Thanks Delaware STEM for featuring an Op-Ed by State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “Delaware Libraries juggle, proudly, to support all possible learning opportunities for our communities. Libraries have evolved over the past 115 years, and in turn, we support Delawareans in learning – and renewal – throughout life.”
The Library of Congress launched its annual summer essay contest, in conjunction with public libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region, to encourage rising 5th- and 6th-grade students to reflect on books that have made a personal impact on their lives. The 5th annual “A Book That Shaped Me” contest is running now in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
Students entering 5th and 6th grades in the fall of 2016 are eligible. Essays, focused on a single book, should be one page in length and must be submitted with an entry form, in person, at participating public library locations. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 18, 2016. The participating public libraries in Delaware are: all New Castle County Libraries; Wilmington and North Wilmington Libraries; and Delmar, Dover, Frankford, Laurel, Millsboro, Selbyville and South Coastal Public Libraries.
“A Book That Shaped Me” will award prizes to five finalists and one winner per state, and to three overall grand-prize winners. Top winners will be invited to present their essays during a special presentation at the 16th Library of Congress National Book Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
Additional information and entry forms can be found here: https://www.loc.gov/bookfest/kids-teachers/booksthatshape
About:
The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chairman David M. Rubenstein. Charter sponsors include AARP, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Washington Post and Wells Fargo; Patron sponsors include the James Madison Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Contributor-level sponsors include The Junior League of Washington and Scholastic Inc.; and, in the Friends category, the Marshall B. Coyne Foundation Inc., the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the National Endowment for the Humanities and Small Press Expo. Those interested in supporting the National Book Festival may contact the Library at devofc@loc.gov.
The Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, holds more than 162 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The Library serves the U.S. Congress and the nation both on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning website at loc.gov.
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.
Media Contact:
Patty Langley, Delaware Center for the Book Coordinator
Patty.langley@delaware.gov
302-257-3011
For Immediate Release
THE MEZZANINE GALLERY TO EXHIBIT “JUST ABOVE WATER” FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK HOULDAY
The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present Just Above Water, an exhibition of photographs by Mark Houlday. The exhibition will be on view from July 1-29. Please note: the Mezzanine Gallery will be closed on Monday, July 4.
The opening reception will be Friday, July, 8 from 5-7 p.m. in the Carvel State Office Building. The reception is free and open to the public and Mr. Houlday will be in attendance to discuss his series of low angle photographs of ponds, rivers, and bays in Sussex County captured from the bow of his kayak.
Mr. Houlday has been a serious amateur photographer for several decades. Although his subjects and method of photography have evolved over time, his love for this art form remains steadfast. His current body of work is about his connection with water and the natural environment and his concern over the on-going degradation of our ecosystem.
Mr. Houlday’s work has been shown in numerous group shows. His work has been exhibited at the Newark Arts Alliance, Biggs Museum, Helen Graham Cancer Center, Cecil County Arts Council, and the Yorklyn Art Center. Learn more about Mark Houlday with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.
The Mezzanine Gallery is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 and open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.
Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov
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The Delaware Division of Libraries and Delaware public libraries invite children, teens, and adults to join the 2016 Library Summer Challenge! Themes for this year revolve around physical activities, “On Your Mark, Get Set…Read” for kids, “Get in the Game, Read” for teens, and “Exercise Your Mind. Read!” for adults. Registration is free at all public libraries and incentive prizes are awarded based on reading and activity milestones.
“The Library Summer Challenge is a lighthearted way to approach the serious topic of summer learning loss,” said State Librarian, Dr. Annie Norman. “Studies have shown that children who participate in public library summer programs score higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the new school year, experience less summer reading loss, and begin the school year with more confidence.”
