We have dozens of creative, fun and free programs going on throughout the summer. From the “Ups and Downs of Roller Coaster Physics” to “Terrace Tales” to “Animal Magic”, come and Dig into Fun at your library!

Allergic to fur? Barking too noisy? Snakes too scary? Claws too sharp? Create a pet rock on Thursday, July 18 from 2-3:30 pm. It is the perfect silent pet! All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Youth Department has over 20,000 picture books!  And, as your children grow, there are thousands more Beginning-to-Read books, and upwards of 25,000 chapter books.  With so much to choose from, your child is sure to find a favorite!

My name is Jen Taggart and I am the Assistant Department Head of Youth Services. I started out as a part-time youth services librarian at the Bloomfield Township Public Library in June, 2001, when my son was just over 3 months old. In the past 12 years here I have especially enjoyed doing story times, book discussions, special programs, and most of all developing the Special Needs Collection in the Youth Room. In 2009 I was incredibly honored (and taken by surprise!) to be awarded the Michigan Library Association Children’s Services Division Award of Merit. At home, I enjoy spending time with my husband, son and daughter. We also have a pet guinea pig named Mr. Biggles! When I’m not at the library, I love decorating, trying new foods, reading, running and traveling to new places.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Y FICTION PAL) is the story about 10 year old Auggie Pullman. Told in Auggie’s voice, along with the voices of family members and friends, this story is an inspiration for everyone. Auggie was born with a severe and rare facial deformity and has been homeschooled up until now. He bravely enters the world of 5th grade in a middle school. It is a year of rejection, kindness, cruelty, courage, and triumphant wonder.

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein (E STE) is a heartwarming picture book that shows how one little girl’s smile can change the whole world.

Powerless by Matthew Cody (J FICTION COD) Even if you are not a superhero fan, you will be captivated by the mystery behind the super kids of Noble’s Green, Pennsylvania. After moving to this small town, Daniel tries to uncover the secret to his new friends’ super powers and why they mysteriously lose them when they turn thirteen.

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh (J BIOGRAPHY EARHART)  This is a beautifully illustrated account of Amelia Earhart's dangerous 1932 flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland, in which she survived bad weather and a malfunctioning airplane.

You Are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell (CHILD CD 781.62 MIT) This children’s CD is a wonderful compilation of “feel good” folksy tunes (by my favorite children’s musician!) that the whole family will love.

Bloomfield Township Public Library is happy to announce Zinio our new digital magazine service!  Zinio is perfect for your new Ipad, Iphone or android device!  It is so easy to use and you can keep all your favorite issues in your Zinio app indefinitely!  Zinio gives you access to about 200 magazines like Rolling Stone, O: the Oprah Magazine and Newsweek!  Try it out today!

Dive Beneath the Surface
2013 Summer Reading Program for Adults
June 17—August 9   Read and Win Prizes Register for the Summer Reading Program and receive your first of six specialized Summer Reading Bibliographies over the course of the reading program. You may read anything you want. Explore a new author or reading genre. Delve into a subject you have always wanted to know more about. Dive into some great books all summer long! Registration information. Book Review Submission Form Read at least three great books and submit reviews online. All submitted book reviews will register you to win our Grand Prize, a Kindle e-Reader, at the end of the summer! The more reviews you submit, the better your chances are of winning. All book reviews must be submitted by 3:45 p.m. on August 9, to be eligible to win the Kindle e-Reader. Attend programs for an extra chance to win great prizes! While anyone can participate in our Summer Reading program, only Bloomfield Township residents are eligible for prizes. You will need a valid Bloomfield Township Public Library card to be registered for our Kindle giveaway.

Don't forget our great programs too! 

Cranbrook Gardens in Depth – Guided Tours  Wednesday, June 19 at 10 a.m.  and Monday, July 8 at 10 a.m.

 In the Dugout with Rick Ferrell and the Detroit Tigers Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. 

Beneath the Surface of Folk Music: Those Were the Days with San and Laz Slomovits Friday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. 

Beneath the Surface of Writing Horror Fiction with Gerald Rice Thursday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. 

Hidden Depths of the Great Lakes with David Trotter Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. 

Beneath the Surface Board Game Wrap-Up Party Friday, August 9 from 2-4 p.m.  

Beneath the Surface of Ebooks—Drop-In Downloadable Classes July 10 and July 24 from 1-3 p.m.

Are you wondering where all the fireworks will be held this summer?  Check out the Michigan Fireworks website and find out all the dates!  Even if you are in Traverse City or Port Huron, you can check this website!

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. There are close to 22.3 million Americans, age 40 and older, with cataracts. More than half of all Americans will have cataracts by age 80. Prevent Blindness America offers tips about prevention and information about surgery. You may also want to investigate our Low Vision Tools and Aids VITALITY Kit. It contains several different types of magnifiers and a large print calculator! Our Low Vision Games VITALITY Kit contains games specifically designed for persons with low vision!

Children ages birth through eighth grade are invited to DIG INTO READING! Every participant sets his/her own reading goal, making the program both fun and encouraging. Each child who reaches their goal wins a prize and is entered into the grand prize drawing. As they work toward their goal, children can attend cool programs, enter weekly drawings, and discover a world of excitement at the library! Our kick-off event is Monday, June 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m. It is an evening filled with fun for the whole family. We look forward to seeing you then, and don't forget to DIG INTO READING!

The Youth Department has its own terrace! Located at the back of the room near the biography collection, the Youth terrace is a great place to let your little ones get out some of their energy, soak up some sunshine, and share a good book.

In almost nine years at the Bloomfield Township Public Library, and in my previous position as a school librarian, I have enjoyed story times, programs, finding just the right book for a young reader, and working with an outstanding group of colleagues. I love literature, summer, music, games, and grammar. I met my husband rock climbing!  We are now enjoying our grandchildren. I travel often - for enrichment and recreation as well as to visit my scattered family. I have looked into the crater of Mt. Vesuvius, ridden my bike across the Brooklyn Bridge, lost my passport to street thieves in Barcelona, swum in the Aegean Sea, and worked on damaged houses after Hurricane Katrina. I look forward to more adventures and to hearing about yours!

Mrs. Telford Recommends:

Reading poetry with your children is not only fun, but also will heighten their sense of language and expand their imaginations. We have many poetry anthologies, and also picture books created from individual poems. Along with new works, look for poems you remember from your childhood.  There is a special joy in sharing your literary experiences with a new generation.

A Family of Poems, my favorite poetry for children (J808.81 KEN) and Poems to Learn by Heart, selected by Caroline Kennedy.

If You See a Fairy Ring (J821.008)

When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six, by A.A. Milne (J821 MIL)

The Dream Keeper and other poems, by Langston Hughes (J811.52 HUG)

Hailstones and Halibut Bones, adventures in poetry and color, by Mary O’Neill (J811.54 ONE)

A Child’s Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson (J821.8 STE); some of the poems have been made into separate books, such as My Shadow (E STE) and Block City (J821 STE)

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost (J811.52 FRO)

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (J811.3 LON)