September Comments for a Cause - Hampton Public Library

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you all were able to enjoy and relax for at least a little bit today.  Since it is the 1st of the month, it is time to talk about Comments for a Cause.  In the month of August I had a total of 26 comments, equally a $13 donation to the ELCA Malaria Campaign.

In the month of September I'm looking forward to donating $0.50 for every comment to the Hampton Public Library and their current projects they have going on right now to make the library more user friendly, including a new entrance to the the Children's Library & improved parking lot.

I have talked about my family's love and appreciation for our local public library in the past and thought what better way to promote our library, as well as encourage everyone to use their local library through this month's Comments for a Cause program.

I grew up going to my hometown's library and participating in "Story Time" as a child, and I have continued the tradition with my children.  I started taking LP to the library when he was just a couple of months old and MP's first trip to the library was at age Day 6.  We are so lucky to have such a great library just 15 miles away.  If you live in North Iowa or travel through, I encourage you all to visit the Hampton Public Library.  This Carnegie Library offers a wide variety of services for all ages, including these fun and unique things: book clubs, public computers (including a bilingual AWE computer), interlibrary exchange program (they'll borrow a book, movie, etc. from another library for you if they don't have it), eBooks, youth drama club and LP's favorite - children's "Story Time" (which is held on Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings).

Currently, the Hampton Public Library is celebrating 125 years serving Franklin County.  And what makes this year even more special, is that the Library is currently working on creating a new entrance and access to the Children's Library, as well as improving the parking lot and adding a courtyard for the library patrons.  My family visits the library on a regular basis and I can't think of a better way to give back to this great service for our community than supporting their efforts through Comments for a Cause.

Do you have a library card?  Do you participate in programs at your local library?  If not, I encourage you all to sign up for a library card and see what your local library all offers.  If you have children, I especially hope you check out your local library's children's programming.  (And if you're in the Franklin County, Iowa area, be sure to check out Story Time, it starts up October 7th and 8th.)  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Wednesday = Library Day

What is your favorite day of the week?  Well, for LP it would have to be Wednesday, also known around our house as Library Day.

I grew up going to my hometown's library and participating in "Story Time" as a child, and I have continued the tradition with my children.  I started taking LP to the library when he was just a couple of months old and MP's first trip to the library was at age Day 6.  We are so lucky to have such a great library just 15 miles away.  If you live in North Iowa or travel through, I encourage you all to visit the Hampton Public Library.  This Carnegie Library offers a wide variety of services for all ages, including these fun and unique things: book clubs, public computers (including a bilingual AWE computer), interlibrary exchange program (they'll borrow a book, movie, etc. from another library for you if they don't have it), eBooks, youth drama club and LP's favorite - children's "Story Time" (which is held on Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings).

LP standing outside of the library this summer
with a prize he got during the Summer Reading Program

Do you have a library card?  Do you participate in programs at your local library?  If not, I encourage you all to sign up for a library card and see what your local library all offers.  If you have children, I especially hope you check out your local library's children's programming.

Library Fun Fact:  In a recent study of which states 

have the highest attendance at children's programming, 

Iowa was among the top five. 

#1 Wyoming, #2 Vermont, #3 Iowa, #4 Idaho, and #5 Indiana.

Story Time is an opportunity for my kids to read books, sing songs, make crafts, make friends, etc.  It also gives me a time to build relationships with other parents with children close to my children's ages.  If you are from the Franklin County, Iowa area, be sure to check out Story Time, it starts up October 1st and 2nd.

LP playing with the train set in the children's library

To conclude today, if you're looking for some books to read, here are MP, LP and my top picks from this summer:

LP's Top Pick: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
MP's Top Pick:  Counting Kisses
My Top Pick:  The Duck Commander Family

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, by Sherri Duskey Rinker

This is a fun book for all truck lovers and that is why LP recommends it!  The story goes through the construction site by showing several types of equipment trucks.  One by one, each piece of equipment goes to rest so they can be ready for the next day.  This book is a great bedtime story to help your busy toddler go to sleep.

Counting Kisses, by Karen Katz

MP recommends this book because she loves how LP, My Farmer and I count and kiss our way through it.  Each number highlights a different area of the body to kiss.  This is a great book for babies and siblings to do together, and is overall a great way for your kids to relax and unwind before bedtime.

The Duck Commander Family, by Willie & Korie Robertson

Calling all Duck Dynasty fans!  If you enjoy watching Duck Dynasty you'll love learning more about the Robertson family.  This book goes through the family's struggles and successes, all while showcasing the family's humor and faith.  Also, it includes some family favorite recipes!  If you haven't watched Duck Dynasty before I encourage you to sit down to this easy read.  I guarantee you'll be intrigued about this family after the reading book and will become a fan before you know it.

Gotta go - we're off to the library!