Month: July 2020

Week 6 Summer Activities (July 27)

Posted on by Cathy Dewitt

1. Rhyming Fun

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the sky so bright,
Like a diamond in the night. 
Twinkle. twinkle. little star.
How I wonder what you are!
 
and/or
 
Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
 
Cut out a star shape for each letter of your child’s name and have them decorate each star (break out the glitter!).  String the stars together or paste on paper.
 
Explain that some people like to wish upon the first star they see in the sky at night.  Ask your child(ren) what they wish for, and help them write down their wishes and/or draw a picture.  Material wishes are fine, but explain that wishes can be hopes for others, too.

This activity is great for modeling writing as the child dictates, and gives them a chance to practice if they are writing on their own.

2. Family Fun

Camping Challenge:  Set up camp in your back yard or even in your house.  Set up a tent, have a camp fire, eat camping themed food (s’mores) tell ghost stories and sleep under the stars or in another room in your house besides your bedroom.

3. Arts and Crafts Fun

Nature Scavenger Hunt: Take a walk in your yard, on a trail, or anywhere it is safe.  Collect anything interesting you find (make sure it is not poison ivy, or someones favorite flowers).  Bring it home and make a collage out of what you found.  You can use paper and glue, or stick it on the sticky side of contact paper or packing tape.  Get creative.

4. Writing/Drawing Fun

 Same, Same, but Different:   In a lot of stories there are things that seem the same, but end up very different. They have common threads. What are the common threads between you and your friends or your family? Write about the ways you are the same as they are and the ways you are different.

Museum Passes Pickup

Posted on by Sarah Cognata

You can now request library museum passes for contactless pickup. Library staff will be wearing masks when they prepare your pass as well as when they place it outside for you to pick up. Coupon passes will be placed in small paper bags. Returnable museum passes are in plastic DVD covers.

Please note, many museums have additional instructions on admission into their buildings. Please visit their websites for details. Some museums we offer discounted passes to are not yet open or may have temporarily suspended their library pass program. 

How to Reserve a Museum Pass

Step 1: Reserve the pass you want for the day you want to go on the Library’s Museum Passes page. 

Step 2: Wait for the confirmation that your request is approved.

Step 3: Come to the library and call us when you are here for pickup of the library pass. Please wear a face covering when you come.

Step 4: Enjoy! 

Step 5: For returnable passes, please return the pass to the book drop within 24- 48 hours.

Please note:

  • For health and safety reasons, we are not able to welcome patrons into the building at this time. All returnable items should go in our book drops which remain open 24/7.
  • Pickup hours are Mondays/Wednesdays 2-6, Tuesdays/Fridays 10-5, Saturdays 9-1.

Expanded Curbside Service

Posted on by Sarah Cognata

We hope to keep expanding and adding new features to our Curbside Service until the day we are able to open up the whole building and offer the full range of library services and programs we all miss! Check out our additional offerings below or click here to learn more about placing and picking up holds.

Reference Services  

You can now request printing through our website. Fill out a printing request form and we will let you know when your materials are ready to be picked up. We ask that your print requirements be limited to 20 pages a day. Questions? Call us at 978-352-5728 and press 2 to be transferred to the Reference Desk or email Michele at maugeri@georgetownpl.org.

Personal Book List Service

Looking for something great to read? Our librarians are here to help! Fill out the Personal Book Lists form on our website and we will send you a list of books we think you’ll like. You’ll find a different form for adults, kids, and teens.

Statewide Delivery is Back 

Statewide delivery among libraries — also known as Inter-library Loan — has restarted and you can now place requests from other libraries (choose from over five million items in our 36-member network alone)! Please keep in mind that transit and fulfillment time might take a little longer than usual. Search the catalog!

Museum Passes Pickup 

You can now request library museum passes for contactless pickup! Please note, many museums have additional instructions on admission into their buildings. Please visit their websites for details. For more information click here.

Online Resources

Our website has tons of resources that are available to you any time of day or night! Click here for an overview!

Need A Library Card?

Are you a Georgetown resident who does not have a card or whose card is no longer in our system? Since we are currently closed to the public, we are offering to sign up Georgetown patrons for a library card via a form on our website. This will allow you to place holds on items and use our many online resources! Click here for more information!

Week 5 Summer Activities (July 20)

Posted on by Cathy Dewitt

1.  Nursery Rhyme Fun

A little turtle
There was a little turtle (put hands together in a fist)
He lived in a box (make a box with both hands)
He swam in a puddle (make swimming motions)
He climbed on the rocks (use your fingers to climb up your arm)
He snapped at a mosquito (clap hands)
He snapped at a flea (chomp with your mouth)
He snapped at a minnow (clap hands)
He snapped at me (Do Home Alone Face)
He caught the mosquito (grab with your hand)
He caught the flea (grab with your hand)
He caught the minnow (grab with your hand)
But he didn’t catch me (jump in excitement)

Turtle crawl:  Make a turtle shell that will fit your child (use a box, a piece of fabric, or a piece of paper).  Have them crawl around and try not to lose the shell. 
Turtle egg sensory box:  Use ping pong balls or anything round and hide them in a box of sand, rice, or shredded up paper.  Have your child dig for the turtle eggs.

