Author: librarian

With the rapidly changing weather, we would like to remind our patrons and visitors of our Severe Weather Policy. The Seneca Free Library is not a designated storm shelter, nor is our basement designed for public accessibility. In the event of a direct sighting of a safety threat or the sounding of the city’s warning sirens, the library will be locked down until such time as an all clear is given. Patrons may choose to leave the library up until the time the doors are locked or be escorted to the basement for shelter until the threat has passed. In the event of a confirmed severe storm system approaching the city of Seneca, the Library Director or the Librarian on Duty has the right and authority to close the library early for the safety and security of the library staff and patrons. Should this happen, we will do our best to announce the closing on our Facebook and Instagram pages. As with any chance of severe weather, please be sure to call ahead before departing for the library to avoid unnecessary travel in hazardous conditions.

The summer reading program theme for 2024 is “Adventure Begins in Your Library.” Each month we offer a suggested sub-theme on how to find your own adventures throughout the year. This month’s category is “Outdoor Adventures.” (Or as we refer to it here in the library, “Thank Heaven’s! It’s Spring! Finally! What can we do outside?” But that just doesn’t have the same marketing appeal, so we’ll keep it simple.)

Among the top suggested activities we’ve been given by the interlibrary hive mind is an activity called Geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. There are free apps available or you can do some Google searching to find a local program or one that fits your interests, either way will start you on your journey.

Other outdoor adventures might include kite flying, fishing, yard sports, or even just a walk in the neighborhood. Pack some snacks, fill up those water bottles, and get outside and remember what the world is like without freezing temperatures and winter weather!

Thursday, April 4th Cooking with Kids featured spaghetti with homemade meatballs and sauce! It looked and smelled amazing. These kids have skills and keep learning new things each time! Special thanks to Librarian Deb Haverkamp for running this program and making it as fun and successful as it is!

As a reminder, we only have a total of 6 spaces for each Cooking with Kids session due to space, safety, and supervision reasons. Slots are filled on a first come, first serve order, as much as we hate having to turn anybody away for a session. Make sure your little chef is signed up well before the class starts. This isn’t a class we can slip in a last-minute addition as much as we might want to.

Our first Cooking with Kids session in April is coming up quick! On Thursday, April 4, Deb Haverkamp will be hosting another round of culinary adventures and learning opportunities! Kids ages 8-11 are eligible to participate in this fun and educational program that runs after school from 3:15 – 5:00 PM. Attendance is limited to a class size of 6 students for safety reasons. Call us at 785-336-2377 to reserve your little chef’s spot (prior participants still need to register for each class). Drop in after registration to sign the required waiver if your student is a new participant this season. Call soon, spaces fill up fast!

Cooking with Kids had another full turnout on Thursday, March 21, as Librarian Deb Haverkamp taught the class how to make biscuits and gravy from scratch! The kids had a great time working together and Deb reported that the biscuits and gravy were a big hit with everybody. Great job to our chefs in the making and Deb Haverkamp in cooking up a classic this session!

Cooking with Kids returns Thursday, March 21, with Librarian Deb Haverkamp hosting the session. Kids ages 8-11 are eligible to participate in this fun and educational program that runs after school from 3:15 – 5:00 PM. Attendance is limited to a class size of 6 students for safety reasons. Call us at 785-336-2377 to reserve your little chef’s spot (prior participants still need to register for each class). Drop in after registration to sign the required waiver if your student is a new participant this season. Call soon, space fills up fast!

Thursday, February 22, Cooking with Kids met for another learning experience in food and fun, this time baking coffee cake and trying out an assortment of smoothie recipes. The entry smelled like fresh baked cinnamon, drawing comments of delight from patrons and librarians alike.

Cooking with Kids is back for another culinary adventure on February 22! This program is for kids 8-11 years old and runs from 3:15-5:00 PM. Class size is limited to 6 students for safety reasons. Call us at 785-336-2377 to reserve your little chef’s spot (prior participants still need to register for each class). Drop in after registration to sign the required waiver. Call soon, space fills up fast!

Thursday February 8 Cooking with Kids was busy making Ham Loaf, Meat Balls and 7 Layer Salad! Don’t come on these days, if you are hungry, it’s hard to resist the aroma.

First call the library to enroll your child. Then put it on your calendar so you don’t forget. But we know your child will NOT forget. If they have been Cooking with Deb before, they look forward to coming again. Class size is LIMITED.

