Children's Services
Children's Specialist Peggy Kepner

The Children's Area of the Henry County Library's Main Branch is in the southwestern part of the building, to the left as you enter from the Green Street entrance. The Children's Circulation desk is in the south part of the Children's area, next to the Briggs Room. You may check out books here when the Children's Specialist is on duty, otherwise check out at the main Circulation Desk.

Juvenile Easies (je) are shelved along the walls on the east, south and west sides of the area, and the Juvenile Fiction (j Fict) is shelved in the book stacks by the north wall of the area.

The Fire Truck (constructed and donated by the men of the Clinton Fire Department) holds the Juvenile Easy Non-fiction collection. Books on tape and the children's magazines are in the free-standing shelves near the west wall.

The Briggs Storytime Room is located in the southwestern corner of the children's area.

The Children's Computers with KidZviZ and the Early Literacy Station are alongside the pillar near the entry to the Children's Area, near the copier.

Summer Reading Program

Each year the Henry County Library presents a Summer Reading Program for the youth of Henry County. The program usually starts on the first Monday in June and ends with the first Saturday in August. Three levels of participation are offered, listeners, readers and young adult.

The Listener's program is for all children who are two years of age by August 1, 2011 and do not read independently. These children will be required to listen to 40 books from the Henry County Library collection to be eligible for a reading certificate, a coupon for a free drink or cookie and a free book.

The Reader's program is offered to all children who read independently, and have not yet started senior high school. These children are required to read 20 books on their reading level to be eligible for a reading certificate, a coupon for a free drink or cookie and a free book.

The Young Adults Program is offered to all those who are 6th grade through high school seniors and are interested in a more challenging reading program. These young adults are asked to read a total of 2000+ pages during the program to be eligible for a reading certificate. The participant's name can be entered in the drawing for a Savings Bond. Readers can add their name to the drawing each time a list is finished.

All books reported must be from the Henry County Library collection. As each child completes a reading list, their name can be entered in the prize drawing. Children's names may be entered each time a list is completed. All reading lists must be turned in by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the program.

Special Activities during the Reading Program include Incentive Games for prizes, Storytime, Special Programs and the DeLozier Writing Contest.

The "End of the Summer Reading Program Party" is generally held on the Tuesday following the last day of the Reading Program, at both Windsor and Clinton. Usually a visiting performer will put on a show and then the drawings for prizes will be held immediately following each program. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.

Pots of Pennies

The Henry County Library will save a penny for each book read or two books listened to, during the program. At the End of the Summer Party pennies collected will be given away in a random drawing of all participants who complete a reading list.

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Winter Read-To-Me Program
Be a Smart Cookie? READ!
January 9 - March 10, 2012

Are you looking for something fun to do with your "little one"" during the cold winter weather? Come to the Henry County Library or the Lenora Blackmore Branch where the fun is just beginning. The Library's Winter Read-to-Me Program will start January 9th and end March 10th. This year's theme is "Be a Smart Cookie? READ!" The program is open to children who are birth up to those children in kindergarten who do not read independently.

Children will receive a book bag, stickers, and a reading list when they sign up for the program. There will be several different Storytimes for children and their parents, during the eight weeks and stories read during these times can be counted on the child’s list. Storytime is each Wednesday in Windsor at 11:00 a.m. and each Thursday in Clinton at 10:30 a.m.

Children enrolled in the Winter Read-to Me Program will be required to have forty (40) books read to them from the Library book collection. A list of the books read to the child will be kept and presented to the Library by March 10, 2012. Upon completion of the reading list the child will be awarded a "Reading Certificate", more stickers, and a coupon good for two (2) cookies from the Blue Ribbon Bakery or a Sonic Drive-In treat

The basic rules are as follows:

1. Sign up on or after January 9, 2012
2. Keep a list of all books read from the Library book collection.
3. All books MUST contain words. No wordless books.
4. Lists will not be accepted after March 10, 2012 at 5:00 pm.

For more information contact Peggy Kepner at the Henry County Library at 660-885-2612 or toll free at 1-866-CALL HCL

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Children's Storytime

Wednesdays:
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Lenora Blackmore Branch in Windsor
Thursdays:
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Main Branch in Clinton

Stories, fingerplays and songs for children ages two to six. Parents welcome to participate.