2.  Family Fun

Build a Gnome Home (Fairy House):
Find a quiet location to build your home.  It can be in your yard, a park, or the beach.  Stay away from busy roads or sidewalks. Gather materials that can include sticks, pine needles, rocks, shells, and any other natural materials.  DO NOT USE ANYTHING ALIVE, such as plants and leaves.  Start to build..Check out the video of Miss Cathy’s Gnome Home. 

3. Arts and Crafts Fun

Book Cover Creation: We really do judge a book by its cover sometimes. Redesign the cover of your favorite book to capture what the story is really about.

4.  Writing Fun

Mythical Creature Jokes: Share some of these jokes and riddles with your family, then write your own!
What do you call a wizard from outer space? A flying sorcerer!
What should you say to a two-headed dragon? Bye-bye!
How does a dragon see at night? With a knight light.
What do you get when a dragon sneezes? Out of the way.

Boston Harbor Island Discount Ferry Passes

Posted on by Sarah Cognata

The Library now offers Boston Harbor Islands Ferry passes for the 2020 season of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.

Passes are valid for the season between July 1 and October 12, Wednesday through Sunday. Pass Benefits: Two-for-one passes, $10 off each ticket up to 4.

How does it work? ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE. See instructions below.

1. Click here to make your reservations for Spectacle Island.

2. Click BUY TICKETS.

3. Specify how many tickets (you can purchase up to 4 tickets with this pass), your date of travel, and your departure time based on the ferry schedule.

4. Enter in promo code ZBPL20HI76 in Shopping Cart.

5. Complete order.

6. Print tickets at home or pick up at Boston Harbor Cruises Will Call Window at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.

In response to COVID-19, your trip to The Boston Harbor Islands during the 2020 season may look and feel a bit different than usual.  Boston Harbor Now has developed a helpful resource outlining things to Know Before You Go to help you navigate and make the most out of your 2020 island adventure.  Be sure to take a look and be informed prior to your visit.

Week 4 Summer Activities (July 13)

Posted on by Cathy Dewitt

1. Nursery Rhyme Fun

Muffin Man

Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man?
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?

Oh, yes, we know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man.
Oh, yes, we know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

Set up a dramatic play area with kitchen stuff such as muffin tin, pots, pans, cookie cutters, and even playdough.  Or bake your own muffins with your kids.  Have them help pour and stir.  

2. Family Fun

Alphabet Scavenger Hunt:
Go on a scavenger hunt in your house or even outside.  Check out the directions to play the game.  Happy hunting!

3.  Arts and Crafts

Now that we have toilet paper, we challenge you to a what can you make with cardboard tube??  If you don’t have one create a tube out of paper or cardboard. 


4. Writing/Drawing fun

Family Folktale: 

Ask a family member what their favorite folk tale was growing up. It could be anything from Chicken Little to Johnny Appleseed. Once they tell you, write your own version featuring you and your family member as main characters. 

Week 3 Summer Activities (July 6)

Posted on by Cathy Dewitt

1. Nursery Rhyme Fun

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down
And broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Activity:  Collect buckets, cups, bowls, spoons, and a pool or pan filled with water.  Measure how much water fits in each of the containers you have collect.  Questions to ask:  How many cups of water fill the bowls or buckets?  Is the bucket heavy or light when it is fill with water?  Have fun.  

2. Family Fun

Create your own obstacle course.  Find materials at home to make a fun challenge in your back yard, or inside.  Any thing from tape, yarn, chalk pool noodles, and more.  Get creative.   Go to https://playtivities.com/obstacle-courses-for-kids/ for inspiration. 

3.  Arts and Crafts

The Magic Dice (from Art Workshop for Children by Herve Tullet)
Materials:
    -dice, spinner with numbers, numbers in a hat
    -piece of paper
    -markers, pencils, crayons, paint, or whatever art materials you like

Draw a random shape on your paper to start.  
Throw the dice.  The number thrown will = the number of eyes.
Keep throwing the dice to determine how many
-mouths
-noses
-arms
-legs
-ears
-hair (1-2 = a bit of hair, 3-4 normal, 5-6 = lots of hair)
now you have created a magical creature.  Feel free to continue to decorate it, name it, and create a story about it.

4.  Writing/Drawing Fun

Rewrite the Ending:  Sometimes we don’t always agree with how a story is wrapped up. Choose a  story with an ending that didn’t satisfy you. Rewrite or illustrate the ending to that tale.