. - Three-year-old Frederick Wordelmann heads straight to a work table in the children’s area of the Montville Public Library where the librarian he’s come to know is pouring out markers of every color from an oversized supply bag.

At a nearby table, Cortni Vnencak, 3, has already started to sort through the markers, searching for just the right colors to design a Thanksgiving turkey, last week’s activity in the "First Saturdays for Families" program held on Saturday, Nov. 7. 

Frederick and Cortni are among the hundreds of area youngsters who regularly participate in the children’s programs designed to introduce young people to the library.  

"Let them see we’re a fun place to be," said librarian Ann Job who has run the library’s Children’s Department for the past six years.

Job is referring to the 15 or so youngsters - ages 2 through 6 - who showed up last week for the trendy Saturday morning program that runs year-round, just one of the library’s many crowd-pleasing events. 

"‘First Saturdays’ lets parents team up with their kids to enjoy reading or craft activities," Job explained, noting the program is favored by working families who can’t make it to the library’s Story Time sessions during the week. 

Accommodating families who keep varied schedules and children who have assorted tastes accounts for the noticeable success of other library programs as well, Job added.

She also said it explains why some of the children’s programs have attracted such a devoted following that families must register for them in advance. 

"Hundreds have signed up for our daytime and evening Pet Shop Story Times" Job said, "and there’s only a few openings left in the Mother/Daughter Book Club or the Exploring Art Workshop."

The parents who came to the Saturday, Nov. 7, session weren’t surprised to hear any of this.

"This library does a lot for these kids," remarked Cortni’s father, Chris.  "Coming here has taught my daughter how to use a computer and how to interact with children her age."

The program has also helped to introduce Hillsdale School student Elizabeth Bazhenov, 5, to the English language since her parents, Irina and Arkady Bazhenov, speak only Russian at home. 

"Elizabeth resisted learning English until she saw other children at the library speaking it," said her mother. Irina Bazhenov credits the library with helping her select age-appropriate books from American authors that Elizabeth reads at home. 

A librarian for 20 years, Job discussed how the library’s staff practices what she calls "readers’ advisory", suggesting books kids can read at home when parents ask for guidance. 

For this, Job and the other librarians get high marks from parents like Lisa Chen whose son Alex, 6, regularly checks out books on his favorite subjects.

"He’s passionate about trains," says Chen. She credits Job for helping Alex find books on trains which, she says, has turned the Woodmont School first-grader into an avid reader.

"Ann is special because she can give you background information on any author you mention," Chen added. "It’s important because she lets you, the parent, decide what’s right for your children to read." 

For a schedule of activities at the Montville Public Library, and to find out which require advance registration, call the children’s desk at (973) 402-0900, ext. 224, or visit the library’s web site at http://montvillelib.org.

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