Our next class is scheduled for Thursday, January 25 after school – as long as the weather cooperates. This is a really fun event for the kids and Deb. Class size is limited to 6 for safety reasons. Your child is not registered until you call us (785-336-2377) and have signed a waiver. Call soon, space fills up fast!

The pictures below are from the January 11th class making Chicken Noodle Soup.

Happy New Year! We’re kicking off cooking classes 2024 on Thursday January 11, starting at 3:00PM! Call 785.336.2377 to get on the list! Most of our parents have signed the waiver, but if you haven’t yet, please stop into the library when you drop your children off for class.

December 28, 2023 was about trying different pie crusts. They made a graham cracker crust with a no bake cheese cake and a flour pie crust for a” cheese, ham and egg thing” aka quiche. Which do you think they enjoyed most?

Be sure to call to get on the list to join Deb Thursday December 14 to make Gingerbread Houses!

This event is for children ages 8~11, space is limited and sign-up required. So, keep an eye on our Facebook page and put us on speed dial, our number is 785-336-2377.

Deb Haverkamp is teaching the class this year. So far they have made Apple Crisp and Quesadillas! The library smells SO good on Cooking night, everyone leaves very hungry. Deb teaches different skills each class and includes the art of clean up

Seneca Free Library is a proud supporting partner with the Nemaha County Food Pantry. April’s Food Pantry Focus is Canned Fruit. Put in your pears! Make your mark with mandarins! Fancy it up with Fruit Cocktail! Every little bit helps, if it’s one can or a whole box of them! You can help make a difference by picking up a few extra cans (or other items) on your next trip to the grocery store, then dropping them by the library during our regular hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It takes so little to do so much. Make your impact today! Because hunger doesn’t just happen on the holidays.

This is a service we offer the community. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers and is open one day a week. Rather than having to remember what day and hours they are open, you can drop your donations by the library and we will deliver them for you! We highlight different items to donate each month just to offer some direction and promote awareness. When everything is needed on a regular basis, it can be helpful to have some guidance.

If you have large donations it is best to deliver them directly to the food pantry. We can help facilitate a drop off time if needed. Call us during regular business hours at 785-336-2377.

Some Important Points to Note:

* The Food Pantry is closed the second Wednesday of every month.

* Paper goods and personal hygiene products are also always needed!

* Opened and outdated products are NOT accepted at the Pantry.

Each Family receives the following items Once a Month.

• 1 breakfast item
• 4 cans of vegetables
• 1 can of beans
• 1 package of rice
• 1 pasta and sauce
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• 1 box of crackers
• 2 cans of fruit
• 1 can of tuna or chicken
• 2 cans of soup
• 1 dessert
• 1 pound of meat.

While we highlight different donation items each month, the following items are ALWAYS NEEDED:

• Paper products [toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex]
• personal products [feminine hygiene, sanitary wipes, etc.]
• boxed cereals
• oatmeal
• pancake mix and pancake syrup
• canned vegetables
• rice
• pasta and pasta sauce
• peanut butter
• boxed crackers
• canned fruit
• canned tuna
• canned chicken
• boxed tuna and chicken helper
• canned soups
• jello and pudding mixes
• cookies
• cake mixes and frosting
• pie mix
• and more!
• They also accept laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, and bath soap.

The summer reading program theme for this year is “Adventure Begins in Your Library.” As you may recall, we have been promoting this theme each month with a different recommended activity (or related activities) for our patrons and their families to participate in.

The sub-theme for March is “Adventures of the Mind,” and to get into the swing of things, we’ve developed our own Scavenger Hunt right here in the Library. To participate, starting Tuesday, March 19, come to the circulation desk and ask to borrow “Library Adventure: The Beginning.” Find the enclosed QR Code, scan it with your personal device (or ask to borrow one of our tablets for use inside the library) and follow the clues to the end. Those who finish the adventure will receive a special surprise if they follow the instructions given on the final clue.

Seneca Free Library is a proud supporting partner with the Nemaha County Food Pantry. This month’s Food Pantry Focus is canned vegetables. Bring out your beans! Collect your corn! Make a dent in hunger with your mixed vegetables! Every little bit helps, if it’s one can or a whole box of them! You can help make a difference by picking up a few extra cans (or other items) on your next trip to the grocery store, then dropping them by the library during our regular hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It takes so little to do so much. Make your impact today! Because hunger doesn’t just happen on the holidays.