Registrations are now open!

This fall Herrick will be offering a science program for kids in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades called "Fun with Physics."  Miss Heather, a Hope student who has been with us in the past, will be the teacher for this hands-on class.  Unfortunately we have to limit the number in attendance so sign up today.  You may register your child here or give us a call at 616-355-3736.

We are also still taking registrations for Literacy Heroes training.  If you like to read with kids and have an hour or more each week to volunteer you could make a difference in a child's life!   Training will take place on Monday, September 23, at 7:00 pm.  You may register for the training session here or call 616-355-3736 and we will sign you up.

There's a fun family craft program coming up too.  Families will be able to submit a craft for this competition!  So put on your thinking caps and start getting some ideas together.  More details to come!

It's not too late!

Registrations for the children and teens reading programs will be available for most of the summer on our website or at the library.  We would like to encourage you to register your child, or set some reading goals for him/her, to help them keep their reading skills strong over the summer.  Make it fun! 

Story times continue through the summer and we are also offering some great special programs including a visit from the Traveling John Ball Zoo, Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Drummunity.  Get the details on our website or stop by to pick up an events calendar!

Keep ‘em Reading!

Do you have a child who hasn’t discovered how much fun it can be to read a good book?  Do they find reading a chore?  We have a a few programs designed to help them through the summer and keep them reading!  Both programs require preregistration.

Reading Buddies is a program where a young reader is paired with an older reading buddy (teen or adult) and they read and share books together once a week at the library.   

Growing Bookworms is a program designed to reinforce math and phonics skills for children going into 1st and 2nd grades.  We will read stories together and have fun with games and puzzles to review some basic skills.

Find out more and sign up on our website here, call the children’s department at 616-355-3736, or stop by and we would be happy to help you in person.

Note: We are still looking for a few more older reading partners for the Reading Buddies program.  Sign up here!

Get a Jump on Summer Reading!

Beginning Saturday, June 1, you can sign up and print out the reading charts right on our website!  This is a first for us!  We don’t officially start the programs until June 10 but children and teens will be able to get an early start and avoid waiting in line to register in person. Try it out and let us know what you think!

You can begin signing up for the reading programs in person at the library beginning June 10 or at our big kick-off party for the younger kids at Centennial Park on Tuesday, June 11.  See our website for details.

Can't make it on June 11?  Worry not.  We register kids for the reading programs through much of the summer.  Join us and register when you can, either on-line or here at the library! 

Bike Tech!

Did you know that we have some bicycle experts available to help you keep your bike in tip-top shape?  And it’s free!  They came last month and were a great hit.  Join us this month as they share their knowledge on bike mechanics and bike safety. 

Yes, you really get to bring your bicycle into the library and take it into the elevator to the lower level!!  Weird, eh?  Bring your bike to the May session of Bike Tech this Saturday, May 25 at 10:00 am., learn a bunch from our bike techies, and you may win an awesome tire valve light for your bike!  The bike doctors will be in to help you fix, maintain, or even customize your bike.

Read with Kids this Summer!

Do you like to read with kids?  Check out our 8-week Reading Buddies program for the summer!

We pair teens or adults with young readers, they meet weekly, and enjoy books together!  What could be better??  It’s great fun for all involved and it keeps the kids practicing their reading skills through the summer.

There are always loads of children who sign up for this but we would like to tap into more “big” buddies.    We have even added an evening session for those of you that work days.  We don’t like turning youngsters away! 

There is one required orientation session to show you some techniques to use as a reading partner.  Teens can pick up an application for this program in the Teen Department at the Main Library or at the North Side Branch. Teen applications are due by May 24.  Adults can sign up on our website here beginning May 13.

If you are interested in similar opportunities throughout the year you may want to consider becoming a Literacy Hero.  We begin our next training sessions on May 14.  Sign up here.

Tulip Time at the Library!

With Tulip Time comes our Herrick District Library Precision Cart Team!  They have been practicing so keep an eye out for them in Wednesday’s parade next week.  Librarians do like to have fun!

The library is also partnering with the Holland Museum this year to bring you two story and craft programs!  “Tulip Time Tales” will be performed at the Library and at the Holland Armory.  See our website here for dates and times.

Herrick Children's department will be at Kinderplaats again this year!  To fit with our Summer Reading theme, Dig Into Books!, children will have the opportunity to dig for golden nuggets and other small treasures.  

Hope to see your familiar faces as we are out and about the community the next couple of weeks.  Give us a shout and a wave!