Weekly Challenge 6: Scavenger Hunt

This week's challenge is to go on a scavenger hunt. You can try one of these or create your own.  

Scavenger hunts can be fun for the entire family. Choose one that interests your family and enjoy finding things together. Older children and teens may want to incorporate photography and take pictures of what they find.  

Teens (6th - 12th grade), can also participate in MI Library Quest, a virtual scavenger hunt happening this month.  See details here.  

Outdoor scavenger hunt

source: South Brunswick Public Library

source: funathomewithkids.com

Indoor scavenger hunt

source: South Brunswick Public Library

Alphabet scavenger hunt

Write each letter of the alphabet on a piece of paper - or on your phone, tablet, or other device.  Find something that starts with each letter

Color scavenger hunt

Write the names of colors on a piece of paper - or on your phone, tablet, or other device.  Find something that is each color.

Make your own scavenger hunt

Everyone in the family can add a few things to look for.  Write or draw them and see what you can find!

Weekly Challenge 4: Names in Nature

This week's challenge is Names in Nature.

Take a walk outside and either:

• find the letters of your name in what you see around you.  Perhaps tree branches look like the letter A or a water puddle looks like an O.  Take a picture of each letter of your name.
  
• collect things from your nature walk - twigs or leaves that are on the ground. When you get home, write your name on a piece of paper and put the items you collected on top of the letters to create your name.  

Photo source: https://www.poudrelibraries.org/

How do I find books when I can't see them in the library?

Curbside Pickup is available for you to check out books, DVDs, and other items from the library.  We know it can be challenging to find what you're looking for without being in the library to browse through our shelves.  Here are some ways you can find items.

1. If you know exactly what you're looking for, you can search for and reserve it in our catalog here. 
   
   If you don't remember your password, you should be able to send a password reminder or reset to your email address. If that doesn't work or you'd like us to reset it for you, please email youth@milanlibrary.org.
   
   
2. You can also search our catalog for a topic you're interested in.  You can narrow down the results by area of the library (children, teen, adult) and other criteria (fiction or nonfiction, books or audiobooks, etc.)  
   
   This video will provide tips for searching our catalog for children's items:
   
   
   
     
   
   And this video provides tips for searching by Guided Reading Level.  We have a lot of books in our library that don't have a level assigned in our catalog, but could be great books for your child.  This search will give you some ideas. Please let us know if you'd like other suggestions.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. You can fill out a Book Bundle request letting us know what children or teens would like to read and we will choose books for you to check out.  See more information and fill out the form here. 
   
   
4. We periodically include pictures and videos of new items on our social media accounts and in our youth newsletters.  You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for our children's newsletter and TNT (Teen & Tween) newsletter to see those updates. 
   Update: A Facebook album with new book images is here and we have started a playlist for videos of new books here.
   
   
5. You can email us with any questions: youth@milanlibrary.org.

Weekly Challenge 3

The children's challenge this week is to write a letter or draw a picture and send it to someone you know. 

The TNT challenge is to write a text message conversation between two characters in a book you have read.

Children, write a letter to or draw a picture for anyone you know and send it to them. You can send it as a physical letter or take a picture of it and email it to someone - a family member, a friend, anyone you know! See if they write back.  

TNTs (6th - 12th grade), see details here.

And, last week's Share Your Story challenge also continues through July 15.  See details here. 

Weekly Challenge 2: Share Your Story

This week’s challenge is to Share Your Story.

The past few months have been unusual for all of us. School buildings closed. Many businesses closed. We have done school and work from home.  Activities and events have been canceled. Being home all the time may have inspired you to get creative and find new things to do that you wouldn’t have usually done.

We invite you to share your story with us.  We will compile these stories into a book at the library. 

You can send us anything you'd like to share - photographs, drawings, writings - anything that shares your experience and daily life during the pandemic.

If you need ideas, here are a few suggestions:

What did you do that you wouldn't have done on a "normal" day?
What did you not do that you would have done on a "normal" day?
What do you like or not like about being home instead of at school?
How are you keeping in touch with family and friends while you can't visit them in person?
Have you done something to help someone else?
Has someone done something to help you?
Have you missed an event during this time?
Did you celebrate a birthday in a different way?
What are you looking forward to doing after we return to "normal?"

What will you keep doing even after we return to "normal?"

The following two resources provide additional ideas – either for Share Your Story or just for yourself.

