Stark Library Explore Guide - Fall 2021

explore

Meet Arthur author Marc Brown and our full lineup of authors

SEP • OCT • NOV 2021

1

FROM THE DIRECTOR

When you think of your Library, what comes to mind? Do you think of a place where people can connect with others over an author event or a book club? A place where you can be a lifelong learner and brush up on the latest tech or learn a new language? Where you can stretch your creative muscles and explore a new talent or hobby?

Mary Ellen Icaza Executive Director/CEO, Stark Library

Your Library is doing all that and more! We invest in our children through school readiness and early literacy programs like SPARK, 1,000 books Before Kindergarten, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, help lifelong learners stay sharp with classes, keep job seekers competitive with career classes and resources, and spark curiosity in our dreamers and doers with resources like the Maker Studio. Of course, we’ll always have books and author events, too.

The Library is a living being. It’s constantly growing and evolving to reach the community. Everyone who visits has their own unique needs.

Some need help job hunting; others want to do research, hang out, or connect to the internet. Libraries are vibrant community hubs with many exciting ways to make your life easier.

The best part about it is that it’s all free with a library card! Here at Stark Library, our mission is to spark curiosity and foster knowledge by connecting everyone to resources, services, and opportunities— and getting your library card is the very first step!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month—if you don’t have one, I encourage you to get one and start enjoying all the free resources that come along with it. It truly is the best (and best value) investment you’ll ever make, and it opens a world of possibilities.

In this issue, you’ll explore some of the amazing things you can do with your library card. So the next time you think of your Library, I hope you think of all the worlds you can access with one small card.

2

is r e b Septem

d r C a y r r a b i L

Month! up n ig S

In the immortal words of Arthur, “Having fun isn’t hard with a library card!” Do you have yours yet? If not, you’re missing out!

It helps you: SAVE MONEY Borrowing just 30 books can save you as much as $500 a year!

CONNECT WITH OTHERS Meet your favorite authors, visit (or start your own) book club, or attend a storytime.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Test out popular equipment like projectors, telescopes, or even a 3D printer!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW Brush up on the latest tech, learn a new language, or get the tools you need for school success.

And so much more!

Stop by any branch to sign up or get an eCard at StarkLibrary.org/eCard

Your Library After many months of hard work, we were excited to unveil the splendor of North Branch at a grand opening celebration in July.

Our second location to be re|imagined, East Canton, will open in September, followed

by Madge Youtz early this winter.

As 2021 comes to a close (can you believe it?) we are excited to move on to Phase 2 in 2022!

The Perry Sippo, DeHoff Memorial, and Lake Community branches are next on the list to be Re|imagined.

3

Kids Who Read,

Succeed!

POP QUIZ: True or False?

F

T

F

T

F

40% of all children in Ohio start school unprepared to learn.

T

F

By 4th grade, children stop learning to read and start reading to learn.

T

F

Libraries are equipped to help families get ready for school.

Parents are their child’s first and best teacher.

T

About 90% of the brain is formed before a child turns 5 years old.

If you answered TRUE to all of these, great job! If you missed a couple, don’t panic—Stark Library is here to support your family’s journey to school and life success!

By Julia Shaheen, Literacy Manager

Early literacy is the knowledge children have about reading and writing before they can read or write.

School readiness includes sitting for a longer period, sharing, building positive relationships, and being able to follow directions. A child’s brain is almost fully developed before they start school, which means we have a big job to do in terms of early literacy and school readiness. I say “we,” because it really does take a village to raise a child.

Parenting does not come with a set of instructions.

Luckily, Stark County has an amazing array of resources to help! Stark Library offers storytimes for all ages where your child can sing, play, and listen to stories with other children the same age. We also offer a wonderful collection of books that build a love of basic 4

concepts like letter sounds, vocabulary, numbers, emotions, and more.

