We're just batty about bats

Wow!  We had our kick-off program for summer reading last Friday.  Sharon Peterson of Incredible Bats did two shows for us.  At Asbury we had 105 people!!  In Holy Cross, there were 35.  People of all ages came to see her Egyptian fruit bats.  After the Asbury program, I got to pet one of them.  I'm not especially fond of bats, but this guy was so soft and so cute. 

Summer reading is off and running.  Be sure to bring sign up.  There are programs for all ages at all our locations.  Check out our website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for program flyers and event details. 

Remember, every child who completes their July reading calendar goals will receive a free paperback book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library.  It is so good to have Friends.

The big announcement is that we will be giving away 7 color Nooks for summer reading grand prizes!!!  Adults can register and have a chance to win one in June and one in July.  At the end of July, we will give away one at each branch for the kids.  These prizes are made possible by generous donations from Dubuque Bank and Trust, American Trust and Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank, and J.P. Scherrman.  Many thanks for supporting our libraries and expanding horizons for our communities.

The next event you have to put on your calendar is to bring your child or grandchild to the Real Science program at your local branch. 

Monday – July 16th - NICC/Peosta Branch

Tuesday – July 17th - Drexler/Farley Branch

Wednesday – July 18th - Epworth Branch

Thursday – July 19th - Holy Cross Branch

Friday – July 20 - Asbury Branch

All programs are at 1:30 p.m.  No registration is required.  The programs are free and open to the public. 

Each program will be an exciting, hands-on experience designed to fire up kids about science. The programs will present science experiments from five new science kits acquired by the library through a grant from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering-Chicago Section).  Come to the program closest to you!

Our Real Scientist is David Christ, NICC Peosta graduate and 2012 National NASA Aerospace Scholar.  David has just returned from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California where he was involved in creating a robot for Mars exploration!! 

David will share with kids some electrifying experiments that may even stand your hair on end.  He will explain the new kits and the many experiments you and your child can do at home. 

Every student who attends will create an amazing project to take home and receive a Real Science certificate and portfolio. 

Following the program series, the science kits will be available for check out from Dubuque County branch libraries. The kits include instructions for performing all the experiments.

Presented by Club STEM of Northeast Iowa Community College/Peosta.  Sponsored by a grant from IEEE-Chicago Section and Dubuque County Library.

I hope you are as excited as I am about what's happening at Dubuque County Library.

Tomorrow I am headed up north to spend a week with our grandson and family at a small lake resort near Rhinelander, WI.  I intend to spend lots of time playing Chutes and Ladders and reading.   Happy trails!
Dawn