Share Your Story - one year later

One year ago today, many of us went to work or school as "usual" for the last time for quite some time.  Others were already in the midst of significant changes as essential workers.  

The last year has been challenging for all of us - in different ways and to different degrees - but we have all been affected. 

We invited children and teens to "Share Their Story" with us last summer and are reaching out again as we've passed the one-year mark of living with the changes resulting from COVID.   Some of the responses we received last year are here.  

Our original post from last year is below.  We invite you to share again - anything from any time in the last year.  We'll compile all of these into a book at the library and share some (with permission) online.  

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.

Saturday Stories: Valentine's Day

Our theme for Saturday Stories on February 13 will be Valentine's Day.  We'll read books about Valentine's Day and will have craft packets available for you to pick up from the library and create at home.

Saturday Stories are planned for preschoolers and early elementary ages.  All ages are welcome. 

To participate, please register here.  We'll send you the Zoom link and have a craft set ready for you to pick up.

Youth Media Awards 2021

Each year the American Library Association recognizes outstanding youth books, audiobooks, videos, and more with a variety of awards. The Youth Media Awards were announced on Monday.

A complete list of this year's winners is here.  

To see the books our library owns, you can search our catalog here and type Youth Media Awards 2021 in the search box.  If you see a book you'd like to read and we don't own it, let us know here. We'll order what we can, and help you find it through MeLCat if we can't.  

Our library's history

Do you know where our first library building was located? Or how many books were in the library when it first opened?  You can read about our library's history in these Way Back When articles by Warren Hale.

Click on the images below to open pdfs of the articles.

Saturday Stories

 Saturdays, October 17 & October 31

10:30 A.M.

on Zoom

planned for preschool through 2nd grade
all ages welcome

Please register here.

Saturday Stories will be held on Zoom at 10:30 A.M. on the Saturdays listed below. We will add additional dates as we schedule them.

These events are planned for preschoolers through early elementary ages. All ages are welcome.

We'll read 1 or 2 picture books and participate in related activities. Craft projects will be available for you to pick up from the library and take home to make.

Saturday Stories with Milan Area Fire Department

Saturday, October 17

We'll read a book about firefighters and then a Milan Area Fire Department firefighter will take us on a virtual tour of the fire station and talk about fire safety.

Take home crafts will be available to pick up during any of our Curbside Pickup hours beginning on Monday, October 12. Crafts will include a cardstock fire hat to color and wear, a cut/color/paste fire truck craft, and additional fire-themed activity pages.

Saturday Stories: Halloween

Saturday, October 31

We'll read 1 or 2 fun books about Halloween, sing a Halloween song, and participate in other Halloween-themed activities.  

Crafts will be available to pick up during any of our Curbside Pickup hours beginning on Wednesday, October 21. Crafts will include a paper spider project that can be worn as a hat or set on a surface, a paper pumpkin craft, and additional Halloween-themed activity pages.

Please register here.

Back to School

 

We wish all students, teachers, parents, and caregivers a great start to the school year!

If you're looking for books about school - starting school, being in school, anything about school - you can request a personalized Book Bundle here or email us at youth@milanlibrary.org and we'll choose books for you to check out through Curbside Pickup.

If you're looking for books about any subject to support your child's learning, you can also request a Book Bundle or email us for help choosing those books, too.

Library Card Sign-up Month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. We are celebrating both signing up for and using library cards this month.

Do you need a library card? 
See more information and sign up here.  

Do you know what you can check out with your library card? 
This month, we’re highlighting 30 things you can check out – one for each day of the month.  See our first set below; we'll add a new set each week.  You can see more information about everything you can do with your library card here.  

If you'd like to check out any of these items, you can:

• Reserve items in our catalog: milan.agverso.com.
• Request youth items: bit.ly/YouthBookRequest
• Email youth@milanlibrary.org.

Did your child or teen get a library card or use a library card (their own or their adult's) this month? 
Enter our prize drawing here.

We hope to see you for Curbside Pickup this month!

Some of our previous and current library cards.