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We're excited to announce that our next reading challenge for youth has gone digital, which means one less piece of paper for you to keep track of (hooray)! For our October Mini Read challenge, we're introducing the Beanstack app—a reading motivation platform that makes it easy to participate in reading challenges, track your reading, connect with friends, and more! The entire family can participate—we have challenges for both children and adults!
Getting Started
💙 Download the Beanstack Tracker app to your device(s) from your app store.
💙 Sign up for an account with La Crosse County Library, and create your own username and password.
💙 From October 2 - October 31, you can participate in our October Mini Read challenge and win prizes by playing BINGO.
Prefer a paper version? Stop by the library to pick one up!
October Mini Read rules and prizes
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUTH SERVICES | | |
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Kirsten Caldwell, Youth Services Librarian, is based out of our Holmen location. She also makes cameos at our Onalaska location for select story times. | |
Q&A with Kirsten Caldwell | |
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What youth books are you reading these days?
I LOVE reading beginning readers--lately the Cece Loves Science series by Kimberly Derting and the Fergus and Zeke series by Kate Messner. I have been trying to read almost every picture book that gets published and is available to us through the library and have fallen in love with A Book For Bear by Ellen Ramsey. I also just finished the first three books of the American Royals series by Katharine McGee and am anxiously awaiting the final book. I got addicted, and the audiobooks are amazing!
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Where can folks find you at the library?
I am nearly always at the Holmen desk, so please come over and say hi! I also do Baby Bop, Tales for Twos, and Tiny Tales at Onalaska! Tiny Tales is a new storytime for ages 0-3 on Saturday, which is great for families with busy schedules like mine! Sign up on our website, and come visit me. 😊
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What trends and developments are fueling your fire in youth services?
I was part of a PBS learning cohort where I got a stipend to put on a library program (the Let’s Play Pretend program you may have attended), and that helped us add toys to all of the libraries!! They are super fun and are great for early literacy! I’ve been working on making popular character beginning readers like Daniel Tiger, Disney Princesses, and Paw Patrol more accessible with easy-to-browse bins. And making sure beginning readers in graphic novel format are easy to find with special spine labels, too.
I was recently invited to speak at a workshop with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in Marshfield about early child development and early literacy, which is my passion. I was published in the Children and Libraries journal with an article, “Best Practices for Evidence-Based Early Literacy Storytimes,” and I love staying involved by reviewing books for the School Library Journal and Children’s Literature.
Children’s books, early child development, and early literacy are such amazing topics, and I love answering patron and librarian questions about them!
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Thanks, Kirsten!
Previously featured staff:
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Photo: Project LIVE and Onalaska Youth Services | |
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You spoke, and we listened! We’re always striving to make the Library a safe space for all of our community members. And thanks to a generous donation and collaboration with Project LIVE, we’re continuing that work.
Sensory Backpacks are now available for checkout at our Holmen and Onalaska locations (holds can be placed from any location). We know that visiting the library is often an exciting experience for children and their families. However, it and other activities can also be overwhelming or stressful for children, including those with sensory sensitivities.
These sensory backpacks are available in two versions for checkout and use here or elsewhere. They are full of support tools to help children with a diverse range of sensory processing patterns either stimulate or calm their sensory systems.
Come check them out or place a hold!
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Fall Story Times
Join us for story times full of books, movement, songs, and fun! Story times run September 11 - November 22. We offer:
- Baby Bop Story Time
- Tiny Tales Story Time
- Tales for Twos Story Time
- Library Learners Preschool Story Time
- Bilingual Story Time (see below)
Register today!
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NEW Bilingual Story Time
Hola means hello! Immerse yourself in a bicultural Story Time. Learn some phrases, try some food, and baila con amor! Geared toward ages 3-5 years, but all ages are welcome. Registration required.
Onalaska: Saturday, Oct 14 at 11 am
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Lego at the Library
Kids of all ages (children under 8 accompanied by an adult) are welcome at our Lego brick building events! Have fun free-building or be inspired by our suggested theme. No registration required.
All events are from 4:30pm-5:30pm
West Salem: Monday, October 9
Onalaska: Wednesday, October 11
Bangor & Campbell: Monday, October 16
Holmen: Wednesday, October 18
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Wild Child Nature Explorers
Let's get batty about one of our region's most underappreciated residents. Designed for ages 6-10 (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult), we'll be discussing the different types of bats, learning why they are threatened and how we can help, making take-home bat masks, and lots more!
Registration required.
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Explore the Universe
Stop by to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and view the stars, planets and other celestial objects! La Crosse Area Astronomical Society will bring their telescopes and teach us about what we see. All ages welcome; no registration required.
NOTE: In the case of clouds or bad weather, the La Crosse Area Astronomical Society will give a 45-minute presentation inside the library at 6:30pm.
West Salem Library
Thursday, October 19
Drop in 6:30 pm to 8 pm
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Teen Time
Teens in grades 6-12 ... Looking for a place to recharge? Do some homework? Enjoy some pizza? If you're into hands-on art projects, music, new teen books or just chilling out, drop in and join us for Teen Time. No registration required.
Sign up for a door prize while you're there!
Friday, Oct. 27
Onalaska Library
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Friday, Nov. 3
Holmen Library
3:00 to 4:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 17
West Salem Library
3:00 to 4:30 pm
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Strengthening Your Squad
with Sarah Johnson from The Joy Labs
Our squad is there to have our back—on good days and especially on bad days. In this interactive session, you will learn a bit about how to be a strong squad member for others, how to build a strong squad for yourself, and how to engage some basic strategies for dealing with tough stuff. We'll get a little art in, too (by a "little art," we mean mini murals)!
Onalaska Public Library
Saturday, November 4
10 am to 12 pm
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INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS | |
Women in Baseball Festival - Oct 7 - Holmen
Celebrate women’s baseball with professional player Dolly (Vanderlip) Ozburn (AAGPBL, 1952-1954)! More info ...
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1920s Dance Lessons - Oct 2 & 16 - Holmen
Come learn fun, energetic social dances from the 1920s, including the Charleston! More info ...
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1920s Jazz Night - Oct 16 - Holmen
Come and pretend it is one hundred years ago with the Holmen Library! Enjoy mocktails, blackjack, a dress-up contest, and dancing! More info ...
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The Salem Witch Trials - Oct 28 - West Salem
Travel back in time to 1692 and listen to Rebeka Nurse (played by Jessica Michna of Historical First Impressions) as she shares her story of the Salem Witch Trials. This is a program for adults, but all ages are welcome. More info ...
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PERSONALIZED BOOK SELECTION SERVICE | |
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Lit Love Bundles for Fall
Curious about creepy crawlies? Robo-motion? How to introduce your preschooler to Hebrew and other languages with Sesame Street?
Fall in love with reading with some literary love curated just for you by our Youth Services team. Just let us know what you're interested in, and we'll help you find it! Service also available for educators.
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Check out our fall brochure for details on upcoming programs such as Wild Child Nature Explorers, Lego library fun, Messy Kids Art, and lots more. | | | |
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October Programs for Adults
- October Mini Reads for Adults
- Senior Moments
- Understanding & Overcoming Caregiver Stress
- Heart Strings Harp Circle
- Free movies on the big screen - various locations and times!
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Driftless Regional Read
We're excited to be a part of this year's regional read. This year's focus is on mental health, and the book selection is What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
For more information and a list of Regional Read community programming—including events hosted at our libraries, visit driftlessregionalread.com.
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Sign Up for Our Adult Programming Newsletter
If you would like to receive our e-newsletter geared for adults, sign up at the link below. Thank you!
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