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Library sponsors open house
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Brody Cheney, 5, and his sister, Noelle, 3, create “All About Me” books at a craft table in the children’s room at Hubbard Public Library, 436 W. Liberty St., Hubbard. The library hosted an open house Sunday afternoon, and about 200 people attended.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
HUBBARD
Though Sunday’s weather was delightful, more than 200 people decided to spend part of the afternoon indoors at Hubbard Public Library’s open house.
The drawing cards were many. Visitors could:
Learn how to download e-books and audiobooks.
Make an “All About Me” book.
Visit the Altered Book Art Gallery.
Check out the craft display by Fortnightly Crafters.
Gauge the progress in the new teen room.
Browse a minibook sale by Friends of the Library.
Sit in on demonstrations of Learning Express, Freegal, Ohio Web Library, Know it Now 24/7, small-engine repair, Mitchell On Demand car database and more.
About halfway through the 1 to 4 p.m. event, all 150 green library tote bags had been distributed. As visitors stopped at the various sites, they got entry tickets for the drawings for baskets, which were donated by local businesses.
Leakesha Scofield of Youngstown was among the visitors and had come with her nephews and her grandmother, Susie Ford, who had worked in circulation. “They have a lot more books than other places. I liked learning about what this library has to offer,” Scofield said.
She added that this library “gives you a lot of time on the computers." Scofield also said her nephews enjoyed the children’s room and were tutored at the library.
Lori Lambert of Hubbard was in the children’s room with her daughter, Ellie, 7, and son, Jason, 5. Lambert said, “We come all the time because they like it, and it’s a nice place for the kids to go.”
Ellie said she “likes to read” and among her favorites is a series, Junie B. Jones, and in particular, “The Yucky, Blucky Fruitcake.”
Jason said he “loves the movies” that he gets to take home.
Both children made “All About Me” books at a craft table; Jason included the fact that he likes bunnies.
At a book sale, geared to children with boxes of age-appropriate books on the floor, Bonnie Viele, book-sale chairwoman for the Friends of the Library, said the event attracted a crowd and was pleased so many children came.
In the Altered Book Art Gallery, visitors viewed the creativity of library patrons, who transformed old books into works of art. Sue Lambert did “Afternoon Tea” and included a small teacup, scone and fruit.
“A Tree of Knowledge” done by Mackenzie Stafford sprouted a tree from its pages, while Mary Ann Russo, children’s librarian, crafted “Once Upon a Storytime.”
Mary Ann Solomon, a life member of Friends, showed two large albums filled with clippings about community events and another of library activities. She said she received favorable feedback about the books, which some saw for the first time. Solomon said she hoped to make the books more noticeable and available to patrons.
Sherry Ault, library director, said the purpose of the open house was “to share and explain what we have to offer.”
She said people were interested in learning about e-books and digital downloads to their home computers from the library website, www.beyond-books.org. Ault said patrons wanted to learn how to download to e-book readers.
Ault also noted that demonstrations on such offerings as Learning Express, Freegal and car database were well attended.