This year we have exciting new literacy programs starting the week of September 13! Join us on our Facebook page for a series of fun learning activities you can try at home with your children. We are hosting a virtual panel discussion with a speech therapist, occupational therapist, and a mental health/behavior specialist to answer your questions about your child’s development. Check our website for the most up-todate listing of literacy programs.

As your child’s first and best teacher, you play a pivotal role in their development. Let Stark Library help make that job just a little easier and more fun!

Kindergarten Ready It’s easy to get your early learner ready for kindergarten with your library card! Every time you sing, play, rhyme, and read you’re building literacy skills, making learning fun, encouraging creativity, and sparking curiosity. Here are more ways to help them get ready for school with the Library.

SPARK SPARK Parent Partners provide free kindergarten readiness for children and parents in Canton City, Perry Local, Plain Local, and Sandy Valley Schools.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Taking the time to read with your child every day really helps build a love of reading and gives them a positive, nurturing environment. If you read every day from birth until the age of 5 with your child, they will have read 1,825 books before they start kindergarten!

NEW!

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Your child will receive a free book hand-picked by Dolly every month until they turn five!

Bright By Text Receive messages on topics including developmental milestones, brain development, mental health topics, social-emotional guidance, language and literacy, nutrition and more! Developed for parents with children birth to age 8 and parents-to-be, this free text service is delivered just a few times a week.

Simply text FAMILYPLACE to 274448.

School Resources

Do you need some extra help in the classroom? No problem! Your library card grants you access to helpful eResources to prep for your next test, research your next paper, or just supplement your curriculum.

ELEMENTARY IN CONTEXT Easy-to-understand information subjects like animals, science, sports, technology, health, social studies and more.

NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN CONTEXT Reliable resources for papers, projects, and presentations on common topics to make your next report an A+.

JSTOR Research more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines from anywhere in the world.

TESTING & EDUCATION REFERENCE CENTER Prepare for life’s biggest tests including the ACT, SAT, PSAT, GED, and even the U.S. Citizenship test.

Learn more at StarkLibrary.org/EarlyLit 5

Speaking of Books...

Meet the Authors!

Are you a devoted reader? An aspiring author? Or do you just love meeting famous authors? Your library card brings you up close and personal with bestsellers, award-winners, and beloved classic writers.

This season’s authors will inspire lively discussion and— at times—challenging conversation while exemplifying literary excellence. Each bestselling author will speak about their book, followed by an opportunity to ask your burning questions.

Some of our past guest authors in the Dr. Audrey Lavin Speaking of Books Author Series include horror master RL Stine, astronaut and adventurer Mike Massimino, football legend Bernie Kosar, and award-winning poet Kwame Alexander.

There’s something for every interest, age, and genre— mystery, thriller, literary fiction, sci-fi, autobiography, sports, romance, and more!

Reserve your FREE seats at StarkLibrary.org/MeetAuthors

Get the Dish on MARK BITTMAN Sep 23 | 6:30 pm | Canton Palace Theatre Celebrate Downtown Canton Restaurant Week with this bestselling author of 30 books. Mark was a food journalist and columnist, opinion columnist, and the lead magazine food writer at the New York Times. He starred in four television series and has made hundreds of television, radio, and podcast appearances, including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, RealTime with Bill Maher, and CBS’s The Dish. He has also appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and Morning Edition.

ABOUT THE BOOK: You can live healthier, not just eat healthier, when you eat with eyes wide open. Discover a flexible, ethical way of eating better to improve your health and lose weight by using common sense in the kitchen.

Arthur Creator, MARC BROWN Nov 16 | 6:30 pm | Canton Palace Theatre Meet the creator of the most famous A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K in the world right here in Canton! This bestselling author joins us to talk about his characters, work, behind the scenes fun facts, and more!

He is the renowned illustrator of Judy Sierra’s Wild About Books and ZooZical, but is best known worldwide as the creator of Arthur the Aardvark, the star of many picture books and the five-time Emmy Award-winning TV show.

