Four-legged friends to be featured at Geneva library

There's lots more than books -- though books are great -- to be found at our Geneva Public Library.

In fact, for two programs, our 4-footed friends take center stage.

"Reading for Rover" is a new program being introduced this fall, said Kristi Miller-Pease, head of youth services. The program seeks to help kids brush up on their reading skills by spending 15 minutes reading with one of three certified therapy dogs.

"I've seen these programs at other libraries and they've been popular," she said. "This is a new program we're trying out. If it's popular we'll try to do it again."

The first two sessions are already full, but as of Wednesday, openings remained in the Oct. 24 session, which meets from 4 to 5 p.m.

And on Saturday, fabulous felines take center stage at a special family program, "The Amazing Acro-Cats."

These cats will ride skateboards, ring bells, roll barrels and even run a miniature agility course. The Rock Cats are musically inclined and will play guitar, drums and piano.

The cats will be on the prowl from 10 to 11 a.m. in the lower-level meeting room. Tickets have been available for a week, and were limited by midweek. To get tickets, a patron must show a family member's valid Geneva library card, in Youth Services, to pick up the free tickets for the family.

For all programs involving tickets, families are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to aid the St. Peter Food Pantry.

Of course, books remain the focus at the library. Registration began Tuesday for the always popular storytimes.

Historically, they fill up fast. This time was no exception. There was a line when the library opened Tuesday.

Storytimes are available for children younger than 24 months (known as "Lapsit Storytime"), through children in first grade. Lapsit Storytime and the "2- & 3-year-old Storytime" require participation with parents or caregivers.

To register, parents may visit the library or call (630) 232-0893 after noon. Because registration has already begun, it's possible some storytimes are already filled. As of Wednesday, openings remained in the Friday session of "lapsit" storytime; the Thursday and Saturday sessions for 2- and 3-year-olds; all sessions for 3- and 4-year-olds, the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon sessions for 4- and 5-year-olds, and for both sessions for children in kindergarten and first grades.

Mothers and daughters (in fourth grade and older) can enjoy books together during Mother/Daughter Book Discussion. The first discussion of the school year is Sept. 24 and will cover "Darby," by Jonathon Scott Fuqua. Readers meet from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Registration has begun. Discussion on "Yankee Girl" by Mary Ann Rodman will be Oct. 29.

Boys aren't left out, of course. The first book discussion for boys (fourth grade and older, with a caregiver) will be Oct. 11, and will cover "Creepy Tales and Gross-Out Grub!" Participants will discuss "Jim Ugly" by Sid Fleischman on Nov. 8.

And Tale Spinners, in which kids produce their own junior journal, continues to be fun for children in fourth grade and older. In times past, youths wrote and illustrated their pieces, and library employees did the publishing, Miller-Pease said. Now students work on the laptop computers themselves, creating their journal pieces from start to finish. The most recent copy is on the district's Web site. The Tale Spinners session meets from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 and Nov. 29. Registration has begun.

Teen programs are open to students in grades six through 12. Anime will be on the drawing board at 5 p.m. Oct. 19, while youths can take the American Red Cross Baby Sitter Training Course from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20. In-person registration is required for this course, with a $10 deposit also required. The fee will be refunded to attendees at the class.

And TAG: Teen Advisory Group will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 and Nov. 14.

There are plenty of activities for adults as well. Adult book discussions begin this week. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, readers will discuss "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," by Lisa See, and at 9:30 a.m. Friday, readers will discuss "March," by Geraldine Brooks. October books are "Green Grass, Running Water," by Thomas King, and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson.

On Oct. 3, the Book & Bag It lunchtime program will focus on one of the most heartbreaking stories of World War II, with "We Had to Love Them to Let Them Go." William D. Becher will describe the 1940s evacuation of English children to the U.S. The program runs from noon to 1 p.m.

Pam O'Brien will present "Meditation for Deeper Well-Being" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 18, while food is on the menu for "Savory & Sweet Specialties: Fall Food Fest," set for 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23. People may register for either program by stopping in or calling the Reference Desk at 232-0780, ext. 251.

Patrons may learn more about the wider world in Great Decisions, a program sponsored and moderated by the Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles libraries. Participants must pick up a copy of the Great Decisions guide at the Geneva Library before the discussion and are expected to be prepared to discuss the evening's topic. On Wednesday, the program meets at the Batavia Public Library to discuss "The U.S. in the Middle East." On Oct. 17, the meeting is in Geneva, with the topic "Mexico: Neighbor in Turmoil." The St. Charles Public Library hosts the Nov. 14 session, "Helping the World's Endangered Children."

More programs are part of the library's table of contents. For more information, just visit the library, at Second and James streets in downtown Geneva. A wealth of information also is available online, at www.geneva.lib.il.us.