Reading an Audiobook

Do audiobooks count as reading?  Are they really more entertainment than education? These are questions we hear often.

According to assistant professor of reading education Denise Johnson, from the article Benefits of Audiobooks for All Readers on readingrockets.org, some of the benefits of audiobooks include:

  • Presenting students with books above their reading level.
  • Modeling interpretative reading skills.
  • Teaching critical listening.
  • Introducing humor.
  • Highlighting new vocabulary words with context and pronunciation.
  • Providing a model for reading aloud.
  • Giving parents and children an opportunity to listen together.
  • AND Recapturing the joy of being read a story by a masterful storyteller!

There are several ways you can access audiobooks from our library.

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Playaways are a great option for audiobooks!

If you aren’t familiar with Playaways, they are handheld audio devices with one preloaded audiobook.

No internet is required.  Just plug in headphones, add a battery, and push play!

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Some titles are available as a Bookpack, which includes both the Playaway audio device and a copy of the book.

You can also check out audiobooks on your smartphone or tablet with your Moline library card using the Axis 360, Hoopla, Overdrive or Libby apps.

Check out this link for more information on downloading, or give us a call!

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Finally, books on CD are still a thing too, and we have a large collection!

Happy listening and reading!

Miss Tess

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Meet Miss Jessica!

Please welcome our newest staff member, Jessica!

She just started in time for the Harry Potter program in the Children’s Department. She previously has worked at the Rock Island Public Library, the Thomas Jefferson School in Milan and interned at the Rock Island School for Math and Science as well as at the Moline Public Library. She is in the process of getting her Master’s degree in Library Science through the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an emphasis on youth services.

Jessica loves to ready fantasy (Harry Potter is one of her favorites!) and enjoys video-games. A Quad Cities native, her family includes her two fur babies, Tigger and Salem.

We are very excited to having Jessica back on board with us. Be on the lookout for her upcoming blog posts and programs!

Miss Christina

Goodbye, Miss Janna!

We are sad  to announce that Janna’s last day will be this Saturday. She will be leaving to spend more time with her little ones. Although we are happy for her and her fiance, we will greatly miss her. Her dedication to children’s services shines through with her cheerful attitude, fabulous displays and fun programs. Her last program with the library will be this Saturday at Riverside Park Gardens from 1-3pm. Stop by to enjoy the fun and wish her well.

Miss Christina

Visiting the Figge Art Museum

The Figge is up next.

The Figge Art Museum is located in downtown Davenport, near Modern Woodman Park and the Centennial Bridge at 225 West 2nd Street

The pass from the Moline Library offers free general admission for 4 visitors.

Keep in mind too that admission is always free to children under age 4, to all visitors on Thursdays after 5 p.m., to seniors the first Thursday of every month, and to all active military members, spouses and children.

The Figge is a fantastic place for families to visit.  Before you go, you might want to check out the Figge’s excellent guides for exploring art with children!

Much of the art on display has no barriers, which definitely enhances the experience.  However, if you have a younger visitor with you, be prepared to encourage them to take a look-but-don’t-touch approach.  Some of the pieces will be pretty inviting for little hands!

If you have a little art lover who is not quite ready to look without touching yet, that’s not a problem.  The Artica Gallery is the place to be!

There is SO much to have fun with in here – Legos, art supplies, blocks, and bean bags!

The Artica Gallery is on the 2nd floor to the left after exiting the elevator.

Currently an exhibit featuring local young artists is on the 2nd floor too.

The 2nd floor also features the Learn to Look and Studio 1 galleries where younger visitors can explore.  These galleries were not open the day I visited, but you can learn more here

At the opposite end of the 2nd floor are all the beautiful pieces that make up the Figge’s permanent collection.

The abstract collections could inspire some serious discussions!

Here is the Grant Wood exhibit.

The Spirit of Haiti room is filled with colorful and interesting pieces as well.

The Frank Lloyd Wright room is a must-see for architecture and mid-century modern fans!

Right now, there is a Georgia O’Keefe painting on display as well.

On the 3rd floor until May 20, the Rock Island Art Guild is featuring an exhibit of local art.

There are several wonderful pieces in this area, and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite.  Kids can vote too!

You will definitely walk out of the Figge feeling inspired!

