eat. If you have a craving for them, probably someone else does too.

Here is a full list of items each family receives, each month:

1 breakfast item, 4 cans of vegetables, 1 can 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, and a pound of meat.

 These items are always needed at the Food Pantry. We focus on particular items each month as a way to bring attention to the need:  Paper products [toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex], personal products, boxed cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, canned vegetables, rice, pasta and 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, etc. They also accept laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, bath soap.

July is National Anti-Boredom Month. If you’re hearing “I’m bored!” from the kids this summer, we are here for you. Besides all of the great books and movies to keep kids engaged, we also have a jar full of ideas. Send them in, they can draw a slip of paper out of the jar and go home with a fun activity to keep them occupied.

We’ve had several families come in to claim their ticket to the end of Summer Reading Ice Cream Celebration. The children have reached their goal of reading 20 books or 480 minutes! What goals have you set and how close are you to reaching them?

Our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten readers have also been busy! We moved 3 cars for one family this week! Remember to bring in those tally sheets so we can move your car closer to the finish line. Our tub of prizes is full, so come in soon.

Thursday July 8 was Youth Art Day. The pictures say it all:

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Wednesday June 30: The last Preschool Story Time of the summer. The snakes fit the Tails and Tales summer reading theme.

The first Youth Art Day is Tuesday June 29. Sign up for the Thursday July 8th class will begin after the June classes are complete.

The schedule will be the same for both days: 4th ~ 6th grades will be from 9:00~10:30 AM and 1st~3rd grades will be from 1:00~2:30 PM. **Children should wear their ART clothes.

CALL 785-336-2377 TO ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN IN ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS!

Sign up continues until June 30 for all age groups for Summer Reading. All age groups include toddler/lap readers to age 19 and up! Stop in to find out more about downloading the ReaderZone app to track what your family is reading. Everyone has until July 31 to reach their reading goals. These hot days are good for finding a cool place to relax and read, read, read. Beginning July 1 readers can pick up their animal tickets that will admit them to our Celebration Ice Cream Party on August 5. To qualify for the party readers must either finish and record 20 books or read for 8 hours (480 minutes). ReaderZone is busy keeping track 24 hours a day. More details about the ice cream party will come later.

 

 

Tuesday June 15: Mad Science will be in town. This program is for students who have finished grade 1 and older. Space is limited to 30 in our Community Room. Call us at 785-336-2377 or stop in ahead of time to save a place for your children.

Wednesday June 16:  Preschool Story Time! Sign up is REQUIRED this year due to COVID-19. Space is limited to 40 people per session. Adults, please call 785-336-2377 to enroll your children, up to 5 people per group. You will need to call each week you want to attend. Preschool Story Time is for toddlers through Kindergarten students. We ask that you leave strollers and wagons outside the library.  Story Time will begin at 10:30, in our Community Room.

Thursday June 17: Our last performer of the summer is Dan, Dan the Magic Man! This program will be held at Nemaha Central Elementary & Middle School at 110 N. 11th St., in Seneca. There are no limits, no sign up required. Children should be accompanied by an adult. The program begins at 10:30. Don’t be late!

We are using the Reader Zone app again this summer for logging books and time read. Same app as last summer but different code and guidelines. Stop by the library to get all the details!

Preschool Story Time

We are excited to host in person programs again this summer! We made plans with Covid-19 precautions in mind, so there are a few changes to be aware of. But we sure do like having kids and families coming into the library this year!

Preschool Story Time is for toddlers through Kindergarten students. This year we are limiting the number of people attending, so please call ahead at 785-336-2377 to reserve your spot. We remembered to get pictures of the group Wednesday June 9.

Peter and Penelope: Balloon Animal Adventures

Our first in person summer reading program in 2 years was a great success! This year we are hosting the live events at Nemaha Central Elementary & Middle School Gym, to give our patrons room to safely spread out.

In May of 2020, while the world was shut down, the City of Seneca managed to move the old Ensign Horse Fountain back to Main St. But that was just the beginning of the transformation of the fountain. Open the link below to read the story the National Humane Alliance Foundation shared on their website:

http://electronicvalley.org/derby/Greenway/Fountains/Seneca,KS.htm?fbclid=IwAR0rgEzw_f-zRQzRTajV01HNqy_qZC5EjxQy1o5C5UtQl67gsPDa3CUVTzw