Creativebug may have the pick me up project you need to reinvigorate your summer!
I know that I have begun to see back to school commercials, blog posts, and fall updates coming down the line and it has filled me with exhaustion and dread… come on people it is only the beginning of July! Let me enjoy August at least!! But fear not your local librarians and creative gurus are here to highlight what is still bringing us all a little creative joy for these last few sunny seasonal days.
Get that cute embroidery project you want to do started now with the above class now!
This one is just plain fun and you can involve the kids too!
I am not great at taking care of my nails so I am calling in niece reinforcements for this one!
And something for those of us a little more digitally minded who want to expand out horizons!
These are just a few options available for some creative projects on these summery days but there are so many more waiting for you to discover on Creativebug! If you get stuck or need a little help finding a creative class or project that clicks with you don’t hesitate to ask your local librarians.
Summer is a season filled with adventure, relaxation, and fun; however, it can also lead to a decline in the reading skills that students have diligently developed throughout the school year. This phenomenon, known as the “summer slide,” can pose challenges for children as they return to school in the fall, ready to learn.
Fortunately, your library offers a fantastic resource to help families maintain their reading habits all summer long: Scholastic BookFlix.
What Is BookFlix?
Scholastic BookFlix is an engaging digital literacy tool tailored for children in PreK through Grade 3. Each BookFlix pairing features a classic fictional picture book alongside a related nonfiction title, aiding young readers in enhancing their reading comprehension, expanding their vocabulary, and making connections between stories and real-life topics.
Each title also offers interactive features such as:
Read-aloud narration with highlighted text
Educational games and activities
Vocabulary support
Safe, age-appropriate videos
Printable resources for caregivers and educators
These features make BookFlix particularly appealing for emerging readers and those who benefit from audio support.
How BookFlix Helps Prevent the Summer Slide
Establishing a consistent reading routine during the summer is one of the most effective ways to mitigate learning loss. BookFlix simplifies this by providing children with an engaging, interactive reading experience they can enjoy from home or while traveling.
Using BookFlix throughout the summer enables children to:
Regularly practice their reading skills
Build confidence as independent readers
Enhance comprehension through the connection of fiction and nonfiction
Develop background knowledge across various subjects, including science, social studies, animals, nature, and more
Cultivate a lifelong passion for reading
Even dedicating just 15–20 minutes a day to reading can significantly impact students’ retention of the skills they’ve acquired during the school year.
Tips for Families
Encourage parents and caregivers to integrate BookFlix into their family’s summer routine:
Read one BookFlix pair together multiple times a week.
Discuss the similarities and differences between the fiction and nonfiction titles.
Engage in the interactive activities following the reading.
Select topics that resonate with a child’s interests, such as dinosaurs, space, animals, weather, or sports.
Celebrate daily reading with a simple summer reading calendar or sticker chart.
Your Library Is Here to Help
One of the key benefits of BookFlix is its accessibility; it is available anytime, anywhere with an internet connection through the Power Kids Library website. Families can enjoy high-quality digital books from the comfort of their homes, making it an excellent complement to your library’s summer reading program.
This summer, encourage families to explore BookFlix and help young readers continue learning, growing, and discovering. Just a few minutes of reading each day can ensure children return to school prepared for another successful year—and your library is here to support them every step of the way.
Patrons upset about Hoopla? Yeah. Are they not satisfied with the tantalizing offers of both CLP and Free Library of Philadelphia cards for Libby? Also yeah. They come with those wait times we have heard so much about.
Well, guess what!
POWER Library has collaborated with OverDrive to roll out a pilot project that makes Libby available for all Pennsylvanians! This is an independent, statewide collection of over 14,000 always available titles that anyone with a public library card in PA can enjoy. Patrons can have 5 items checked out at a time and have 5 holds.
Patrons will need either a library card from their local public library or an E-Card issued by POWER Library. They can sign up here.
We recently learned of a change coming soon for Adobe IDs, which are used by OverDrive users who download Adobe EPUB or Adobe PDF eBooks to read on a computer or transfer to an eReader. This change does not impact users who read eBooks in Libby, their browser, or on Kindle.
Starting this month, users who download and authorize Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) for the first time will need to create a ByteBooks ID instead of an Adobe ID. This is because Adobe’s eBook platform (including ADE) is now managed by Wipro, owner of ByteBooks. Existing ADE users will not be impacted unless they encounter an issue that requires reauthorization or want to authorize a new device.
Since Adobe eBook downloads make up a very small percentage of overall checkouts, and most existing users will not be affected, we expect the overall impact of this change to be limited. Please direct any affected users to Overdrive’s help article for additional assistance.
– Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library
