It's a busy time in the Children's Room - storytimes, class visits and getting ready for our summer programs. This summer's theme is:


Registration for the summer reading program begins on June 13. Be sure to check our web site later in the month for detailed information about all our upcoming summer programs. Our first big event will be Yosi's "Friends around the World" concert on June 29. July events include a magic show and an animal show. These events are sponsored by our wonderful Friends of the Hamilton Township Library. In addition we will have storytimes, craft programs, and readers' theater.

Storytime Registration Begins Monday, April 12

Spring 2010 Story Programs

Baby Rock ‘n’ Rhyme: for babies 12 to 24 months
with parent or caregiver
Mondays: April 19, 26, May 3 & 10
Session A — 9:30 a.m. Session B — 10:15 a.m.
The program is designed for babies and their caregivers to attend together.

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Toddler Time for children 2 to 31/2 years
with parent or caregiver
Tuesdays: April 20, 27, May 4 & 11
Session A— 9:30 a.m. Session B—10:15 a.m.
Wednesdays: April 21, 28, May 5 & 12
Session C— 9:30 a.m. Session D—10:15 a.m.
The child must be 2 by the date of registration. No exceptions, please. This program is designed for the child & parent/caregiver to attend together. Wear comfortable clothing, and be prepared to participate!

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Storytime for children 31/2 to 5 years
April 22, 29, May 6 & 13
Session A— 10:00 a.m.
Session B— 1:45 p.m.
Due to space limitations, the child should be comfortable attending without his/her caregiver. However, caregivers are requested to remain in the library during the 30-minute program.

Registration Begins: Monday, April 12
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until all available openings are filled. In-person registration only, April 12—14. Beginning April 15, telephone registrations will be accepted. Parents must have a Hamilton Township Library card in order to register.

Drop In for a Spring Craft

April showers
bring
craft fun
@ the Library!

School-aged children are
invited to attend this “drop-in” craft program on Tuesday
April 13 from 3:30 until 5:00 pm.
in the Betty Brand Children’s Room.

Important Insurance Information for Parents

Many New Jersey families are facing difficult financial times. Libraries have been asked to make the following information available to parents:

NJ FamilyCare

With the recession hitting New Jersey families hard, smart ideas to meet their needs are more important now than ever. New Jersey’s public health insurance program, NJ FamilyCare, which includes Medicaid, provides free or low-cost health insurance for children whose parents do not have available or affordable employer insurance, and cannot afford to pay the high cost of private health insurance. There is limited coverage for certain low-income parents as well. NJ FamilyCare even provides some dental coverage.

Eligibility for NJ FamilyCare is based on income, not assets. It covers children 18 and younger living in households with income up to 350 percent of federal poverty level. This means that children in a family of four with annual income of $77,000 are eligible for NJ FamilyCare. And the monthly premiums are free for some families and very affordable for others. For example for a family of 4:
Family Care is free for uninsured kids in families with incomes below $44,000 a year
Families with incomes of up to $55,000 pay just $40 a month
Families with incomes of up to $77,000 still qualify, with premiums no higher than $130 a month

NJ FamilyCare enables parents to take their children for regular check-ups and preventive care for chronic diseases like asthma. As we all know healthy kids do better in school and parents do not lose time from work.

Applications for NJ FamilyCare and information about eligibility and the enrollment process is available at www.njfamilycare.org. Information provided to New Jersey Family Care is used only to enroll children and there are staff to assist non-English-speaking parents complete the application. Just call 1-800-701-0710.

For families who do not qualify for NJ FamilyCare there is NJ FamilyCare Advantage, which is administered by Horizon NJ Health. For more information about that program visit http://www.horizonnjhealth.com/members/advantage.html or call 1-800-637-2997.

If you have any questions, please call ACNJ at 973-643-3876 or email NJFamilyCare@acnj.org. The Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) is an independent organization advocating for the well-being of all New Jersey children

Spring Storytime Registration

Registration begins March 1 for our spring storytime programs - Baby Rock 'n' Rhyme, Toddler Time and Storytime.

For details go to: http://www.hamiltonnjpl.org/filestorage/119/425/March_story.pdf

Registration for January Programs

In-person registration begins January 4, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. for our winter story times. Telephone registrations will be accepted starting January 7. All programs begin the week of January 11. Information regarding dates and times will be available soon.

Winter Break at the Library

We will be having a Family Story Time for all ages on Tuesday, December 29 and a craft program for ages ages 5 to 9 on Wednesday, December 30. For more information click on the links or go to http://www.hamiltonnjpl.org/.

