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Hawkins Memorial Library
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A UNIVERSE OF STORIES
2019 SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Young readers will explore all things space this summer as Hawkins Memorial Library presents “A Universe of Stories” during their summer library program. Special programs will include: Moon Walk Viewing Party with the FFA Museum on July 9; Other Worldly Animal Adaptations with the Blank Park Zoo on July 16; Grout Museum Star Lab on July 30; and the Iowa Raptor Project on August 6.
The 2019 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, preschool through 5th grade, with programs, prizes, stories, crafts and more. Registration for “A Universe of Stories” starts June 1. Once registered, participants can begin filling out their reading log and are able to choose a prize for every two hours spent reading – all summer long! For more information stop in the library, call 319-342-3025, visit our website at www.laportecity.lib.ia.is, or check our events on Facebook. All programs are free of charge.
Moon Walk Viewing Party with the LPC FFA Historical & Ag Museum
Dates/Times Offered: Tuesday, July 9, 6:30 PM
Instructor: FFA Museum Staff
Experience the 1969 moon walk through activities, games and videos, to learn about astronauts and the moon.
Other Worldly Animal Adaptations with the Blank Park Zoo
Dates/Times Offered: Tuesday, July 16, 6:30 PM
Instructor: Zoo Staff
Animals can be found in many different habitats around the world and require many special adaptations to survive in their environments. Meet animals from the zoo and learn about their “otherworldly” adaptations.
Grout Museum Star Lab
Dates/Times Offered: Tuesday, July 30, 6:30 PM
Instructor: Grout Staff Location: Hawkins Memorial Library and the FFAHistorical & Ag Museum, La Porte City
View the nighttime sky indoors with the portable planetarium. Students will learn all about the Constellation Cylinders and Greek Mythology.
Iowa Raptor Project
Dates/Times Offered: Tuesday, August 6, 6:30 PM
Instructor: Iowa Raptor Project Staff
With two raptors to show, they’ll teach about raptors, conservation, biology and the history of birds of prey.
How about dessert and stories for the evening? Join us at 6:30 PM, on Tuesday, August 13, to read a few space books and enjoy a dish of ice cream to celebrate a successful summer of Summer Reading Programs for Hawkins Memorial Library.
Craft Days
Dates/Times Offered: Fridays, July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9 & 16 from 1 to 5 PM
Make and take crafts for children of all ages. Create a variety of crafts related to weekly Summer Reading
Programs. Kids can come anytime during this open four-hour period. No registration required.
Shadow Puppets
Watch a puppet show then make shadow puppets and a theater to take home. We have a Shadow Puppet Show & Workshop on Monday, August 19, at 1 PM, presented by the Waste Trac Education Team. Bring a cereal box if you have one.
Newspaper Digitization is Almost Complete...
The website to view digitized copies of The Progress Review is up and running. Years from 1880 to 2017 are available. You can search using key words or by date. Later issues of the newspaper will be added to this site when the issues are available. Click on the Community History Archive link to try it out!
Hawkins Memorial Library and The Progress Review have undertaken this local history project that includes converting back issues of The Progress Review, housed in the library on microfilm that date back to the 1870s, to digital content that can be searched online by anyone with an internet connection.
The process of converting nearly 150 years of newspapers to digital format is a costly one. Each reel of microfilm, approximately 18 months of La Porte City history, costs $125 to digitize. Total cost of the project, which includes the creation of this searchable website to house all of The Progress Review’s archives and an up-to-date microfilm collection at the library, costs around $11,000. For additional information about the project, contact Library Director Jolene Kronschnabel at 319-342-3025.
Aureon Charity Grant Awarded
These funds will be used in support of the library’s Summer Reading Program which supports and encourages children to read during the summer months. Special programs will include: Moon Walk Viewing Party with the FFA Museum on July 9; Other Worldly Animal Adaptations with the Blank Park Zoo on July 16; Grout Museum Star Lab on July 30; and the Iowa Raptor Project on August 6. The 2019 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, preschool through 5th grade, with programs, prizes, stories, crafts and more. 
The grant was presented in conjunction with LPC Connect who sponsored the grant applications. Upon reviewing an abundance of applications, the Aureon Charity Grant Committee delegated funds to projects committed to the betterment of local Iowa communities. “Aureon believes in rewarding organizations like Hawkins Memorial Library for their passion and dedication to advancing their neighborhoods. Their grant proposals reflect enthusiasm for serving their community,” said Justyn M. Miller, President, Aureon Technology.
eBooks and Audiobooks
Check out and download ebooks, audiobooks, and videos for free with Bridges - Iowa's eLibrary! There are thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and videos available with new titles added all the time. Check out up to 3 titles at a time with your library card. Items are automatically returned when the checkout period has expired so there are never any overdue fines to worry about. Call or stop in the library if you have any questions.
STEM Backpacks from IPTV
Three educational backpacks were donated to Hawkins Memorial Library, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, in an effort to help Iowa families do more at home with their children. IPTV developed the idea of backpacks filled with STEM resources that families can check out and use at home. They believe that anytime is a good time for learning.
Learning themes for the backpacks available at the library are coding Fun, building challenge and pattern puzzles. STEM activities, books and PBS KIDS DVDs are included in each backpack, with activities serving children between 3 and 8 years of age. Backpacks may be checked out for a one week at no charge.
Preschool Story Time
Join us on Thursday mornings at 10:30 AM during the school year. Children enjoy reading books, singing songs, playing games and creating crafts that follow a weekly theme.
LEGORAMA!
Our Lego building session encourages participants to build creative themed structures that we love to display for everyone to see. Check our events calendar for upcoming dates.
Do you enjoy reading a wide variety of books and discussing them with others? Our Book Club meets monthly at 1 PM. Stop in the library to pick up a copy of the current book selection and find out the next Book Club discussion date.
Book Club
Color and Connect
You are invited to our monthly coloring program for adults. Reduce stress, be creative and make friends. Check our upcoming events calendar for the next scheduled date.
Hawkins Handcrafters
This group meets twice monthly from 1:00 to 3:00 PM the second and fourth Thursdays each month. Bring any handwork or hobby you are working on and join other crafty people to chat and be creative.
Monday morning is perfect for coffee at the library with your pals. Join us at 8 AM. And no charge for the coffee.