For more information contact Peggy Kepner, Children's Specialist at 1-660-885-2612 or toll-free at 1-866-CALLHCL.

Dial-A-Story

Would you like to find a safe, inexpensive, educational and entertaining activity for your children? Plus, you need not leave the comfort of your home!

Any day of the year, any time of the day, your child can call Dial-A-Story at 885-4400 and listen to a recorded folk tale, short story, fairy tale, or myth. Each story lasts approximately three minutes and are geared toward young children. Dial-A-Story is an out-reach service offered to the public by the Henry County Library.

The Library purchased the first Dial-A-Story machine in 1977, using endless loop 8-track tapes. Since then two replacement machines have been purchased, one in 1980 and one in 2004. The newest machine features completely digital technology. The Telematic III has 133 stories available, some with seasonal and holiday themes.

Dial-A-Story answers 2000 to 3000 calls a year and is updated weekly. Stories are normally changed two times a week.

Dial-A-Story on Speed Dial
885-4400

Have you ever been in a store or a doctor's office with a wiggly child? With Dial-A-Story on speed dial, you could entertain your child or grand child with a three-minute fairy tale or fable. And children love to listen to a story over and over.

Dial-A-Story answers 2000 to 3000 calls a year and is updated weekly. The Telematic III has 133 stories available, some with seasonal and holiday themes. So add 885-4400 to your speed dial and be the prepared with a story 24-7.

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Childrens Computers:
Early Literacy Station

Even the very youngest patrons are attracted to the two Early Literacy Stations in the Henry County Library. The ?tiny mouse? fits this fellow?s hand perfectly. The systems are really ?self-contained? and trouble free. The colorful screen and welcoming dialogue attracted children the first hour we had the ELS set up. Children can use the system independently for hours. The phonics games are great and reinforce successful spelling and early reading skills. Music games are fun and cheerful. Even adults are attracted to the systems. The Early Literacy System was purchased by the Library with Louise Adair Francisco Memorial Funds.

Childrens Computers:
KidZviZ, the library explorer's toolbox

New on the children's computers is KidZviZ, the library explorer's toolbox. KidZviZ is the catalog that turns a child's ability to sort and remember into a search strategy. KidZviZ competes in the children's high-impact graphic environment and creates a world that kids can navigate through using reading skills over a wide range.

When your child sits down at the computer to search for a book in the library, he or she will be taken to the Person, Place, or Thing index. Kids adapt to it naturally because it's built around their abilities. KidZviZ uses sorting and memory skills to guide kids through a universe of subjects and titles.

KidZviZ says click a bubble to find what you want! The child clicks People and he can chose from Famous People, People I Know, Our Minds and Bodies, Different Cultures, and People at Work. If the child clicks on People at Work, KidZviZ shows several choices of places that people work. After making a choice the child can search the results found from the Library's automated catalog or do an advanced search within these guidelines. The Places and Things indexes work in the same manner. Unlike other visual navigation systems, KidZviZ is infinitely expandable. Everything fits in a way kids can quickly grasp and return to again and again.

The children's computers also feature the Magic School Bus and Whales, Magic School in Concert, Magic School Bus in Flight and Magic School Bus Lands on Mars.

Come to the Library and explore KidZviZ, as well as, the other attractions on the Children's Computers.

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Field Trips to the Library

Contact Childrens Specialist Peggy Kepner if you would like to schedule a field trip to the library for your group or class.

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Guidelines for Parents

Please note:
Because we care about the safety of your children, parents should be aware that the size and public nature of our building, as well as the many demands on the attention of staff, make it impossible for library employees to keep track of the whereabouts of your children or guarantee their safety.

Parents are expected to provide adequate supervision for their children and ensure their good behavior while at the library.

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES

• Children age 6 and under should not be left without adult supervision.
• Children who have library cards and enjoy using the library are welcome on their own - - for reasonable periods of time. Most children reach their limit in about 1 hour.
• The library reserves the right to ask children to leave the building if they behave inappropriately and are unresponsive to staff.
• The library has no public phone, so be sure to have change for the pay phone, if needed.

Also see the Appropriate Behavior for Children at the Library page.

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