By Kathryn Johnson

Banned Book Week

Did you know that one third of the most challenged books in 2016 were comic books or graphic novels? Would it surprise you that the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual freedom recorded 323 complaints about library material in 2016? Can you believe that 323 complaints only constitutes about 20 percent of occasions when materials were challenged? 

To learn more about banned and challenged books, join us Sept. 25–30 when we celebrate Banned Book Week! To kick it off – starting Monday, Sept. 11, through Tuesday, Sept. 19 – we will be having a “Guess the Banned Book” contest where the winner gets a pack of four tickets to the Padres’ Sept. 24 game!

Also in celebration, we will be having a special Banned Book Storytime on Thursday Sept. 28 at 10:30 a.m., where we will read a variety of banned children’s books, sing songs and even do a banned book craft.  And on Tuesday, Sept. 26, we will be hosting a banned book bingo where kids will get the opportunity to win fun prizes and learn all about banned books. Finally, are you feeling dangerous?

Get busted for reading your favorite “banned” or “challenged” book from our display. Then pose for a mugshot in our interactive exhibit!

Storytimes

Yoga Storytime continues on Wednesday afternoons at 3 p.m. Children and their caregivers are welcome to join us for this movement and story program.

Don’t forget to join us for our other wonderful storytimes: Baby Storytime Mondays at 10 a.m., Toddler Storytime Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., Preschool Storytime Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and Pajama Storytime the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Summer Reading wrap up

This year’s Summer Reading Program, Read by Design was a great success! We had over 300 signups and almost 500 attendees at our Summer Reading Programs. We would like to thank everyone who participated and we can’t wait to do it again next summer.

Returning favorites

Teen Scene is back! Every Tuesday at 3 p.m. teens and tweens can join us for games, crafts, movies and a variety of other fun interactive activities.

Science Saturdays are also back! Join us on alternating Saturdays of the month at 10:30 a.m. for exciting, educational and hands on science experiments for the whole family.

Things to see at your library

National Hug Your Hound Day, was Sept. 10 but we are celebrating it all month long with a hounderific display of Dachshund collectables by our own library assistant, Suzanne.

Also on view, a historical stamp collection from the Santa Isabel Post Office. “Sports Art Specialist” Jesse Amaro returns to our gallery for September and October with some new portraits of your favorite athletes.

Fun no longer just for children        

Adults ages 18 and up will get their chance to explore their creative side, meet new friends and indulge self-expression at our new monthly program: Handmade @ your Library. Our first Handmade program will take place on Friday, Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. and participants will be making a magazine bowl. This event is free and supplies will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you at the library.

—Kathryn Johnson is managing librarian at the Allied Gardens / Benjamin Branch Library. Reach her at [email protected].