Category: Events & Activities

Interns with the Meadowlark District Extension office are hosting STEM programs at area libraries this summer. They will be at Seneca Free Library Community Room on Thursdays at 10:00 AM. These programs are for children ages 7-12 years old, will last 45 minutes to an hour and are free to our patrons. Sign up is required and will be limited to 10 or 15 students, depending on the program, see below. Sign up will be on a weekly basis, call the library to get your child on the list – 785-336-2377.

June 16 ~ limit 10 youth ~ Junk Drawer Robotics: youth will build a robot that is able to draw a picture.

June 23 ~ limit 15 youth ~ Biodegradable Pots: Youth will build a biodegradable pot and plant a seed in their pot.

June 30 ~ limit 15 youth ~ Bottle Rockets: Youth will design and build bottle rockets to test out.

July 7 ~ limit 10 youth ~ Rubber Band Race Car: Youth will design and build a rubber band car to see whose goes the furthest.

July 14 ~ limit 10 youth ~ Ping Pong Catapult: Youth will design and build a catapult out of painters sticks to launch a ping pong ball.

August 4 ~ limit 10 youth ~ Under the Sea [penny boat]: Youth will design and build a boat out of tinfoil to see how many pennies it will hold.

August 11 ~ limit 15 youth ~ Bird Feeder: Youth will learn about birds and build a bird feeder for the birds.

Have you heard? The Library Board finalized plans they’ve been working on to establish a new fund that will be eligible to participate in Match Day donations through the STEP Foundation. STEP UP Nemaha County will be held August 26 this year, helping area non-profits raise needed funds. The library is planning to use the funds for painting and restoration of the bell tower on the Old Stone Church, along with other paint and repair on that building. Pictured from left to right in front are Board members Bruce Hermesch and Donna Zinke, STEP Board President Marceil Hasenkamp; standing in the back row is Library Director Kate Haynie, Board president Cathy Enneking, and Board member Michael Philbrick.

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 9:00 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

We want to make tracking what your children read over the summer as painless as technology allows, we all know how that goes. So, here are some hints and tips to help you get started logging all those books:

Program name to look for: Seneca Free Library Summer 2022

Set up a parent account in Reader Zone

Add each child as an individual reader

The code is on a yellow paper that we sent home with your children when they signed up.

Our Groups: Birth to 5 years ~~ reading goal 20 books

Age 6 to 11 years ~~reading goal 20 books

Age 6 to 11 years tracking hours read, goal of 8 hours

Age 12 to 18 years tracking hours read, goal of 8 hours

You must enter the book title for the book to count as one read, if no title is entered, it won’t count.

Many titles are in the Book Bank, look there first for the title you want to enter

You can also use the camera on your phone to take a picture of the ISBN found on the back of most books. Scanning this should bring up the title of the book so you don’t have to type it in.

Spring has sprung and so has tornado season! We want to remind patrons of our Severe Weather Policy. We haven’t had to enforce this policy yet, and pray we never have to.

It is the policy of the Seneca Free Library that when the sirens sound for bad weather we will lock our doors and all patrons inside the library will be escorted to the basement for shelter. If you prefer, you may leave the building before we lock the doors and go to the shelter. 

Thank you for your cooperation, please explain this to your family members too.

Seneca Free Library Staff and Board

 #LibraryGivingDay is April 06, 2022

Seneca Free Library is part of a coalition of libraries joining forces to raise funds through a Library Giving Day campaign. This fundraising event will occur on Wednesday April 6, but we will accept donations all week long, April 4~9 . We encourage patrons and library lovers to support their library.

This campaign reminds us that libraries serve as a cornerstone for our communities. In addition to well-loved books, we offer programs that promote lifelong learning, connect patrons to technology, and advance knowledge. 

Funds raised during this week will help fund Summer Reading programs.

Here is a snapshot of what happened at your library in 2021:

 

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ATTENTION CRAFTERS: We want your unwanted or unused craft supplies. We will be having our first ever Craft Swap April 7, 2022. This is a chance for crafters to bring in unwanted but usable items and get different items for FREE. A win for both your budget and the environment! This swap is a way to create a local economy of sharing, get to know fellow crafters, learn new techniques, and clean out your stash. This is a trade situation; money will not change hands and there will be no selling of craft items allowed. This is meant to be a fun, free day of sharing and goodwill among crafters.

