Kids Book Club Offers Group Literacy Activities for Elementary Students

Tyson Library’s Kids Book Club enjoyed several stories during their January meetings. The students in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade, listen as Miss Aly read the selected stories, then participate in group conversations and themed activities. Each of the books the group reads are chosen from a list supplied by the Mensa for Kids’ Excellence in Reading program.

At the group’s first meeting, they played a game based on an activity in their first chapter book: “All of a Kind Family” by Sydney Taylor. In the book, the mom hides buttons around a room to make sure her daughter’s are dusting the room as she showed them, so Miss Aly took this task and adapted into a game for our students to play together. “They loved it and raced all over trying to find the buttons in our program room,” says Miss Aly. “We also talked about how our day can go wrong sometimes and how we can respond to those things to try to turn them into something better.”

The students who participate in Kids Book Club do not have to do any reading to prepare for the group’s meetings – they enjoy everything together! And, if the students miss a meeting, they can borrow the books to read at home if they choose. Miss Aly has asked the students to rate the books they’ve read so far on a scale of 1 to 5. “They seem to really like reading the books at home and giving me a 1 through 5 review of the book at the next meeting,” says Miss Aly of those who have read some on their own.

“Set your child up for a good time and to be ready to participate in our discussions about the books we are reading,” says Miss Aly to parents considering this program for their children. “The kids who come are excited about reading and excited about all the fun we have together. If they come with a good attitude, they have a good time!”

In February, the group will meet on the 14th and the 28th at 3:30 p.m. The books they will read together this month are shown in the image below. Call 812-689-5894 or email aly@tysonlibrary.org with questions.

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First Canva 101 Session Bridges the Gap

Tyson Library hosted a Canva 101 class for community members involved in small businesses or area nonprofit organizations on January 18. The group learned some of the basics about Canva, an online graphic design software that markets itself as being for everyone and anyone.

This class, like those that will follow, was largely a workshop for the attendees. Tyson Library’s Advertising Coordinator Tali Crowe is leading each session with the goal to help everyone leave with a finished product they could take and use for their business or organization as soon as the class is over. So, she kept the presentation portion short to have lots of time for real-time demonstration and hands-on help with using the software to create polished final products for each participant.

In last week’s session, one participant’s nonprofit organization already has and uses a Canva account to create graphics for social media and more. This attendee was able to upload the organization’s specific color pallet and logo to the Canva account. Both were then integrated into a Facebook post, which some will see and believe was made by a graphic design-professional, thanks to Canva’s collection of editable templates.

Registration is open now for the Canva 101 for Small Businesses & Local Organizations that is taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 15. Click here to save your seat!

Tyson Library offers a variety of adult programming. To see what is on the coming up soon, go to our calendar. If you have an idea for an adult program, please contact Tali via email: tali@tysonlibrary.org. 

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Adults Learn about Simmer Pots with Tyson Library

A warm aroma filled Tyson Library Friday from a mix of typically popular winter ingredients simmer omg on the library’s stove. This stovetop potpourri was prepared as a demonstration for a group of adult patrons in one of the first programs of the season: DIY Simmer Pots.

Tali Crowe, a library employee, led a brief presentation over the basics of simmer pots. (What are they? What ingredients and supplies do you need to make them? When and where can you use them?) She also showed the attendees how quickly these aromatic concoctions can be thrown together to be enjoyed for a few hours or for an entire day. 

The library provided ingredients for each attendee to make take-home packets for a few simmer pot recipes. The patrons packed them up themselves to get a feel for how they could combine a handful of commonplace fruits, herbs, and spices to achieve a wonderful-smelling home. 

Tyson Library offers a variety of adult programming. To see what is on the coming up soon, go to our calendar. If you have an idea for an adult program, please contact Tali via email: tali@tysonlibrary.org. 

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Preschool Storytime is Back for 2024!

Tyson Library had a full house for storytime on Tuesday, January 9, our first session of the new year. Miss Aly got the year off to a silly start with a fun, interactive story: “Don’t Push the Button!” by Bill Cotter. And, the kids were all smiles and giggles as they took turns doing the exact opposite, causing some crazy stuff to happen to the book’s main character.

The kids also took turns matching colors and the group all sang a song together using scarves as a fun prop.

For this week’s craft, everyone got to make their own monster. And there were some pretty great monsters thanks to some big imaginations!

Tyson Library holds preschool storytime on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Children from birth through preschool are welcome to join in on the games, songs, crafts, and (of course) the story. Caregivers are required to stay with their children throughout the program, which lasts about 45 minutes.

To learn more, call 812-689-5894 or email Miss Aly at aly@tysonlibrary.org.

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2024 Bookmark Contest Accepting Entries

We are excited to announce that our annual bookmark contest is open for entries! This is a fantastic opportunity for all Ripley County students from kindergarten through 12th grade to showcase their creativity and design skills.

