Allow us to introduce you to our new Children’s Librarian!
Dear Elting Community, I am so pleased to introduce you to our new Children's Librarian, Megan. Please stop by to say hello and introduce yourself! I'm sure you'll join me in my eagerness to see fun activities and library services get a boost thanks to Megan's presence in the Children's Room.
-Crystal Middleton, Library Director
Here is a little bit about Megan:
Megan Cockett is a graduate of the University of Texas' School of Information, where they specialized in children's services and public librarianship. They are excited to be a part of the community in New Paltz, where they plan to bring new and old types of programming back to the children's room at the library.
Step into the Children’s Room, a realm of imagination and discovery! Our space caters specifically to young minds, where curiosity has no limits and every tale opens the door to a new adventure.
The Elting Memorial Library Children’s Room serves children from birth to fifth grade and their caregivers. We embrace our responsibility in nurturing young minds, igniting a love for learning and creativity. Through varied materials and interactive activities, we equip children with vital lifelong learning skills, enriching their personal growth and well-being.
As you step into this vibrant space, you'll find more than just books. Our vast collection of materials includes:
Board books
Picture books
Early readers
Chapter books
Non-fiction books
Parenting collection
Books on CD
Explore the pleasures of reading and learning in our carefully curated Children's Room. Our toddler area provides a cozy space tailored for little ones to play, crawl, and participate in interactive activities. Older kids can delve into captivating stories, play games, or engage with activity sheets at comfortable chairs and activity tables designed just for them.
And through our membership with the Mid-Hudson Library System and the Ulster County Library Association, we are able to offer a multitude of online resources to serve our community from e- and audiobooks, video streaming, online classes, and language courses.
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Upcoming Children’s Programs
1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Elting Memorial Library is excited to offer the free nationwide program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten*. This program is designed to help parents and caregivers connect and prepare their children
for kindergarten by reading together. Numerous studies show that reading to children at a young
age has a direct positive impact on their cognitive development and later academic success.
Reading aloud to your child will not only help strengthen language skills and build vocabulary, but
will also provide quality bonding time and create memories that last a lifetime.
The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge is a simple and very manageable way to establish
you can finish the program in less than three years. If you read three books daily, you can reach your
goal in a year! Join as a baby, a toddler, or a preschooler—you can reach your goal from any starting
point!
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Register: Sign up anytime by clicking the button below. The program is year-round.
Pick up a Welcome Packet at the Library: Your packet will contain information on ways to record books, as well as helpful hints and tips to maximize your reading time with your child.
Track Your Reading: Record each book you read with your child. You do not have to record every title and books can be repeated. You can also count the books your child hears in storytime, in daycare or preschool, or with a friend or family member. Audiobooks count, too. As long as your child listens to the entire book, it counts!
Earn Rewards for Every 100-Book Milestone: Each time you read 100 books, bring your reading record to the library to receive a special reward.
Read 1,000 Books: Come celebrate at the library! When you finish 1000 books, your child will receive a certificate of completion and have their name placed on the 1,000 Book Wall of Fame. You will also receive a free tote bag and free book.
Keep on Reading: Don’t stop at 1,000! Keep on reading together; there’s more learning ahead!
Remember, you are your child’s first teacher and most important teacher during their early critical years. Help your child gain the confidence necessary to become a strong reader and get a great jump start on school success! -
Additional Resources
For more Early Literacy Resources, join us for storytime at the library (see the library’s online calendar here for dates and times and to register) and visit the Children’s Room for kits, booklists, handouts, and more.
SIGN UP FOR 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN:
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Tips for Reading to Infants and Toddlers (from the National Education Association): nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/tips-reading-infants-and-toddlers
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Coming soon.
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To learn more about this initiative to help establish early literacy skills in preschoolers, visit 1000booksbeforekindergarten.org, and check out these other helpful websites:
Day by Day NY Family Literacy Calendar: https://daybydayny.org/
National Association for the Education of Young Children-Literacy: naeyc.org/resources/topics/literacy
New York State Library-Early Literacy Resources: nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/earlylit/resource-list.htm
NYC Department of Education-Early Literacy Resources: schools.nyc.gov/learning/student-journey/grade-by-grade/early-childhood-learning/early-literacy-resources
Your donation helps us provide many of our services, programs, resources, and collections to the community. We could not do this without your support.
