Kids

Summer Creativity with Creativebug

Are you in a bind because a summer storm has kept you and the kids from getting outside? Well fret no more because Creativebug has you covered with plenty of kid friendly crafts and activities!

Simply filter your results to “Kids” and browse through the 219 classes to either make an item for the kids or browse the 36 “Quick Classes” to get started on a project with them! The options of what to make or learn with the tiny people in your life feels practically limitless with Creativebug.

Above are just a few fun options to keep both yourself and the kids from going stir crazy during a summer storm. Below are a few picks that may not get the crowd excited since they are back to school related but maybe they will help set everyone up for success in the coming school year.

No matter what creative endeavor you want to embark on Creativebug has you covered – especially when you want to get the kids involved!

~ Happy Crafting ~

-Adrianne, Northland Public Library

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Get More Content with hoopla’s BingePass

A few years ago digital content provider, hoopla, introduced their BingePasses. The concept allows users to borrow a full collection of movies, books or magazines to stream for 7 days straight, using only one checkout credit. Since the introduction of this borrowing format, the collection has grown.

Get ready to hit that Hallmark demographic hard when I tell you that they now offer 7 day access to the entire Hallmark Movies Now catalog! That’s over 1,500+ hours of ad-free content from Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

And parents will love the “Read-Along 2 Learn” collection of engaging, non-fiction titles for school-age children to help prevent the summer slide. Learn about bugs, animals, dinosaurs, engineering and emotions – all of it using just one checkout.

There’s also the GoKidGo podcast collections, The Great Courses collection, Highlights magazine collection, digital magazines and many more.

View BingePass Collections

But how can you promote these collections to your users you ask? With hoopla’s BingePass marketing resources! They have everything you need (flyers, social graphics) to spread the word about these great collections.

Marketing Resources

Enjoy sharing this wonderful resource with your patrons!

-Richelle at Sewickley Public Library

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Stay on Top of Summer Learning this Summer!

Did you know that Allegheny County offers a variety of online resources to help fight the summer slide? 

Tutor.com has learning games, practice worksheets, and flashcards. You can connect with a live tutor for more help or just drop off a question.  

Check out Mango Languages to brush up on your skills this summer! This eResource offers interactive lessons with both audio and visual elements. 

Practice my Skills screenshot taken from tutor.com

BookFlix is a great resource for encouraging young readers. It pairs a non-fiction and fiction children’s book together that have a similar theme. Each book pair comes with a set of educational activities such as sequencing, fact or fiction, and word matching.  

Lastly, don’t forget to sign up for your local library’s summer reading program! It’s another fantastic way to beat the summer slide. 

-Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

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Back to School – First Day Confidence

Starting school can be nerve wracking for any age, but it’s especially hard for the littles. Hoopla has put together a wonderful collection to help your kiddos start school with courage and poise. Below are some of my favorites to read in storytime! So grab your library card, a reading device and cuddle up on the couch for wonderful read-aloud books!

Back to school with Confidence

Gabi – Robinson Library

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