Spring 2024 by hewittpubliclibrary

Weekly & monthly programming

Visit the HPL events calendar on the library’s website for additional information ♦ Registered Event

ADULTS

MONTHLY CRAFTING Mondays | 9:30AM Join us on the 1st Monday of each month for a new craft and conversation. STARS Thursdays | 5-6PM ♦ STARS is a program designed for young adults 18+ with disabilities. We will meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month for different hands on activities. Parent area available for fellowship and resource sharing. CULINARY CLUB Wednesdays | 1PM Culinary Club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at a new location. Check the calendar to see where we will meet for delicious food and conversation. SENIOR GAME NIGHT Thursdays | 6-8PM Senior citizens are welcomed to join us on the 3rd Thursday of each month to play board games, cards, and dominoes. TRAVEL CLUB Fridays | 2PM Travel Club meets on the 3rd Friday of each month to discuss new travel opportunties with the library, travel tips, and much more.

DAYTIME BOOK CLUB Wednesdays | 2PM Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for discussion on our group’s book choices.

Daytime Book Club Selections

EVENING BOOK CLUB Thursdays | 2PM Join us on the 2nd Thursday of each month for discussion on our group’s book choices.

Evening Book Club Selections

January The Measure | Nikki Erlick

January lessons in chemisty | bonnie garmus

February The River We Remember | William Kent Kruger

February the 7 1/2 deaths of evelyn hardcastle | stuart turton

March Identity | Nora Roberts

March olive kitteridge | elizabeth strout

April Beyond that, the Sea | Laura Spence-Ash

April the river we remember | william kent kruger

May Breaking and entering | don gillmor

TEEN ADVISORY BOARD Tuesdays | 5pm ♦ The HPL Teen Advisory Board is a wonderful volunteer and leadership opportunity for teens ages 12-18. The TAB is a teen lead program with the Teen Librarian acting as an advisor. We meet monthly on the 3rd tuesday at 5pm as a team to work on projects with the goal of making our teen library dreams come true. For more information on how to apply for the TAB visit the library or scan the QR code. Feel free to join a meeting before you apply.

Follow us on social media @hewittpubliclibrary to stay up to date on all events. Don’t forget to share your pics with us!

did you know? WHILE WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE A PATRON WITH US AT THE HEWITT LIBRARY, YOU DO NOT NEED A LIBRARY CARD TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING! INTERESTED IN GETTING A LIBRARY CARD, then CONTACT THE LIBRARY TODAY!

dial a story from kids stories to book talks for adults & teens, Enjoy recorded stories for read-aloud fun.

call the library’s Dial-A-Story number at 254-327-2400 It’s free – call any time of the day.

TWEEN/TEEN TWEEN/TEEN STEAM LAB Tuesdays | 5-6PM ♦ If you love to add the creativity of art to your science, technology, engineering, and math projects, join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for a new imaginative experiment. Designed for tweens/ teens ages 10-18. TWEEN/TEEN ART CLUB Saturdays | 2-3:30PM ♦ For arts and crafts lovers ages 10-18, join us as we create new art pieces and enjoy snacks. TWEEN/TEEN ANIME CLUB Saturdays | 10AM ♦ Join us as we watch anime and discuss your favorite manga & Pokemon cards. Snacks and fun anime/manga themed crafts included. Designed for ages 10-18.

TELL ME A STORY “KIDS CLUB” Wednesdays | 4:30PM Sponsored by the Heart of Texas Storytelling Guild, the storytelling club was created for kids of various skills and abilities. We inspire creativity, improve vocabulary and listening skills, build self-confidence and improve social skills. This program is volunteer-led by Vivian Rutherford and is designed for kids ages 5-12. CURIOSITY CART Wednesdays | 4:30PM Make, create, and explore our cart according to a theme. Designed for kids ages 2-14.

EARLY LITERACY BABY TIME Mondays | 9AM Learn ryhmes while rocking, bouncing, singing, and reading. Designed for ages Birth - 1 year. BLENDED STORYTIME Mondays | 10AM We practice alphabet and counting each week along with action rhymes and a story. Designed for ages 1-5.

SCHOOL-AGED CRAFTERNOON Tuesdays | 4:30PM ♦ Each week we will make a new themed craft. Crafts are perfect for ages 2-10. You have the option to join in person or pick up your craft to take home. YOUTH STEAM LAB Tuesdays | 5PM ♦ If you love to add the creativity of art to your science, technology, engineering, and math project, join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month for a new imaginative experiment. Designed for kids ages 4-10.

