Celebrate the smartest card

September is Library Card Sign-up Month.
If you have children, don't forget this important school supply. You’ll want to make sure that your child is among the two-thirds of Americans that carry the smartest card of all – a library card.

Studies show that children who use the library and who read or read to at home perform better in school. They are also more likely to continue to use the library as a source for a satisfying lifetime of learning.

There is no age requirement for getting a Fauquier County Public Library card, and many parents enjoy giving their children the thrill and responsibility of owning their own "charge card," one that lets them borrow books, movies, music, and more.

Teens get carded
Teens can "get carded" at the library throughout September in celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month.

Fauquier employees, others eligible
People who work in Fauquier County but live outside the county are eligible for a Fauquier library card without a fee and are entitled to all the borrowing privileges that residents have.

Help us celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month. Let us take your picture when you come to the library, then check to see yourself and others who are helping us celebrate.

Library cards are free and the application only takes a few minutes to complete. Check library eligibility requirements, or, apply now.

Great Books discussion groups confirm dates, titles

Warrenton Library's two Great Books discussion groups recently confirmed the dates and times for upcoming discussion topics.

The Daytime Great Books group, which meets at 1 p.m. the third Monday of the month, will talk about selections from The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith on Sept. 17. See the remaining Daytime Great Books selections to be discussed this year.

The Evening Great Books group meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month. In September, due to Labor Day, the group will meet on Sept. 10 to discuss Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. See the remaining Evening Great Books topics to be discussed this year.

More than 850 Great Books groups meet in homes and libraries across the country with thousands of adult participants according the Great Books Foundation. The foundation also has resources for teachers who are interested in forming Great Books groups at their schools.

Other Fauquier County Public Library book clubs include the Bealeton Library's group, John Marshall Daytime and Evening groups, and the Mystery book club.

Book club chooses titles

Earlier this month the Bealeton Library's adult Book Club members chose the titles they are going to read and discuss this fall and early next year. The group meets the second Monday of the month. New members are always welcome.

Fauquier County Public Library has several other book clubs. Three meet at the Warrenton Library, the Daytime Great Books, Evening Great Books and Mystery clubs, and two meet at the John Marshall Library, the Daytime and Evening groups. All welcome new members.

Teens also meet periodically at the library to discuss books and poetry.

Teens get carded at library

Teens can Get Carded at the Library throughout September in celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month. Teens who show their library card at a Fauquier library reference desk in September will get a prize.

So ... if you have a library card, take it with you to the library. If you don't have one, complete the card registration form now and the library will mail your card in about 10 days.

Note: The first time you use your new card, if you are under 16 you'll need a parent or guardian to show his or her ID to circulation staff.

Web pages especially for teens

Check out the library's teen Web pages to see what services and programs the library has especially for teens. And ... see links to some great resources, some good for school, some just for fun.

Baby Steps and Magic Tree House programs planned

Magic Tree House program

A new monthly program for children entering first grade or higher that features activities based on the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne will begin in September at all Fauquier County public libraries.

The September program theme is Afternoon on the Amazon. The book is about 8-year-old Jack, his 7-year-old sister Annie, and Peanut the mouse riding in a tree house to the Amazon rain forests where they encounter giant ants, flesh-eating piranhas, hungry crocodiles, and wild jaguars.

Registration is not required for this free program. See the schedule under "Ongoing Programs."

Infant story time added
A new story time for infants up to 18 months old, Baby Steps, is beginning in September at the Warrenton Library. The new 30-minute program will be held at 10:30 a.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 10.

The babies will have fun bouncing, clapping, seeing finger plays, and singing to Mother Goose rhymes and traditional children’s songs with their caregivers.

The programs will be a great way to introduce rhythm and song to your baby and to meet other moms and caretakers. Fifteen minutes of rhymes and songs will be followed by 15 minutes of play time and socializing. Call (540) 349-1128 for more information.

Free, drop-in story times for toddlers and preschool and school-age children are regularly held at all of Fauquier's public libraries. See the story time schedule.

Children get ready for kindergarten

Children who are entering kindergarten this fall are invited to come to the library for a special program featuring stories, songs, and activities relating to starting school. The program is free and registration is not required. Children should bring a bag lunch.

The program will be presented at the:

• Bealeton Library: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14
  John Marshall Library: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15
  Warrenton Library: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16

See all Fauquier County Public Library news and events.

Magician coming to library

Magician Michael Klee will mystify and amaze children and their families at all county libraries on Saturday, Aug. 11. His shows are loaded with magic, wonderful story telling, important facts, and information presented in a humorous way. He characterizes his shows as "magic with a message." Get the program details.

Check the library's catalog for books on learning magic tricks, fiction about magic, and DVDs and magazines about magic tricks.

This is the last special event of the Virginia Trails summer reading program. Weekly programs continue through Aug. 11 too.
Children should log the number of books they've read this summer by that date as well.