Volume 3 | Winter 2021-2022

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Hello, Comstock! Thanks for checking out our newest volume of the Comstock Township Library e-Newsletter! Winter can be a quiet time for many, but we wanted to make sure that there was something to do for everyone! We have a ton of great programs and services available to you this season, which you can check out below!

A Word from the Director: Emily Kubash

Hello! The library has a new resource available now called Niche Academy, which offers instructional videos for many of the library’s digital resources. Each Academy video provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate and use services such as Libby, Hoopla, and Tutor.com. In addition, there are videos available on topics such as learning to use Microsoft Word, Zoom, and much more. Some of the Academy tutorials are for databases offered through the statewide service, Michigan eLibrary (MeL) including: ·        NoveList Plus (a reader’s advisory site, similar to Good Reads) ·        Auto Repair Source (auto service and repair information) ·        LearningExpress Library (practice tests, skill building resources, and more)

Learn about these resources with the Academy videos and then visit the MeL databases directly through the link on our website. All Academy tutorials can be found by clicking the “How-To Videos” button located on the library’s website. If you’ve ever wanted to try reading an eBook on Hoopla but weren’t sure where to start, Niche Academy can help! If you prefer reading traditional books rather than eBooks, we’ve got you covered there too. The library has all the newest fiction and non-fiction books available for check out. You can browse our online catalog to see what’s available and place holds, or, if you’re not sure what you want to read, talk to one of our librarians or associates for some personalized reader’s advisory. Libraries offer a wide variety of materials and our staff can assist in finding titles that meet the needs and interests of you and your family. We LOVE to talk about books and would welcome the opportunity to provide you, or anyone in your family, with some hand selected titles.  Next time you visit the library, keep an eye out for our new “Staff Picks” bookmarks. Any book tagged with this bookmark is one that a staff member has read and enjoyed; it’s an easy way for staff to share favorite items with library patrons. May you and yours have a safe and peaceful winter.

-Emily

The Family Winter Reading Challenge is back!

We had so much fun with this last year that we've decided to bring it back again! This program runs January 1st -March 1st. We will post a Bingo sheet with more details just before the program begins. On this Bingo sheet will be library-related activities for your family to complete together. You can complete as many "bingos" as you are able to complete during the time frame. Turn in your Bingo sheets by the final day to be entered in a drawing for $500 toward a family trip! More details to come soon- check our social media and website in January for rules and your Bingo sheet!

Colt Cards are HERE!

We are so incredibly excited to announce that our Comstock Colt Cards have been expanded to include ALL Comstock Public School students! What is a Colt Card? This is a virtual library card that gives all Comstock Public Schools students access to our library materials. Students can check out three physical items (excluding mobile hotspots, launchpads, and storytime/discovery kits). This card also gives them access to digital resources like Hoopla and Overdrive. They only need to know their Comstock student ID or birthdate to check out materials. There are many more questions answered in our Colt Card Q&A, which you can read by clicking the link below: Colt Card Q&A

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Tutor.com Comstock Township Library has a FREE online service available to our patrons! Tutor.com is an online, live tutoring service that you can access by using a library computer OR by logging in through our website with your library card number. Our Colt Card holders can also use their student ID to login through our website! Tutor.com's live tutors are now available every day from 9 AM to midnight!

Storytimes are being revamped!

Our family storytimes go through the first week in December. Musical Mayhem goes through December 16th. All storytimes will resume in January! When we return in January, storytimes will look a little different. We're discontinuing our age-based storytimes, for three all-ages family storytimes! Musical Mayhem will continue as usual, but with an additional time at 11:30.

Our schedule in January will look like: Monday - Family Storytime at 10:30 AM Tuesday - Family Storytime at 10:30 AM Wednesday - Family Storytime at 10:30 AM Thursday - Musical Mayhem at 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM

*Due to rising infection rates, until further notice: all indoor programs will require participants age 3 and older to wear a mask. Outdoor events will not require masks.