TODDLER TIME Tuesdays |10AM Learning with action rhymes, singing, dancing, and a story. Designed for kids ages 1-3. EARLY LITERACY STORYTIME Tuesdays | 10:30AM Learning print, letter, and phonologial awareness as well as vocabulary and narrative skills through action rhymes, singing, dancing, and a story. Designed for ages 3-5. MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH HOOTIE Fridays | 9:30AM Join us on the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month for music and movement with Hootie. Designed for kids ages1-5.

special events HPL PROGRAMS

Visit the HPL events calendar on the library’s website for additional information ♦ Registered Event

UN-CONFUSING SENIOR SERVICES

January 5 | 10-11AM Home health, home care, hospice, nursing homes, assisted living, independent living, memory care... what are these, who are they for, and who pays for it? Brett Cox explains the differences so you can walk away prepared and informed. FAMILY PLACE 1,2,3, COME PLAY WITH ME ♦ January 13 - February 10 | 10:30-11:45AM Make a play date with your child to enjoy a variety of educational toys and activities! We will have a different art exploration activity each week. Community Resource Professionals will be available each week to answer questions you may have. Designed for ages 1-3. TEEN PARENT WORKSHOP January 23 | 6PM Counselor Summer Jonard will provide tips on how to keep your kids safe on social media, how to write a cell phone contract for your child, and how too much screen time affects a child’s mental health. FRIENDS OF THE HPL SPRING SILENT AUCTION March 14- March 23 Come in to the library and place your bids on your favorite Easter Baskets. Auction begins at 9:30AM on March 14 and ends at 2PM on March 23.

HOP INTO HEWITT March 23 | 10-12PM & 1-2PM Hop into the library for Easter Bunny pics, crafts, and fun activites for kids from 10-12PM. Adult & YA crafting will be from 1-2PM.

FAMILY PLACE 1,2,3, come play with me

SPRING PUZZLE SWAP April Date TBD | 10AM-12PM Tired of doing the same puzzles? It’s time for our spring puzzle swap. Each puzzle is worth 1 swap.

EARLY LITERACY ♦ January 13 | 10:30-11:45AM Do you have early literacy questions about your child? Our Children’s Librarian will be there to answer questions as you play with your child.

ECLIPSE DAY April 8 |12-3PM The HPL will be offering educational and fun hands on activites for all ages. Due to an expected influx in traffic to McLennan County for the eclipse, space and supplies will be available on a first come, first serve basis. FRIENDS OF THE HPL GARDENING IN TEXAS April 9 | 9:30-10:30AM Hear tips and how-tos about Texas plants with Master Gardener Kathy Lanfrankie and Anne Bowman. VOLUNTEER MIXER ♦ May 7 | 6-7:30PM Interested in becoming an HPL Volunteer. Join us as we talk about the process of becoming a volunteer and taking a look at our upcoming summer opportunites.

SPRING BREAK AT THE HPL

Join the HPL during Spring Break for a new hands-on activity each day. Check calendar for more details Monday March 4 | 5-6PM Thursday March 7 | 5-6PM Slime Making DIY Seedbombs Tuesday March 5 | 10-11AM DIY Musical Instruments Wednesday March 6 | 10-11AM Sensory Bags

Friday March 8 | 10-11AM Music & Movement

CHILD DEVELOPMENT ♦ January 20 | 10:30-11:45AM Our community resource professionals will be available to answer questions you have about your child’s devlopement while you play. SPEECH, LANGUAGE, & HEARING DEVELOPMENT ♦ January 27 | 10:30-11:45AM Join us this week as our community resource professionals answer questions about your child’s speech, language, or hearing. NUTRITION ♦ February 3 | 10:30-11:45AM Join us this week as our community resource professional answers questions you have about your child’s nutrition while you play with your child. MUSIC & MOVEMENT ♦ February 10 | 10:30-11:45AM Music & Movement is essential to your child’s development. Join us this week as our community resource professional answers any questions reguarding music & movement.

get involved FRIENDS OF THE HEWITT PUBLIC LIBRARY The Friends of the Hewitt Public Library (FHPL) was created by local Hewitt citizens to assist and promote the Hewitt Public Library through fundraising, volunteer work, and public awareness.

How to Join

Anyone can join the FHPL! There are many different levels of involvement, including cash donation, goods, or volunteer work. Scan the QR Code for more information on how to join.

