Ela Area Public Library notes

To register, call (847) 438-3433, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or visit www.eapl.org.

Back to School Freebies: As part of a national library card sign-up campaign, the Ela Area Public Library will offer special back to school incentives to all children and teens during September. Stop by the Library on selected Fridays and receive a free gift when checking out any library materials. Back to school freebies include:

• Friday - Giant Paper Clip

• Sept. 21 - Pencil Pouch

• Sept. 28 - Spin the prize wheel (when checking out more than 10 items)

Staff at the Circulation Desk will help patrons verify that they live in the district, or will refer them to the appropriate neighboring library district. To obtain a card, show two forms of identification, including something (such as a bill) verifying address. A signature from a parent or guardian is required for children under 18.

Play Group: Lap Tots Play Group, a drop-in program for babies and toddlers through 23 months, is held monthly at Ela Area Public Library. Designed especially for young children, the play group meets from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. Children must be with a caregiver. Toys and books will be provided. Registration is not required. Call the Children's Department at (847) 438-3840 for more information.

Tickle Your Funny Bone: Join this new read-aloud program for students in kindergarten through second grade. Held monthly at Ela Area Public Library from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m., the Tickle Your Funny Bone Read-Aloud will feature some favorite funny books. Today, read "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park. On Nov. 13, the selection is "Toys Go Out" by Emily Jenkins. December's book is "The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Fairy Tales" by Jon Scieszka to be read Dec. 18. A read-aloud will not be held in October. Register for each session separately.

Fall Storytime Registration: Registration for fall storytimes (sessions I and II) are under way at Ela Area Public Library. Sign up in the Children's Department, online at www.eapl.org or call (847) 438-3840. Four-week sessions run today to Oct. 4 and Oct. 30 to Nov. 21. Register for only one class per session per child for the following programs:

• Terrific Twos and Threes meets from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. Tuesdays or Wednesdays or from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. Wednesdays.

• Preschool Storytime (for unaccompanied children ages 3, 4 or 5) meets from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

For more information, Call the Children's Department at (847) 438-3840.

One-Day Plant Clinic: University of Illinois Master Gardeners will be available to help patrons with gardening dilemmas during Ela Area Public Library's One-Day Plant Clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Library. Drop by anytime during clinic hours to have garden questions answered. Don't forget plant, weed or insect samples enclosed in a plastic bag or container and need to be fresh to obtain a good diagnosis.

This program is free. For more information, call (847) 438-3433 or stop by the Library's Information Desk, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or register online at www.eapl.org.

Stop in for a Story: The Ela Area Public Library offers Stop-in Stories for children of all ages. These storytimes do not require advance registration and are available for children not enrolled in a registered storytime. An adult must accompany children under 3. Upcoming sessions will be held from 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20 and 27, and Oct. 4 for Session I and Nov. 1 and 8 for Session II. Call the Children's Department at (847) 438-3840 for more details.

Fall Book Sale: The Friends of Ela Library will hold its fall book sales in the library from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday for members only; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (members receive 10 percent off); and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Remaining books will be sold for $5 a bag.

Because of the popularity of the Friday night Members Only Sale, a numbering system has been established. Numbers will be given out beginning at 4 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Information Desk. Patrons may begin lining up for entry into the sale at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Meeting Room.

Hundreds of books in a variety of categories will be available at bargain prices. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the library to help provide materials and equipment.

Effective Discipline Dr. Thomas Phelan, an internationally renowned expert and lecturer on parenting and attention deficit disorder, will provide a humorous look at parenting and a serious look at discipline using the "1-2-3" method from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at Ela Area Public Library.

This free program focuses on discipline for children ages 2 to 12. Advance registration is required. For more information or to sign up, call the Library at (847) 438-3840, e-mail the Information Desk at infodesk@eapl.org or register online at www.eapl.org.

Read for the Record: "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf as part of Jumpstart's Read for the Record program at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Ela Area Public Library's Children's Department. Celebrate this yearly event that encourages children from all across the country to read the same book on this day. Crafts, snacks and prizes will be available. All ages are welcome, and registration is not required. For more information, contact the Children's Department at (847) 438-3840.