Community Corner
Tweens Have a Place to Call Their Own at the SBPL
South Brunswick Public Library offers numerous options including special programs and games aimed at students in grades 4-7.
The South Brunswick Public Library offers a full slate of programs set up for every age group, including those ages sometimes caught in the middle of adolescence and young adulthood. The SBPL has set up tween programs aimed to benefit kids in grades four through seven. The goal of the program is to get youngsters better involved in their community through various activities as a source of entertainment and as a learning experience.
Last year, the SBPL installed a new collection of books directed for the age group. In addition, the library also created a lounge specifically designed for the programs, which finished development at the end of last month. The bookcases include graphic novels, nonfiction, fiction, magazines, radio, etc.
Activities include spelling bees, chess games, origami construction, trivia’s, crafts, culinary classes, and scavenger hunts. The program is funded by The South Brunswick Assets Initiative & Municipal Alliance, as well as Friends of the Library.
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“We have so many people coming into our program, we have to divide the age groups,” said Susanna Chan, Head of Children’s Services at SBPL. “We know at this age they don’t like to mix too much."
Therefore, the groups are collaborated by age and gender to form teams that compete against each other and work together during different games.
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Last week, librarian Matt Kirschner hosted a trivia game for the tweens, who were divided up into two teams. Kirschner led them through four rounds of trivia regarding “The Wizard of Oz."
He tested the kids' knowledge of the book with questions dealing with the setting, characters details and the plot. After each question, the kids jumped in excitement and whispered the answers to their fellow teammates in order to earn points. Parents were invited to look on and watch the game.
Culinary classes for girls are also offered every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and there will also be an upcoming Wii-Staragavanza taking place for boys during the month of May. Kids can also learn from home by watching video books from the SBPL website.
The tween programs are available for all kids in fourth grade through seventh grade and the SBPL encourages children and parents to come participate in the activities and community services that are currently going on at the SBPL.
