Why is the Library an important place?

This week, Librarian Sandra Brautigam explains why it’s important for parents to expose their children to a variety of reading materials. She says, “Exposure to stories and their related life concepts have been found to provide life-long advantages. Anyone can help children by reading to them or with them a few minutes each day. It could actually change their life by improving their chance of success in school and later life.”

Sandra continues, “The Canyon Lake Library is proud of being part of keeping those parents, grandparents, older siblings and friends supplied with stories to read to those developing minds as they grow to become readers themselves. The cost of having a variety of weekly stories that grow with the child and their interests can be a burden on a new family. The library understands this commitment to the community and how the free Riverside County Library card supports children and families in those critical first five years of brain development.”

“It’s not just books for kids,” Sandra says. “It is one-on-one with mom or dad, adventures with story characters, and discussions with adults about what each child feels and how they think the story will develop. To us it is learning vocabulary, concepts and giving small children the chance to use the vocabulary they have learned and to think, feel and become their unique person in the loving confines of Mommy or Daddy’s lap.”

Although some people believe libraries are becoming obsolete because of the internet, others know that’s far from true. Libraries are more than a depository of information. A Pew Research Survey (September 15, 2015) had “two -thirds (65 percent) of all of those 16 and older say that closing their local public library would have a major impact on their community.”

One of the beloved Library activities is happening today, April 8, at 11:30 a.m. when Miss Ginny has her Preschool Craft and Story Time. This week’s theme is “Birds and Rainbows.” This every-other-week story time includes music and craft for preschool age children.

Teens will meet at 4 p.m. today, April 8, for the “Perks of being in a Book Club.” The teen book club meets every second and fourth Friday, and is open to new teens wishing to read and discuss books.

Monday April 11, at 4 p.m., the Youth Leadership Program will conduct its third meeting. This monthly program is sponsored by the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce Toastmasters and helps teens work on impromptu speaking.

Wednesday, April 13, at 11 a.m. the Canyon Lake Knitters will explore projects that can be created with yarn and knitting needles. Beginners and new-bees are welcome.

The Canyon Lake Library is located inside the City Hall building. It’s open Mondays, 10 to 7, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 to 6, and Saturdays 10 to 3. It’s closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Canyon Lake Library is a member of the Riverside County Library System (www.rivlib.net) honoring cards and returns from other affiliated libraries. It has a Facebook page. For more information, call 951-244-9181.