As always, the designs should be themed around the fun and adventure of reading, books, or Tyson Library. So, students are encouraged to unleash their imaginations and come up with a design that best embodies one of these themes. Show us and the community what reading means to you! (Here’s a hint for anyone who doesn’t know where to start: What is the first book or story that pops into your head when you think about reading?)


Rules:

  • Design MUST fit in a space 8 inches by 2 inches (like the box included on the printable form)
  • Limit 1 drawing per person
  • Designs can be hand or computer drawn in color or black & white using ink, crayon, paint, or other media. (Note: pencil drawings are often not reproducible, thus NOT accepted.)
  • Submitted drawings must have the child’s name, grade, and parent’s signature (authorizing the library to use the winning drawing)

The contest is a great way for young people to showcase their artistic abilities while promoting the joy of reading and community involvement. The winning bookmarks for each age category will be printed and made available to library patrons throughout the year as Tyson Library’s official bookmarks for 2024.

We can’t wait to see the amazing designs that our talented students will come up with. Entries are open from now until Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m., so be sure to submit your designs before the deadline. Good luck to all participants, and happy designing!


Important Dates:

  • Entries due: Wednesday, March 20 by 6 p.m.
  • Winners notified by phone by: April 2
  • Reception for winners and their families: April 10 at Tyson Activity Center (Invitation-only event)

Entry forms are available at the check out desk and online (see PDF below). They can be turned in at the check out desk or emailed to aly@tysonlibrary.org. Please direct any questions to Miss Aly, as well.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant Funds Bring More Children’s and Youth Playaways to Tyson Library

Versailles, IN – August 17, 2023 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Tyson Library a $1,600 grant to support its youth literacy efforts. The funding is part of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s recent award of nearly $2.6 million across the country to support more than 300,000 students attending more than 600 schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations in the communities Dollar General calls home.Indulge in the sophistication of rolex superclone watches without the hefty price tag with these affordable alternatives.

Tyson Library will use these grant funds to purchase more Children’s and Youth Playaways for our collection. Playaways are devices with pre-loaded audiobooks, which give the reader freedom to listen whenever and wherever they are. No internet connection or downloads are necessary to enjoy books with these devices.

“We are very grateful to Dollar General and their literacy grant that is allowing us to expand on the contemporary resources we can provide for our community,” said Aly Wright, Youth Programming Coordinator for Tyson Library. “Audiobooks are a great asset that we continue to add to our collection at Tyson Library. They are a great way to encourage a love of reading in our young patrons. It can be especially helpful for those who are not yet reading on their own or for those who may struggle to read due to a lack of focus or dyslexia.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs.

“We are proud to award these grants to literacy and education programs across the country and support their meaningful work of expanding children’s joy of reading and creating a foundation for future educational growth,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are excited to make a difference in thousands of students’ lives through these donations and look forward to making more positive impacts as we celebrate the Foundation’s 30th anniversary year.”

The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

About Tyson Library
Tyson Library is located in Versailles, Indiana, and serves the residents of Johnson, Brown, Shelby and Otter Creek Townships in Ripley County, Indiana. The library opened in April 1942 is named for Versailles’s native son, businessman, and philanthropist – James Henry Tyson. Today, Tyson Library continues to serve its community with traditional and contemporary library resources. To learn more about Tyson Library, go to www.tysonlibrary.org.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $238 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 19.6 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

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What does a good bookmark look like? Show us in our 2023 Bookmark Contest

Click the link below to download this year’s entry form!

It’s time to bust out the craft supplies and break through those winter blues with the 2023 Tyson Library Bookmark Contest!

This is our official invitation to any and all local students in preschool through 12th grade to submit an entry for this year’s contest. The winning designs from each age/grade category will be available as Tyson Library’s official bookmarks for 2023.

Need a little inspiration? Just take a look at last year’s winning designs!

Each design can be as colorful and creative as your child wants to make their design – we want the students to have fun and show us what they think of when it comes to books and the joy of reading.

We will celebrate this year’s winners during National Library Week (April 23-29) with a reception for the winners and their families at the Tyson Activity Center.


Rules:

  • Design MUST fit in a space 8 inches by 2 inches (like the box included on the printable form)
  • Limit 1 drawing per person
  • Designs can be hand or computer drawn in color or black & white using ink, crayon, paint, or other media. (Note: pencil drawings are often not reproducible, thus NOT accepted.)
  • Submitted drawings must have the child’s name, grade, and parent’s signature (authorizing the library to use the winning drawing)
  • Theme: Designs should showcase the fun and adventure of reading, books, Tyson Library, or community/All Together Now

Important Dates:

  • Monday, March 27 at 6 p.m. – Entries due in person to the front desk, via email to aly@tysonlibrary.org, or faxed to 812-750-8263
  • Friday, April 7 – Winners will be notified by end of day
  • Tuesday, April 25, time TBD – 2023 Bookmark Contest Winners Reception at Tyson Activity Center

Age/Grade Categories:

  1. Preschool
  2. Grades K-3
  3. Grades 2-3
  4. Grades 4-6
  5. Grades 7-9
  6. Grades 10-12

Call 812-689-5894 or email aly@tysonlibrary.org with any questions.