Each year, the Township offices put out their North Pole mailbox for our local kids. This year, we're offering a letter-writing station for kids, with custom stationary and envelopes to write to Santa! Once their letter is written, kids can place it in the North Pole mailbox, which is located in the lobby of the building. Who knows... Santa may write them back!

Upcoming Events

Kids/Teens

*Due to rising infection rates, until further notice: all indoor programs will require participants age 3 and older to wear a mask.

December  December 2nd, 9th, and 16th at 10:30 AM - Musical Mayhem Storytime. Get ready to wiggle and rock with our music and movement program! Have fun with action songs, musical instruments, parachute time and a short story. Parents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too. This is a drop in program, ideal for ages 0-6.  December 7th @ 4 PM - Pages and Paws (Read to Chloe the Therapy Dog). Call the library to register for a spot for our one-on-one reading program. You and your child(ren) will get to read to a therapy dog, who loves cuddles and listening to stories! Registration open now. December 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th @ 10:30 AM - Drop-in STEAM stations. Bring your child in for sensory play and STEAM activities!  No registration required. December 8th @ 6 PM - Teen Advisory Group, ugly sweater-making party. Join Ms. Liz and the other Teen Advisory Group members as they make ugly sweaters and talk future programming. Refreshments provided. No registration required. December 10th @ 11 AM or 4 PM - Wooden Gingerbread Houses. Join Ms. Brenna and Ms. Liz to make wooden gingerbread houses! We provide paint and all other decorative items. Registration opened 11/26. December 11th @ 11 AM or 2 PM - Wooden Gingerbread Houses. Join Ms. Traci to make wooden gingerbread houses! We provide paint and all other decorative items. Registration opened 11/27.

December 14th at 6 PM - Minecraft Hour of Code. Join Ms. Faith as we journey through the world of Minecraft with code! We will be using a beginner tutorial through the Hour of Code website to take players Steve or Alex on an adventure. Registration is required, and each child must register individually. We will have six computers available for use, or let us know if you will be bringing your own device. Recommended for grades 2-5. Registration is open now. December 28th at 2:00 PM - Kids Candy Sushi. Join Ms. Sue to make candy sushi! All materials will be provided. Recommended for K-5. Registration is required, and each child must register individually. Spots are limited. Registration is required, and begins December 14th. December 28th at 4:00 PM - Teen Advisory Group, Teen Candy Sushi. Join Ms. Traci for Teen Advisory Group event- sushi making! All materials will be provided. Registration is required, and begins December 6th. December 28th at 6:00 PM - Star Wars Hour of Code. Join us as we journey through the world of Star Wars with code! We will be using a beginner tutorial through the Hour of Code website to program droids and create our own game in a galaxy far, far away. Registration is required, and each child must register individually. We will have six computers available for use, or let us know if you will be bringing your own device. Recommended for grades 2-5. Registration opens December 14th. December 30th at 11:00 AM - Kids Painting. Join Ms. Brenna for more painting! We will have pre-designed mini canvases for your child to make into a masterpiece! Registration is required, and begins December 16th. December 30th at 2:00 PM - Teen Painting. Join Ms. Traci and other Teen Advisory Group members for some fun canvas painting! Registration is required, and begins December 16th.

January All month long - Family Winter Reading! Take our Family Winter Reading challenge! One lucky family will win a $500 trip!! Stay tuned for our BINGO sheet and more details. Ends on March 1st. Week of January 3rd, 10:30 AM (Monday-Thursday) - Storytimes return!

January 8th at 11 AM - Disney Family Trivia. Join Ms. Brenna for a Disney Family Trivia game, with fun prizes awarded! Registration required, space is limited. January 11th at 6 PM - Teen Advisory Group. Join Ms. Traci for a fun TAG meeting, snacks provided. January 12th at 2 PM - Teen Advisory Group. This TAG meeting is for those students with early release. Snacks provided. January 13th at 6 PM- Family Night. Join Ms. Sue for food and fun! We'll have activities and a Jimmy Johns dinner for those families who join us. Can't join this month? Come to our February Family Night! No registration required. January 14th at 3 PM & 4 PM - Kids Monthly Craft: Valentines Day Cards. Join Ms. Brenna for a cute craft - making Valentine's Day Cards! Registration required. January 18th - Emoji Cookie Decorating. Stop in on this half-day for a drop-in program. We will have all the materials for your child to make their own emoji cookie! January 19th - Games and Snacks. Stop in on this half-day for a drop-in program. Join Ms. Sue for some games and snacks! January 20th - Super Mario Party Showdown. Stop in on this half-day for a drop-in program. Ms. Brenna has been practicing her Super Mario Party skills, and she wants you to come challenge her! Stop in before 5:00 if you want to try to beat her, and bring your friends!

