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!

“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!

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!

Adventure Begins in Your Library: May’s Suggested Activity is Picnicking

The Summer Reading Program theme for 2024 is “Adventure Begins in Your Library,” but in May, adventure actually begins in your kitchen as the theme is “Picnics and Outdoor Dining.”

Now, I’m going to be super honest, I have a thing about bugs. Buzzing, crawling, jumping, doesn’t matter, I don’t want them near me, and I really don’t want them near my food. So as charming an idea as picnics have always been to me, I don’t know much about them. But if you’re an outdoorsy type, dining al fresco or in a beautiful and remote location may be right up your alley. The following article by Professor Teresa Hunsaker of Utah State University may help make your next picnic a major success instead of a cautionary tale of “this is why we stay inside.”

Ask an Expert: Five Tips for the Perfect Picnic

By: Teresa Hunsaker, USU Extension family and consumer sciences educator

Picnics are the perfect way to get out and enjoy the outdoors without going too far or spending a lot of money. Picnicking can fit almost any budget and can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. Some of the best picnics happen on the spur of the moment and don’t need a lot of planning. No picnic basket? No problem. Anything that holds your supplies will do.

Consider these tips for the perfect picnic.

* Pack your picnic with food safety in mind. If you will be gone longer than 2 hours from departure to eating, plan to pack a cooler. After 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour if temperatures are around 90 F), harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning multiply rapidly. USDA guidelines say cold foods should be kept as close to 40 F as possible and hot foods should be kept above 140 F.

* Keep your cooler ready. If you are planning to make picnics a regular part of your summer, consider investing in a cooler-on-wheels for portability. To help keep foods cold, chill them in the refrigerator before packing and keep them in the cooler until serving time.

* Get double duty from your cooler space. Fill empty drink bottles half full of water or juice and freeze. The frozen drinks will act as ice packs to keep the picnic cool in transit. At your destination, top off the bottles with water or a drink to enjoy with your meal.

* Be mindful of your picnic location. When planning your food items, consider where you are going. Even if it’s just to the park, it will help you prepare by considering the setting. Avoid anything that gets drippy, limp or wimpy in warm weather. Gelatin salad is a perfect example of what not to take, and even tossed salads will wilt if left in the sun or warm weather for very long.

* Make a menu. For a no-fuss menu, have a fix-your-own sandwich bar. Fill plastic containers with pre-sliced sandwich fixings such as lettuce, tomatoes, cheeses, meats, bell peppers, olives, mushrooms, onions and spinach. Set out hearty breads, crusty rolls or tortilla wraps and condiments. To add a gourmet touch, splurge on a couple of interesting spreads, such as pesto, tapenade or flavored soft cheese. Everyone can build a custom sandwich for a fraction of what it would cost at the deli.

* Sometimes the fun of a summer picnic is the spontaneity, and having fruits and vegetables on hand will make packing a breeze. Simple finger food, like carrots, celery, sliced jicama and sliced bell peppers are cool, crispy additions to any picnic plate and a great way to include vegetables. Add a vegetable dip, and you have a quick and easy side dish.

* Keep supplies on hand. If you plan to picnic frequently this summer, make a standard packing list for spur-of-the-moment jaunts, and keep your pantry stocked with food that is suitable for a picnic. Include the following items on your supply list: napkins, plates, cups, dinnerware; garbage bags; plastic bags that seal; serving utensils and cutting knives; can opener; cutting mat or board; salt and pepper, packets of condiments; blanket to sit on; hand sanitizer, wet wipes or a wet washcloth in a plastic bag; paper towels; insect repellent; extra water; and don’t forget equipment for activities including balls, games, Frisbees, etc.

By: Teresa Hunsaker, Utah State University Extension family and consumer sciences educator, (801) 399-8200, teresa.hunsaker@usu.edu

Seneca Free Library – Severe Weather Policy: Spring/Summer 2024

With the rapidly changing weather, we would like to remind our patrons and visitors of our Severe Weather Policy. The Seneca Free Library is not a designated storm shelter, nor is our basement designed for public accessibility. In the event of a direct sighting of a safety threat or the sounding of the city’s warning sirens, the library will be locked down until such time as an all clear is given. Patrons may choose to leave the library up until the time the doors are locked or be escorted to the basement for shelter until the threat has passed. In the event of a confirmed severe storm system approaching the city of Seneca, the Library Director or the Librarian on Duty has the right and authority to close the library early for the safety and security of the library staff and patrons. Should this happen, we will do our best to announce the closing on our Facebook and Instagram pages. As with any chance of severe weather, please be sure to call ahead before departing for the library to avoid unnecessary travel in hazardous conditions.

“Adventure Begins in Your Library” April Theme: Outdoor Adventures

The summer reading program theme for 2024 is “Adventure Begins in Your Library.” Each month we offer a suggested sub-theme on how to find your own adventures throughout the year. This month’s category is “Outdoor Adventures.” (Or as we refer to it here in the library, “Thank Heaven’s! It’s Spring! Finally! What can we do outside?” But that just doesn’t have the same marketing appeal, so we’ll keep it simple.)

Among the top suggested activities we’ve been given by the interlibrary hive mind is an activity called Geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. There are free apps available or you can do some Google searching to find a local program or one that fits your interests, either way will start you on your journey.

Other outdoor adventures might include kite flying, fishing, yard sports, or even just a walk in the neighborhood. Pack some snacks, fill up those water bottles, and get outside and remember what the world is like without freezing temperatures and winter weather!