Wow! Is it really August already? Even though Summer may be winding down, the Adel Public Library still has some great activities for children this month.

Our Annual Lego Building Contest is set for Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 10-11 a.m. No doubt there will be fierce competition as boys and girls build their masterpieces.

Prizes will be given in various categories. Children may bring their own legos or use the library’s legos. No registration is required.

Later that afternoon, children and caregivers are invited to the Annual American Girl Tea Party to be held in the library community room.

This will be a dress-up occasion, boys and girls, so put on your best and come enjoy a craft, fancy foods and other fun.

Children are asked to bring their American Girl Doll or their favorite doll or stuffed animal. Please register at the front desk (adults as well as children) by Friday, Aug. 6 or call 993-3512.

It’s almost here! The Annual Friends of the Library Used Book Sale will be held on Sweet Corn Days Saturday, Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the library community room.

Area residents have been generously donating books all year so you just might find that special book you’ve been looking for.

If you are a Friends of the Library member, you may shop during Friends Day on Friday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone who is not a member may join that day for $5.

Proceeds from the sale will help fund the 2011 Summer Reading Program for children.

Kids are invited to a “Hunger Games” party on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. The event is based on the popular teen series by Suzanne Collins. The final book in her Hunger Games series, “Mocking Jay,” will be released that day and a copy of the book will be given away in a drawing during the party.

One Preschool Story Time will be held during August. The Dallas County Conservation office will come on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. to engage children in activities with a Native American theme.

Back by popular demand is our special Silent Auction. Bidding begins Monday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. and ends Friday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. So far we have some great items up for bids:

• 1950’s U of I homecoming pin
• A Nov. 6, 1937 homecoming program listing Nile Kinnick as quarterback
• Fenton plates
• Boyd’s Bear jacket
• Newly crocheted afghans
• Frank Miller framed print
• Stamp collection
• Signed copy of “A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley
• Collectible photo and postcard albums

We welcome more items – anything that people would enjoy bidding on. Proceeds will be used for special library projects.

Stop by the library and see the new children’s furniture purchased with money earned from our garage sales and partially funded by the Friends of the Library

Other monthly activities:

• Evening Book Club, Thursday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. Book selection: “Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
• Garage Sale, Friday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Saturday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m. until noon
• Brown Bag Book Club, Tuesday, Aug. 31, noon. Book selection: “Lillian’s Legacy” by Carroll McKibbin

The Adel Public Library also offers the following services:

• CD & DVDs cleaned for $1 per disk.
• Free internet & WiFi access
• Community Room is free for non-profits. Call 993-3512 for more information. No more Sunday bookings as of August 1 due to budget cuts. The staff apologizes for any inconvenience.
• Study Rooms are free to use.
• Exercise Class three times a week at 9 a.m. – free
• Library cards – free to check out books, magazines, toy kits, music cds, audio books, movies.

Your public library is the best bargain around!

Library hours are:

Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and helped out during this year’s summer reading program, Make a Splash at Your Library.  We  had a blast and hope you did too!

We would also like to thank those who sponsored the reading program by providing prizes and donations.  Without help from these sponsors our reading program wouldn’t have been nearly as successful or fun.  Thank you all!

• Friends of the Adel Public Library
• Subway of Adel
• Fuller’s
• Medicap Pharmacy of Adel
• Shugar’s Super Value Grocery
• Casey’s General Store
• Adel Family Fun Center
• Raccoon Valley Bank Tellers
• Godfathers of Adel
• Blank Park Zoo
• I Cubs

The Summer Reading Program “Make a Splash! Read!” is half over, but there is still plenty of time for children to read for entertainment and prizes and participate in activities tailored just for them.  Pick up a schedule of events for July at the front desk. Reading logs are due Monday, July 19.  Teen reading logs are due Monday, July 26.

Weekly activities if you have a preschooler:
Children ages 3-5 – Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Children 3 and under – Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Weekly activities if you have a school age child:
Family movie – Fridays at 2 p.m.
Geronimo Stilton Book Club – Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
Drop-In Crafts – Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Pirate Club – Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Weekly activities if you have a teen:
Crafts – Thursday, July 1 & Mondays, July 12 & 19 at 2 p.m.
Movie Time – Thurs. July 15 at 2 p.m.
Lunch Book Club – Thurs. July 22 at noon

Please check the monthly schedule as activities to not extend to the end of the month.

Special events are also scheduled for July:
Ronald McDonald Show, Tuesday, July 6 at 11:30 a.m.
Picnic at Evans Park, Thursday, July 8 at noon.  Bring a sack lunch & drink.
Blank Park Zoo Visit, Wednesday, July 21 at 1 p.m.
Top Reader Pool Party at the Adel City Pool – Monday, July 26 at noon.  Children must read 40 hours to qualify; teens, 50 hours.  Rain date: Tuesday, July 27 at noon.

Many thanks to our summer reading program sponsors:  Shugar’s Super Valu, Casey’s, Medicap Pharmacy, tellers at Raccoon Valley Bank, Subway, Fullers, Adel Family Fun Center, Blank Park Zoo, and I-Cubs.

The Friends of the Adel Public Library will meet on Thursday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m. to make plans for the Annual Friends of the Library Used Book Sale.  This year’s sale will be held on August 13 and 14 during Sweet Corn Days.  More information will be in the August newsletter.

Thanks to all who have so generously given items to our monthly garage sales.  Our next sale will be Friday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to noon.  Proceeds will benefit the children’s area and other needs.  We hope to have a bake sale at the same time.  If you don’t have items to donate, please consider giving baked goods.  They are very popular!  It’s a great time to try out those new recipes.

Due to budget cuts, the library will no longer purchase DVD’s, but we will take donations.  Movies we do not have and are not rated R will be placed in the library system upon approval.  Others will be saved for our sales.  Library magazine subscriptions are also being cut.  If you would like to donate your subscriptions, please call 993-3512 for more information.

Also due to budget cuts, library hours have been cut beginning July 1.  Our new hours will be Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and closed on Sundays.  We regret any inconvenience these changes may cause our patrons.