My Covid-19 Time Capsule
by Long Creations
Journal-type pages for children to document this time.
My Lockdown Diary
by Stephen McCarthy
Prompts for writing and drawing during this time of no school and social distancing.

You can send information to us for our Share Your Story book

• here - A Gmail account is required. You'll upload your submission directly on that page.
• Email us at youth@milanlibrary.org and then complete this form.
• Bring information to the library once we reopen.  We can scan your documents if you'd like to keep the originals.

As a thank you for participating, one person who shares their story will win a gift card to a Milan business. Since this challenge is a little bigger than our usual weekly challenges, we’ll give you some extra time and have the drawing on July 15. 

We hope you enjoy this challenge.  We look forward to seeing your stories!

Curbside Pickup Service

Curbside Pickup Service will be available beginning on Monday, June 22.

If you have already seen Curbside information on our website, you can skip to the youth-specific part of this page here.  The rest is general information repeated from our website.


Here are the basics:

• Reserve or request items.
• Wait for notification that items are ready.
• Come to the library during our current hours (see below) and call us from your vehicle.  Our phone number is on the signs outside.
• Library staff will bring items out to you and place them in your trunk or on the curb.

The details:

WHAT HOURS IS CURBSIDE SERVICE AVAILABLE?

Updated hours beginning 8/12:

Monday 10:00 - 4:00    
Tuesday 1:00 - 7:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 4:00
Thursday 1:00 - 7:00
Friday 10:00 - 4:00
Saturday 10:00 - 4:00


HOW DO I REQUEST ITEMS FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP?  

You can:  

• Place a reserve on items through our online catalog here (most efficient).
  
  
• Fill out the form here for help choosing books for children and teens. 
  
  
• Call the library during open hours at 734-439-1240 to request items. 
  
  
• Email the library at info@milanlibrary.org.

HOW DO I REQUEST ITEMS IN THE CATALOG FOR PICKUP?

• Go to milanlibrary.org and click on the Catalog/My Account link or go directly to our catalog here.
  
  
• Log in to your account with your library card number and password.  If you don’t recall your password, give us a call during open hours and we will help you reset it.
  
  
• Find the item(s) you are interested in and click on “place a hold.”  You'll see a pop-up box that says Reserve Placed when it has been reserved.

HOW DO I CHOOSE BOOKS IF I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR?

• You can fill out the Book Bundle form here for youth staff members to choose books for children and teens.  Let us know what subjects and formats you like and how many items you want.  We'll select items for you based on the information you provide. 
  
  
• You can see some book lists here. 
  
  
• You can search our catalog for new items, items on a subject of interest, and more. See tips for getting the best results when you search our catalog here:
  
  
  
  
  
• If you have questions, please email us at youth@milanlibrary.org.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP? 

• Please allow 48 hours for items to be located and placed on hold for you.
  
  
• We will call you or email you to let you know that your items are ready for pickup.  

HOW DO I PICK UP MY STUFF? 

• AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED YOUR ITEMS ARE READY, pull up near (but not right in front of) the book drop box.
  
  
• Call the library (734-439-1240) to let us know you’re here and your name.
  
  
• A staff member will bring out your items in a bag and can place them either in your trunk (please open when you arrive) OR at the curb near your car. 
  
  
• Staff will stay 6 feet away from you at all times and will wear masks.  We ask that you stay in your car and/or wear a mask if you need to get out of it for any reason.

HOW DO I RETURN ITEMS TO THE LIBRARY? 

• As the library building is still closed, ALL ITEMS MUST BE RETURNED IN THE BOOK DROP outside the library.
  
  
• If you have an oversize item to return, please call us to make special arrangements. 
  
  
• This is so that we can quarantine returned items for the appropriate period of time as determined by the CDC and other authorities. 

Drop box reopens today

Our drop box will be open starting today, Wednesday, June 17.

You can begin returning your checked out books and other items to the drive-up drop box. 

Please note:

• Items will not be checked in the same day they are returned.
• Items will be quarantined before being checked in.  The amount of time will be determined by recommendations by the CDC and other authorities.  At this time, items will be quarantined for four days. (updated 7/21/2020)
• Items will remain on your account until after the 4-day quarantine period. (updated 7/21/2020)
• Fines will not be charged for this time.  Items will be backdated to March 13 (the last day the library was open) until July 18. (updated)   
• If you have any questions, please email us at info@milanlibrary.org.

See more about our reopening plan here.