The Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) program is in full swing at Sarasota County Libraries and has a new group on Facebook. Join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ECR2RSarasota/ to stay informed of upcoming events and learn more about this program. The focus of ECRR is on early literacy for families who have children ages 5 and under and allows parents and caregivers to learn about simple activities they can do with their child to help them develop into lifelong readers. The Public Library Association and Association for Library Service to Children concluded that public libraries could have an even greater impact on early literacy through an approach that focused on educating parents and caregivers. If the primary adults in a child’s life can learn more about the importance of early literacy and how to nurture pre-reading skills at home, the effect of library efforts can be multiplied many times. Learn about free library programs and resources for families, great children’s books, and tips you can use to help children develop early literacy skills. The Facebook group is open to families, teachers, caregivers, and library customers. Join the group!
Here are the Elsie Quirk Library events for this week:
Saturday
• Microsoft Word for Beginners will be held at 10 am. This class introduces the basics of word processing using Microsoft Word 2013 software. Students will learn how to create, edit and save a document. Other features to be covered will include spell check, fonts, margins, and inserting photos. Please bring your laptop.
• The Suncoast Writers Guild will meet at 10 am.
Monday
• Forty Carrots’ Partners in Play is a free class for caregivers and children ages birth to 5 to enjoy together and is held from 10:15 to 11 am or 11:15 am to noon. Experience educational activities, join in circle-time fun, meet other families, and receive valuable parenting and child development information. Attendance is limited to 12 families per session.
• O-WOW! (Our Writers Own Workshop) will meet at 2 pm.
• Read with the Dogs is from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Drop-in and practice your reading skills with a canine companion. All dogs are certified pet therapy dogs from the Suncoast Humane Society. Children ages 5 and up are welcome to attend. Younger children may participate when accompanied by a caregiver. No registration necessary.
• Our Monday Night Movie starts at 5 pm. Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon works to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican. (Thriller, PG-13, 2 hrs. 18 mins., 2009)
• English for Spanish Speakers/Gratis Clase de Ingles para Hispanohablantes starts at 5:30 pm. This class is for Spanish speakers who want to improve their English skills. Students should be able to speak some basic English.
Tuesday
• Drop in for the Master Gardener Plant Clinic in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County from 10 am to noon. For more information, call 941-861-1307 or visit, http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/horthelp.shtml.
• Englewood Camera Club meets at 12:30 pm.
• Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead-Technology is from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Registration is open to ages 5 through 11 and limited to 12 participants.
Wednesday
• The French Conversation Club meets at 10 am.
• Café Athena meets at 11 am.
• The Englewood Authors Writers Group meets at 5 pm.
Thursday
• The Short Story Discussion Group meets the second Thursday of the month, November through April at 10:15 am. This group will be reading selections from “The Best American Short Stories of the Century” by John Updike (1999). A copy is available at the Reference Desk to use in-house.
• Family Storytime starts at 10:30 am and is open to children ages birth to 5 and their families. Enjoy interacting with your child by participating in early literacy activities that include books, music and movement, crafts and other educational activities. No registration necessary. This week’s theme is, Move It!
• Englewood Area Macintosh User’s Group (EAMUG) meets from 1:30 pm to 4 pm. The members contribute to the organization which is rich in Apple basics as well as advanced computer techniques. Annual individual membership is $12.00. Family membership is $18.00. EAMUG is an Official Apple User Group. All are welcome regardless of paid membership status.
• The Knitting Club will meet to knit and chat from 1 to 3 pm.
Friday
• SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) will be on site from 10 to 11:30 am to assist with Medicare questions. SHINE counselors are unbiased, specially trained volunteers who can assist with questions regarding Medicare Part A & B, Prescription Drug Plans and Advantage Plans. If you would like to make an appointment to see a SHINE counselor, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at 866-413-5337.
• Wireless Windows Laptops for Beginners meets from 10 am to 11:30 am. Bring your Windows laptop and learn how to navigate the Internet, use the mouse and touch pad, save to a flash drive, create and save documents, and organize files into folders. A limited number of laptops are available if you are unable to bring your own. Registration is required and limited to 12 participants.
• Basic Conversational Spanish Class for Beginners will meet from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Learn basic conversational Spanish with instructor Dan Duffy. This class is for those who know little or no Spanish. Registration is required and limited to 50 participants. Register at https://www.scgov.net/library for this free class that meets through April.
• Spanish Reading Group meets from 3 to 4:30 pm. This group is for students who have participated in the beginner’s class, as well as any others who can read/speak basic Spanish. Reading is at the beginning to intermediate level, and consists of Spanish storytelling, translation and pronunciation and grammar. This class is taught by Dan Duffy. For more information, contact Senor Duffy at Spanishfaculty@gmail.com.
For more information on library programs, services, and resources visit us at 100 West Dearborn Street, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000, or visit our website at www.scgov.net/library.