ABOUT THE BOOK: D.W. can’t wait to get a library card, but she has to learn how to write her full name first. She practices and is finally rewarded with a library card of her very own.

6

Equity Expert and Principal, BARUTI K. K AFELE Sep 21 | 6:30 pm | Umstattd Performing Arts Hall Presented by the Canton City School District One of the most sought-after school leadership experts and education presenters in America, Kafele is impacting America’s schools with truth, a demand for meaningful reflection upon current practice, and a challenge for change to ensure that all students are achieving at high levels. He will share his insights about what schools, families, students, and the community can do to improve student outcomes.

Presented in partnership with Stark Education Partnership, State Support Team Region 9, and the Dismantling Racism Coalition of Stark County present Equity, Social Justice Education, and the 21st Century Classroom.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Teachers play a critical role in student success. This book ensures that all students are seen, sheds light on the issues and challenges of inequity in the classroom, and provides a pathway to infusing social justice education into lesson plans.

Cleveland News Anchor, JAZMIN BAILEY Oct 21 | 6 pm | Location to be determined Presented by Domestic Violence Project, Inc. and the Take Back the Night Committee She’s smart, she’s funny and she’s real. Jazmin Bailey grew up on Cleveland’s westside and is truly one of Cleveland’s own. Before returning to Ohio, Jazmin spent nearly eight years working as a news anchor in Orlando, Florida. Her work there was not only recognized with an Emmy but most recently, a 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, one of the highest honors in news.

ABOUT THE BOOK: The gripping account of Jazmin’s toxic marriage and journey to self-love. Follow the progression of a woman who married fast and for all the wrong reasons, as she finally heals from her wounds. Her words will make you cry, laugh and ultimately think, “How can I better love myself?”

Journalist and Author, ELAINE WEISS Oct 28 | 6:30 pm | Canton Palace Theatre Presented by National First Ladies’ Library Weiss inspires audiences with conversations about what it takes to change the Constitution, the power of civic engagement, how change is made, and the story of past and present voting rights.

She is also a frequent media commentator, appearing on CBS Sunday Morning, PBS, NPR, and C-Span.

Her highly-acclaimed book sheds fascinating light on women’s rights & suffrage, with powerful parallels to the current political environment.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Hailed as a “riveting, nail-biting political thriller,” this inspiring story follows a handful of women’s rights & suffrage activists as they win their own freedom in one of the last campaigns forged in the shadow of the Civil War, and the beginning of the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights.

7

Discover Your Ancestors —FREE! October is Family History Month. If you’re looking to unlock the secrets of your past, your library card is the key!

•

Access popular databases like Ancestry, Heritage Quest, and African American Heritage for FREE.

•

Request online assistance for your tough research questions.

•

View newspaper archives, court records, historical indexes, and census records.

•

Hit a roadblock in your research? Set up a one-on-one appointment with an expert!

Diggin’ in the Dark Oct 23 | 6 –11pm | Main Library Are you a royal descendant? Did your great-great-great uncle invent sliced bread? Did your family immigrate from Siberia? Unearth your family roots and bring your past to life with tips and tricks from experts, free access to Ancestry.com and other databases in this marathon genealogy session.

Main Library Lake Community Jackson Community Mon–Wed.... 9 am–8 pm Thu–Sat........ 9 am–5 pm Sun....................... Closed

We’re Open Longer Hours!

Starting September 7, our libraries will be open extended hours to better serve you! We look forward to seeing you.

North Perry Sippo Mon–Tue...... 9 am–8 pm Wed.............. 9 am–5 pm Thu............... 9 am–8 pm Fri–Sat.......... 9 am–5 pm Sun..................... 1–5 pm DeHoff Memorial East Canton Madge Youtz Plain Community Sandy Valley Mon–Tue...... 9 am–8 pm Wed–Sat....... 9 am–5 pm Sun....................... Closed

Check our website to see all of the great in-person and online programs this fall.