Reading to children, free books, are great holiday gifts
In the hurried rush of the holidays, parents and caregivers can get wrapped up in the perfect present to give their children without remembering that the most important gift of all can be their time. Make an early New Year’s resolution and commit to reading to children aged birth to eight aloud for just 15 minutes each day. Four national organizations, Reach Out and Read, The Center for the Book, in the Library of Congress, United Way and the American Library Association, are uniting behind one simple, powerful message: Read Aloud 15 MINUTES — Every child. Every day. This campaign aims to transform 15 minutes a day of reading aloud from a recommendation into a parenting “must.” Learn more at www.readaloud.org.
Come find that perfect gift, and check out some free books in the process from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 during a vendor fair hosted by The Friends of the Library. Vendors will be located in the auditorium on the second floor. Those needing assistance may use the elevator. Plan to purchase baked goods, jewelry, painted drinking glasses, handmade crafts, holiday items, children’s gift items, beauty supplies, acrylic paintings and the Friends “Cookie and Soup Jars.” Carnegie Café will be open special during the vendor fair for lunch.
If you do not have a lot of funds to spend, come by and receive a free gift of a breast exam from Cornerstone Care. Or, if you have not been to the library lately, Rose Galik, Friend of the Library, will host two tours of the library that day at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Don’t forget to check out the Connellsville Area Historical Museum on the second floor.
Thanks to the Yoga classes held on Saturdays and the Friends, you will be able to view and use our new tables and chairs. Cathy Kumor, Yoga instructor, wasn’t sure what the project would be, but a need for updated, lighter weight tables became the first purchase for the Yoga group. Since 2011, Saturday Yoga classes have donated over $2,000 to the auditorium project. Of course, the yoga classes could not have purchased the new tables and chairs without the additional money contributed by the Friends of the Library and individuals who supported our beautiful, historic Carnegie Free Library of Connellsville through donations, volunteerism or community service.
Do you need help updating or writing a resumé? Or just sharing with others your ups and downs of looking for a job? We are starting a Job Searching Support Group at 1 p.m. Dec. 13. Guest speakers will be Gina Roman, Career Management director at Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology, and Gina Jones, instructor coordinator of the Career Services and Internship Center at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Bring your resumé for an optional peer exchange and resumé rehab tips.
The Carnegie Free Library will be closed Dec. 24-26 and 31 and Jan. 1, 2014. During the season of giving, help save our free libraries in Fayette County, and donate your resources or time. Like us on Facebook, check out our websites and utilize our services and programs.
Casey Sirochman is the director/head librarian at Carnegie Free Library. She can be reached at 299 S. Pittsburgh St., Connellsville, by email at casey.ccfl@gmail.com or by calling 724-628-1380.