Ann Schiltz FHPL President Kathy O’Neil FHPL Vice President Delores Sincereny FHPL Treasurer Julie Litke FHPL Secretary Jean Anne Plemons FHPL Member at Large Sally Goldman FHPL Member at Large PENNY KEHOE FHPL MEMBER AT LARGE

HEWITT PUBLIC LIBRARY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Volunteer opportunities positively impact neighborhoods and public areas. They improve relationships and create connections between community members to increase quality of life for citizens of Hewitt.

Volunteer Duties:

Perform light duties, including: Shelving and straightening books Assisting with story times, activities, and events Assisting with art projects Preparing crafts and other activities At Home opportunities available as well

Scan to join!

get involved HPL HAPPENINGS 3

F A L L

2 0 13 2 3

1. Back to Hogwarts Day at the HPL

11. STARS celebrated Halloween with sensory bags

2. Crafternoon with Mrs. Kayla

12. Dyed cotton ball candy corns were made on Curiosity Cart

3. Staff picture at our Meet & Greet event with new director Matthew Glaser

13. Teen Advisory Board judging the pumpkin contest

4. Music & Movement with Hootie

14. TWeens/ teens have fun experimenting with egg crash carts in steam lab

5. Special story time at the Hewitt Firehouse

15. firefighters & sparky at the hewitt fire department open house and pancake breakfast.

6. Staff set up a booth at Park Hill Elementary’s STEAM Night 7.Staff showed off our trailer at Hewitt Dog Days 8. Staff had a blast at National Night Out passing out goodies 9. Friends of the HPL hosted their annual Member Night 10. Staff participated in the Greater Hewitt Chamber’s Spooktacular

16. winners from the pumpkin contest

a message from the director 1, 2, 3 Come Play with Me! Hewitt Public Library joined the nation-wide system of Family Place Libraries in 2017 after receiving a grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services through the Texas State Library & Archives Commission. The purpose of the Family Place program is to create cohorts of parents and caregivers with children aged 0 to 3 and guide them through the early stages of child development over a course of five weeks. These cohorts of families are encouraged to engage with their children through interactive free play, build connections with other families at the same stages of child development, and gather resources to use along the way. The HPL team hosts two of these five-week programs each year — once in the winter and once in the fall. In addition to our own early literacy staff, we invite community professionals from four key areas of child development to act as resources for the parents and caregivers who attend. While these professionals are available to share their knowledge, the children will be the primary focus, as they take the lead in each session and the parent or caregiver engages alongside them in meaningful play.

aims to have a child ready for a successful year of kindergarten, having already been exposed to science, technology, engineering, and mathematical concepts. As they grow older, HPL now has a growing collection of VOX books – picture books that read to the child. This format promotes independent reading as an early reader learns how to hold a book, how to turn pages, and how to follow along with the words. These books are an excellent alternative to traditional books on CD and allow parents to slowly introduce their children to the wonders a book can bring. The Hewitt Public Library is always expanding its programs and services for all ages, and with a new year comes new ideas, new goals, and new strategies. A library isn’t just a library – it’s a hub for creativity and innovation.

This free-flowing structure is available in the library throughout regular operating hours, as well. HPL’s children’s area has toys and other manipulatives for children to engage with on their own. These items help fine-tune motor skills and create a healthy sense of curiosity and problem solving. Libraries are often simply considered a place for books and studying, but they are important steppingstones to advanced literacy skills. In addition to our early literacy initiatives as a Family Place Library, we offer the tools to easily prepare young readers for the future. Our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program includes 100 backpacks with a series of books and manipulative items that increase in reading level, subject content, and engagement as a child moves through them. The program

Matthew Glaser Library Director

See page 4 for dates and times of our Winter 2024 Family Place Program

STAFF PICKS check out what we’re reading!

200 Patriot Court Hewitt, TX 76643 254-666-2442 LIBRARY@CITYOFHEWITT.COM

HOURS

Mon- thurs 9:30am-8pm fri & sat 9:30am-5:30pm sun closed

ONLINE

cityofhewitt.com

calendar of events

LIBRARY BOARD Sally Goldman President Lydia Dashner Vice President Jennifer Hunt Secretary Jerry Snider Julie Holcomb Betty J. Smith Delores Sincereny

IMPORTANT CLOSURES january 15 - MLK january 25- Staff development february 19 - president’s day

march 29 - good friday march 30- easter saturday may 27- memorial day