Happy Thanksgiving

May all our Hamilton families have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Enjoy the busy upcoming holiday season. Come to the library during the winter break for a special Family Story Time on December 29 at 2:00 p.m. and a craft program for children ages 5 to 9 on December 30 at 2:00 p.m. More information about the programs and when to register will be posted soon.

Parent Info - Social Networking for Kids?

This article from the Technology Section of cnn.com talks about younger children and social networking and might be of interest to parents.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/02/kids.social.networks/index.html

Prepare to Be Scared

Join us for

An Evening of Spooky Tales

featuring

The Garden State Storytellers' League

Friday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Free tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, October 13, in the Betty Brand Children's Room of the library.

Hamilton Public Library
1 Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619
609 581-4060
www.hamiltonnjpl.org

Readers Wanted

Come join us for Books & Stuff, a program for kids in grades 3 through 5. Talk about books you have read, find out what other kids are reading, get ideas on what to read next, and enjoy some snacks!

Our first meeting will be in the Children's Room on Tuesday, October 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call to register (609 581-4060).

Registration Begins October 13

In-person registration for our second session of storytime programs begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13. Phone registrations will be accepted starting Friday, October 16.

Baby Rock 'n Rhyme - for babies 12 to 24 months old, with parent or caregiver. This program is designed for babies and their caregivers to attend together Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate!

Mondays: October 19, 26 & November 2, 9

Session A - 9:30 a.m.
Session B - 10:15 a.m.

Toddler Time - for children 2 to 3 1/2 years old with parent or caregiver. This program is designed for the child and parent/caregiver to attend together. Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate!

Tuesdays: October 20, 27 & November 10, 17
Session A - 9:30 a.m.
Session B - 10:15 a.m.
Wednesdays: October 21, 28 & November 4, 18

Session A - 9:30 a.m.
Session B - 10:15 a.m.

Storytime - for children 3 1/2 to 5 years. The child should be comfortable attending without his or her caregiver. However, we request that caregivers remain in the children's room during the half-hour program.

Wednesdays: October 21, 28 & November 4, 18

Session A - 1:45 p.m.
Thursdays: October 22, 29 & November 5, 12
Session B - 10:00 a.m.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until all available openings are filled. In-person registration only, October 13 to 15. Beginning October 16, telephone registrations will be accepted. Parents must have a Hamilton Township Library card in order to register.

September is National Library Card Month

Get the Smartest Card @ your library®

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. Every family member should have the smartest card of all – a library card.

Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning.

Observed since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. So stop by the library to get a card for each family member today.

Registration for Fall Programs Begins September 8

Registration begins Tuesday, September 8, for the following fall programs:

Baby Rock 'n Rhyme - for babies 12 to 24 months old, with parent or caregiver. This program is designed for babies and their caregivers to attend together Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate!

Mondays: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5

Session A - 9:30 a.m.

Session B - 10:15 a.m.

Toddler Time - for children 2 to 3 1/2 years old with parent or caregiver. This program is designed for the child and parent/caregiver to attend together. Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate!

Tuesdays: September 15, 22, 29 & October 6

Session A - 9:30 a.m.

Session B - 10:15 a.m.

Wednesdays: September 16, 23, 30 & October 7

Session A - 9:30 a.m.

Session B - 10:15 a.m.

Storytime - for children 3 1/2 to 5 years. The child should be comfortable attending without his or her caregiver. However, we request that caregivers remain in the children's room during the half-hour program.

Wednesdays: September 16, 23, 30 & October 7

Session A - 1:45 p.m.

Thursdays: September 17, 24 & October 1, 8

Session B - 10:00 a.m.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until all available openings are filled. In-person registration only, September 8 - 10. Beginning September 11, telephone registrations will be accepted. Parents must have a Hamilton Township Library card in order to register.

Summer Reading Program Ends August 15!

Participants must complete check-in #4 by August 15 in order to be eligible for the raffle. The Friends of the Hamilton Township Public Library have generously donated 30 $10 Barnes & Noble gift cards to be raffled off. You must have completed the reading program by August 15th in order to be eligible. You can check-in after the 15th but you will miss the raffle.

Congratulations to everyone who completed the 2009 Summer Reading Program, "Be Creative @ Your Library." Below is a photo of the artwork of some of the over 600 children who participated this year.

Welcome to our new blog!
Watch this space for information about fall programs.