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Help Us Celebrate Library Lover’s Month at Tyson Library and You May Win a Prize!

February is Library Lover’s Month. To celebrate, Tyson Library will have a weekly drawing for prizes. To enter your name into our drawing, stop in and add a “Love Note” to our display by the check-out desk. These “Love Notes” are meant to simply be a way for our patrons to share the reasons why they love the library. Businesses in our community – like Emily’s Brew, Cecil’s Slice of Pie, Pat’s Bulk Food, and the Quilter’s Nook – have donated prizes for us to give to our patrons. We cannot thank them enough for their support and partnership.

We are also encouraging our patrons to help us test our match-making skills by checking out a book from our “Blind Date with a Book” displays! Haven’t you ever noticed how starting a new book is a lot like going on a blind date? You never know what kind of experience you are in for! If you check out a book from one of our special displays, your name will be entered into the drawing for a prize.


We, the Tyson Library staff, love being part of our community and being able to offer the resources of a modern library.
Established by its namesake, James Tyson, in the 1940s, Tyson Library’s original structure still stands as the base of our building. An addition in the early 2000s nearly doubled the size, allowing us to offer a larger collection and more space for programming and other largely public use.


Today, our shelves hold more than your traditional reading materials, and our team works to offer more than guidance navigating our collection. We aim to offer a safe, welcoming space for everyone in our community. We offer a variety of programming and activities for our patrons – at little to no cost to them. That being said, we are always open to new ideas for programs or feedback on existing ones! In January, we hosted a genealogist. For February, we have a forager, a nutritionist, and a crafter on the calendar. And, those are just for some of our adult programs.


Fostering a love of reading in children and adolescents is also important to us, but it isn’t just for the sake of reading to read. It’s important to us because of all the doors reading can open for anyone of any age. Tyson Library’s children and teen programming is meant to be fun and engaging. We hope to introduce our patrons to new topics – to get them curious. Then, they can decide if they want to learn more, to dive deeper. And, we’re here to guide them to the relevant resources if they need some help.


If you are looking for ways to show your local library some love this month (or any month, really), here are some suggestions:

  • attend a program
  • check out books and other materials
  • like their social media page and interact with their posts
  • donate funds or materials
  • simply thank them for their efforts.


Tyson Library is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Our programming schedule is available on our calendar page and we post updates to our Facebook page regularly. Please, do not hesitate to call us at 812-689-5894 or email info@tysonlibrary.org if you have any questions, comments, or program ideas.

We love hearing from our community, and we can’t wait to hear about why you love the library!

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Tyson Library hosts local author

Natalie Brinson met with library patrons for a meet and greet at Tyson Library this week. Brinson had copies of her recently published book Lessons of the White Oak: A Short Story available for purchase and signing.

The tales of a few woodland creatures contained in Brinson’s book capture what life is like on a farm from the perspective of a white oak tree. The white oak’s observations of these neighboring animals dig into some of life lessons we all learn, making this story great for readers of all ages. Brinson’s target audiences are young adults and teens.

Natalie Brinson meet and greet
Natalie Brinson, pictured above in the center with local patrons, signed copies of her recently published book during a meet and greet event at Tyson Library Wednesday, December 8.

 The author donated a signed copy of Lessons of the White Oak: A Short Story to Tyson Library following her book signing. It is available for check out now.

For more information on upcoming events at Tyson Library, go to www.tysonlibrary.org/events/ today!

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Tales from Tyson Library!

We have an array of news to share with you!

First and foremost, we have a new staff member joining our team! Miss Aly is now our children’s program coordinator! She has been with us since early this summer getting the hang of things! She is pleased to be joining our team and has lots of new ideas for our children’s programs! We can’t wait to see what she has planned! With that being said, our registrations for the school year programs are now open! Please register your child(ren) by coming in to fill out a registration form. Miss Aly has a new program starting this fall called Tyson Travelers! This club is for grades 1-6. We will meet monthly to explore different cultures and time periods through games, foods, and crafts. If you’re interested in this club for your child(ren) please make sure to register your child(ren) as spaces will fill up quickly.We are pleased to announce we are continuing Science Club, Krafty Kids, and Storytime! We are looking into other programs in the future and we hope to announce our programs here on the website as soon as we can. 

Don’t worry, Miss Donna is still at the library! She is now the cataloger for the library and will be processing all movies, books, and CD’s that come into the library for your convenience! 

Make sure to stay up to date with all of our great new items that Miss Donna catalogs by registering for our “Wowbrary”.

What is Wowbrary?

Wowbrary is a nonprofit service that provides you free weekly emails and RSS feeds about your local library’s most recent acquisitions. We’ve found that users of Wowbrary emails are both awed and excited when they discover their local public library’s abundance of new books, DVDs, and CDs.

Register Here: https://www.wowbrary.org/signup.aspx

-Sarah Bush

Cataloger, Community Relations, and Adult Program Coordinator