We will be collecting clean, gently used items that are in working condition from smoke-free homes. Items from pet friendly homes should be designated as such to accommodate people with allergies. Items can be brought to the library anytime through Monday, April 4, 2022. We prefer larger donations be brought into the library and not put through the book drop. Any items left outside will be disposed of. 

Those who donate will be given a VIP ticket for a first chance to gather new items. You can get your VIP ticket when you donate. VIP tickets are not transferable and will allow donor entrance into the swap only from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, April 7. Other attendants will be allowed into the swap from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

Each attendant will be given one bag to fill. No outside totes or bags are allowed. If enough items are left over after the initial swap a second chance will be given on April 8 starting at 10:00 am. Any leftover items will be used by the library for story hour crafts or donated. Please contact the library, 785-336-2377, with any questions.

SUGGESTED CRAFT SUPPLIES FOR SWAPPING:

FABRIC, sewing/embroidery thread, notions, patterns; PAPER crafting – paper, embellishments, stickers, rubber stamps, die cuts, etc; CRICUT tools, dies, vinyl; JEWELRY – beads, pliers, wire, clasps; YARN, hooks, needles; PAINT, brushes, canvas, easels, stencils; STICKERS, vinyl; FLORAL and wreath supplies; RIBBONS, sequins, buttons, etc; INSTRUCTION books and patterns; CRAFT tools; DRAWING pencils, colored pencils; SOAP making molds; SILICONE molds; CAKE pans, tips, bags, and other baking tools; AND MORE!

Calling all students! It’s time to look through your artwork, or start brainstorming for something new and spectacular. The Library Youth Art Show is about a month away. We love sharing your works with our patrons, our patrons enjoy seeing your creativity.

New this year is the People’s Choice Award! Remind family and friends that you are participating in our Art Show, we need people to vote for their choice!

Our annual Youth Art Show is scheduled for March 21~26. This event is for local students in grades 1 – 12. The  rules are the same as previous years:

*One entry per person.

*Artwork must be original and never before entered into any contest or public display.

* Drawings and paintings can be no larger than 12 x 14 inches, but can be on paper, cardboard, or canvas.

*Three-dimensional artwork  must be limited to no larger than 12 x 12 x 12 inches, roughly the size of a standard basketball.

*All entries are due at the library by 5:00 pm Friday, March 19, 2021. The artwork will be on display March 21 – 26, and must be picked up by 1:00 on Saturday, March 26.

*The Library is not responsible for damaged or lost artwork.

*For more information, or if you have any questions, please call us at 785-336-2377.

This is not a contest, we simply want to give students a place to share their talents with everyone. Get creative and start to work on your masterpiece! 

Hoopla has a new feature, Curiosity Stream. Curiosity Stream is a subscription streaming service that provides thousands of documentaries in movie and TV show formats. Now you don’t have to pay for the service, you can access it free with your library card. Documentaries are available in many areas including science, nature, people, history, and more. With titles such as Secret Life of Legos, Packing for Mars, The Woodstock Bus, Bucket List Australia, The Real Mary Poppins, and Chocolate Perfection, you are bound to find plenty to entertain and educate yourself. Not to worry, hoopla is not just for your smartphone and tablet, you can watch hoopla content on your smart TV. You can access hoopla by downloading the app to your TV or through Roku. On your phone or tablet you access Curiosity Stream, hoopla magazines, and the Great Courses are found in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen with the More button. 

Listening to hoopla audiobooks and music in your car is easy too.Most newer vehicles support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You will need to download the appropriate app to your phone before taking off. Once connected, either with your cable or wirelessly, you can operate hoopla with the in-dash display screen. In older models you may still have to control hoopla via your phone screen. Questions about hoopla? Be sure to check in with your librarians for answers.

The library will begin hosting Cooking Classes with Kids February 9 after school. These sessions will be for children ages 8 – 11 and will be held on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00. We will be learning about nutrition labels, how to make food from scratch, how to make healthy snacks, knife skills, cooking terms, and more. Class size is limited to 6 children. Parents you will need to come by the library and sign the registration form and waiver. Enrollment begins January 19. For more details please contact the library at 785-336-2377.

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We made blueberry muffins from scratch in our first cooking class. The students learned about folding in, cleaning the berries, and that eating the berries before folding them in is almost as fun as watching them explode as they bake. Success.