Livingston Library Community,
I miss you. And I’m sure some of you are starting to miss the sense of community and connection and inspiration you get from your visits to the library. From musical performances to creative arts workshops, the Livingston Public Library prides itself in offering diverse programming that inspires individuals to create. Now, more than ever, it is important to stay connected to the things that bring you joy. Although the physical doors to our library may be closed, the Livingston Virtual Library’s doors are open, and our librarians are finding new ways to offer you book clubs, music, and crafting and inspiration. Here are some ways that you can bring a bit of library life into your home.
Book Clubs:
Are you missing all the fun book clubs that the Livingston Public Library normally offers? If so, join us on Wednesday, April 8th on our Facebook page for a virtual book chat experience. “Drop-in” between the hours of 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, find the book chat post, and participate in a discussion with librarians and other patrons about all things bookish. There will be pre-made prompts that you can respond to at your leisure, and you can chat as much or as little as you want. There’s no need to have read a certain book, you’ll be able to chat about whatever you have read, are currently reading, or are looking to read in the future. It will be a great way to meet and engage with other book lovers.
Children are also able to participate in virtual book clubs! Our X-treme Readers 4th & 5th Book Club met this past Tuesday on Zoom to discuss Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Children also voted on our next read, a new book, the first in the Secrets of the Sands middle grade adventure series, The Lost Scroll of the Physician, available on Hoopla. To participate in the group’s virtual April 28th meeting, register here. And 2nd & 3rd graders can join the fun too! The Yakety Yak Book Club is meeting for two sessions, 4:00 PM & 4:30 PM online on April 14. Children can choose any graphic novel to read and discuss with the group. If you’re looking for a new graphic novel to read, remember you can borrow one from the Library’s digital collections. Register for Yakety Yak here.
Creative Arts:
For those looking to get their “crafting” fix, the Livingston Virtual Library subscribes to Creativebug, an online crafting resource that provides video tutorials, step by step instruction, and inspiration for a variety of crafting projects. The Livingston Librarians have also been providing certain programs online. Adults who enjoyed stopping into the library to take home weekly Reflective Journaling worksheets, can look on the Livingston Library Blog every Monday for new weekly journaling sheets. Children and Teens who enjoyed painting workshops with Youth Services Librarian, Gina, can also explore how to create beautiful pieces of art with tutorials on our YouTube Channel.
Music:
For those missing music, Hoopla Digital offers many musical albums that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. This curated list of “live albums” offers some suggestions of albums you may enjoy available to borrow from Hoopla. Go ahead, download the album, press play, and close your eyes to be transported. For children, we are also offering Musical Storytime with Guitar Joe on our YouTube page! Here children can practice directions with R.E.M.’s “Stand,” or a musical version of “Purple Coyote,” by Jean-Luc Cornette.
Stay tuned for more great things coming from the Livingston Virtual Library!