Throughout the summer, libraries will provide a variety of fun and educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), art, and cultural programs. The following programs for children will be presented at all public libraries throughout the state; visit http://guides.lib.de.us/onyourmark for the schedule of events and additional information:
Hip Hop Fundamentals is a diverse team of B-Boys (breakdancers) who use their footwork, freezes, and powermoves to inspire, educate, and entertain young and old alike. But, don’t be fooled. These guys can pop lock, head spin, and floor rock with the best B-Boys and B-Girls around. In partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts
123 Andrés leads the audience on a movement-filled marathon around the Americas with stops to learn about music and dance. 123 Andrés encourages children and their families to share experiences, joy, and laughter through songs and movement. He performs bilingually in English and Spanish and provides his own accompaniment with guitar, clarinet, and saxophone. In partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts
A Healthy Portion of Science is how the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation will lead children through science, math, and engineering on the way to good health. You and your child will be introduced to the food groups and what we can learn from food packaging labels. Take a walk through the digestive system, learn how to find your pulse and count its rate, and see how the muscles and bones of the legs enable movement. Use food labels to practice math skills like classifying, counting, comparing numbers on a number line, and mental math. Do the work of an engineer as you model the organs that aid digestion and circulate your blood. On your mark, get science, and go healthy!
The Delaware Nature Society, in conjunction with Abbott’s Mill and Ashland Nature Centers will present a variety of nature-related programs at public libraries throughout the summer and fall.
About:
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.
(Dover, DE) – The Delaware Division of Libraries, in collaboration with the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, invite all community leaders affiliated with a Delaware entity offering services and support to Delawareans (businesses, nonprofit organizations, agencies, and more!) to attend an Open House for Delaware Partners on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover DE.
Established in 2008 by the Delaware Division of Libraries, Delaware Partners is a collaborative effort of more than 130 organizations focused on strengthening services to Delawareans by coordinating information exchange through public libraries. Initially formed to assist Delawareans with emergency needs during the Great Recession, the Delaware Division of Libraries is now partnering with the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement to strengthen Delaware Partners, to coordinate and maximize community information sharing across the public and private sectors. Additional information about Delaware Partners can be found at http://guides.lib.de.us/departners.
“Delaware Partners is a great example of the spirit that exists in our state to take on challenges,” said Governor Jack Markell. “We’ve worked hard during my administration to maximize the value our libraries can have in our communities with innovative efforts like Delaware Partners. I’m excited about the potential partnerships that can arise as a result of events like the open house to bring together our dedicated community of service providers,” he added.
The Markell administration has provided more than $33 million in funding for improvements and upgrades to public libraries in all three counties – more than any other administration to date. “Delaware Libraries have developed a significant infrastructure of technology and locations throughout the state. This infrastructure enables partners, in collaboration with Delaware Libraries, to extend their resources and expand their reach in service to Delawareans,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian.
Stuart Comstock-Gay, CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation, said that “libraries catalyze learning, connect people and ideas and inspire the discovery, creation, preservation and sharing
of knowledge so very vital to community and our quality of life. We are pleased to join with the Division of Libraries and DANA for this Delaware Partners event and will be presenting DelawareFocus.org, the community indicator project sponsored by the Foundation and available to everyone who seeks to know and understand Delaware.”
“This program is a wonderful way for nonprofit leaders to learn more about who is working in what social impact arenas. Our ability to work together, share insights and learn from each other is a foundational element in creating the change our organizations seek here in Delaware,” said Dr. Sheila Bravo, President & CEO, Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement.
Participants are encouraged to bring along plenty of business cards and brochures about their services, as well as their key goals and aspirations. Please register at: http://tinyurl.com/departnersopenhouse. Those who would like to participate in the partnership but are unable to attend are asked to indicate their interest here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/departnersopenhouse. For more information, contact Dr. Annie Norman,annie.norman@delaware.gov.
About the Delaware Division of Libraries
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/classes, community partnerships, and more.
About the Delaware Community Foundation
The mission of the Delaware Community Foundation is to build a shared vision for Delaware, grounded in knowledge, inspired by the common good and advanced through philanthropy. As a facilitator, information resource and manager of charitable funds, the DCF helps communities and philanthropists focus charitable resources for the greatest community benefit statewide. For more information, visit delcf.org or call 302.571.8004.
About the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement
As the leader of the nonprofit sector in Delaware, DANA’s mission is to strengthen, enhance, and advance nonprofits and the nonprofit sector through advocacy, training, capacity building, and research.