January 21st at 6-8 PM - T.A.G. Nerf Wars. All middle and high schoolers (grades 6 and up) are invited to join the Teen Advisory Group and play Nerf Wars around the library after we close! Our lock-in will include pizza and sugary snacks. You may bring your own Nerf guns if you wish, or the library will supply you with one of our own. Registration is required for this program and a parent or guardian must sign a waver prior to drop off.  January 22nd at 11 AM - Saturday Storytime. Join Ms. Traci for a special Saturday Storytime! No registration required. January 31st - Valentine's Cards from the Library. Would your child love to get a hand-made Valentine's Day card in the mail from their friends at Comstock Township Library? Ms. Brenna makes cards for kids with a kind message from the Youth Department. Cards will be mailed out the week before Valentine's Day. Registration begins January 31st. Open to CTL patrons only. Spots are limited. February  All month long - Family Winter Reading! Take our Family Winter Reading challenge! One lucky family will win a $500 trip!! Stay tuned for our BINGO sheet and more details. Ends on March 1st.

February 5th and 19th, 11 AM - Saturday Storytime. Join Youth Department staff for a special Saturday Storytime! No registration required. February 15th at 6 PM - Teen Advisory Group. Join Ms. Traci for a fun TAG meeting, snacks provided. February 16th at 2 PM - Teen Advisory Group. Join Ms. Liz for a fun TAG meeting especially for early-release students, snacks provided. February Family Night - Date/Time TBD. Join Ms. Sue for another Family Night full of food and fun!

Adults

*Due to rising infection rates, until further notice: all indoor programs will require participants age 3 and older to wear a mask.

December December 9th at 5:30 PM - Adult Craft: Glitter Ornaments. In-person. We will be making ornaments with the interior covered in glitter. It's a great way to add a little extra sparkle to your holidays without the usual mess from glitter.  Registration is required for this free event and begins November 29th.  Week of December 13th - Pop-up Adult Craft: Beaded Snowflakes. Use wire forms and beads to make a beautiful beaded snowflake ornament. Registration and pickup begins December 13th.

January January 6th at 5:30 PM - DIY Birdseed Cakes. Even our feathered friends need a treat now and then! We will be using common household ingredients to make birdseed cakes.  Registration is required for this free event and begins December 27th on our website or by calling the library. January 11th at 1-2:30 PM - Crafternoons. Bring your current craft project into the library to get some feedback or just to have a more social crafting experience! No registration required. Week of January 17th - Adult Pop-up Craft: Pompom Penguins. Registration and pickup begins January 17th.

January 31st at 6:00 PM- Plaster Flower Decorated Jar Lids. See the beauty you can create using silk flowers and plaster!   Registration is required for this free event and begins January 24th on our website or by calling the library.

February February 8th at 1-2:30 PM - Crafternoons. Bring your current craft project into the library to get some feedback or just to have a more social crafting experience! No registration required. Week of February 14th - Adult Pop-up Craft: Yarn Hearts. Registration and pickup begins February 14th. February 22nd, Time TBD - Make Your Own Stamp. Keep an eye on the online Events Calendar on our website for more details!

Online Events Calendar

*All events/programs are subject to change without notice. *You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for communication from Comstock Township Library either during your library card application or by using the sign-up page on our website. If this email went to your "promotion" folder in Gmail, you can make sure it ends up in your primary folder by logging into your email on a computer and dragging this email into the primary folder. All future communication from us should then go directly there.