The Figge’s hours are

Tuesday through Saturday 10 am-5 pm
Thursdays 10 am-9 pm
Sundays 12-5 pm

The phone number is 563-326-7804.

The Figee is having several workshops this summer for teens and children.  You can get more information here

Miss Tess

 

Visiting the German American Heritage Center & Museum

The German American Heritage Center and Museum is our next visit!

 

The German American Heritage Center and Museum is located at 712 W 2nd St, Davenport, Iowa, right at the bottom of the Centennial Bridge.

The pass from the library allows free general admission for 4 visitors.

The museum is housed in a former hotel built in the 1870s.  It is a really fantastic place to learn more about German culture and Quad Cities history.

The first floor contains the gift shop and the Butchers, Bakers, and Brewers exhibit.

Many of the first German immigrants who moved to Davenport set up businesses, including bakeries, dress shops, and breweries.  Some of the businesses, like Von Maur, are still around.

This press was used to make cookies to commemorate Charles Lindbergh’s visit to the Quad Cities.

The German American Heritage Center is filled with quite a few interactive spots for young visitors.  Here kids can design a business card for their ideal business.

The second floor of the museum contains the Culinary Customs exhibit,  where visitors can check out different German foods and utensils and then share their own favorite German dish.

The German Immigrant Experience exhibit is also on this level.

Here children can try on clothing German immigrants might have worn

and learn more about German animals and stories.

The interactive exhibit, Step into My Shoes, is also here.  When visitors stand on the footprints on the floor, a video plays of a character telling their immigration story.

There is also a covered wagon display with lots of information.

Throughout the museum, artifacts not meant for touching are clearly labeled.

Displays that children are encouraged to touch are labeled with this helpful logo-

The German American Heritage Center was a fun place to visit with lots of hands-on learning opportunities!

The GAHC has a program running now called Second Saturdays, where a new German-inspired craft or activity is held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month.  You can find more information for May’s event here.

The GAHC is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the phone number is 563-322-8844.

Miss Tess

Visiting the Putnam Museum

On we go to the Putnam Museum!  The Putnam is located at 1717 West 12th Street, Davenport, Iowa.  The passes from the Moline Public Library provide free general admission for 4 people.  Special exhibits and movies on the big screen will cost extra.

If you haven’t visited the Putnam in awhile, you should definitely check it out!  There is so much for children and adults here.

The Science Center is particularly fun, with lots of hands-on learning opportunities for everyone.

The lever Tug-of-War is a big hit, as well as the Pulley Power station.

In Electricity, Light and Color, you can spin a wheel with a magnet through a frame of copper coils to generate enough electricity to power a light bulb!

 

Check out the large Newton’s Cradle too, but watch your fingers!

Downstairs, the Science Center has even more.

In the Engineering and Design station, visitors can create a paper rocket and fire it.  In the Film and Music room you can make stop motion videos and simple animations on the animation wheel.

There is also an Earthquake table and a Lego Raceway down on this level, and a 3D printing station.

The giant air fountain shoots scarves into the air, and the kids had a great time shooting and catching them.

The Augmented Reality room is also located on this level.  It was closed when I visited, but typically it offers visitors a chance to interact with different virtual animals and then capture a picture.  You can read more about it here

The Hall of Mammals is a neat place too, with polar bears and an African animal exhibit.

Cross the bridge from the lower level Science Center to the Black Earth, Big River exhibit!  This is a cozy place where visitors can check out all the wildlife in our backyards.

The fish tank here features catfish, gar, and other local species.

There is also a tree puppet theater and stage.

Behind Black Earth, Big River is the Ocean Experience exhibit with an interactive submarine, a large octopus model, and a coral reef tank.

Unearthing Ancient Egypt is a fantastic exhibit.  It is located on the basement level.  Lots to look at and learn about in here, and of course, the mummy!

Be sure to check out the Uwe Warume area too!  It is a little off the grid, located in the River, Prairie, People exhibit beneath the airplane.

This is a really fun interactive spot with a wigwam, drum, and trading post.  Kids can also dress up in Prairie fashions.  The room is warm and sunny and a great place for grownups to take a rest too!

 

The Putnam is a fantastic place to spend the day!  They are open 7 days a week

Monday – Saturday  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday    Noon – 5 p.m.

Miss Tess
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