What’s Happening (Virtually) at Cheshire Library in February

January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

February is Love Your Library month! We’ve got lots of online programs to love in February, sign up for as many as you like!

February Teen Volunteering Challenges

Earn community service hours by submitting a photo, video, or other content that may be added to CPL’s social media pages! Each submission will be awarded 2 community service hours. February’s challenges include:

Art: Make art with heart- design a Valentine’s Day card for someone, or create a masterpiece made out of hearts.
Writing: Write a story, poem, or essay about something you love. It could be a person, a book or movie, or food- fact or fiction.
Food: February is Great American Pie Month, so bake your favorite pie and share that flaky goodness with someone special.
Reading: Re-read a book you fell in love with as a kid.
More Reading: For Black History Month, read a Coretta Scott King Award-winning book. (Named for Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife, this award is given to the most distinguished children’s and teen’s books about the African American experience. You can find a list of all the winners since 1970 here.)
Even More Reading: Close your eyes and run your hands along a book shelf (either yours, or in the library). Choose any book at random and read it!

If you participate in the challenges, earn community service credit by submitting your creations so we can share them on our social media pages!

Tips and Tricks for Remote Learners from a Homeschool Veteran

Monday, February 1, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Schooling at home and homeschooling are different, but there’s also a lot of overlap. Get some tips and tricks for remote learning from 20 year homeschool veteran, Linda Hincks. We’ll talk about how to relieve stress for kids and adults alike and revive energy for learning. Bring your questions and concerns. Please forward your questions to aallen@cheshirelibrary.org ahead of time so Linda can include the answers in her presentation. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program

What Can We Learn From the Census?

Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 2:00 – 3:00pm

Carol Ansel, Director at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, will discuss the history of the United States Census, how the questions changed to reflect what was happening in the nation at that time, and how you can use it to learn about your ancestors. There are stories hidden in all those facts and figures–you just have to know how to find them! Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Musical Journey with Liz McNicholl

Saturday, February 6, 2021, 10:00 – 10:45am

We can’t celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day in person, however we can still have fun together, virtually! Join Liz McNicholl from Musical Folk for a wonderful, interactive virtual music making program with your little one! Grab some items from around the house to use as instruments (shakers, scarves etc.). Best for children ages 2-5, however everyone is welcome to attend. Please register for this virtual event and you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the start of the program.

Food Explorers

Chocolate Cheesecake Egg Rolls: Monday, February 8, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Loaded Veggie Tot Nachos: Monday, February 22, 6:00 – 7:00pm

Join a Registered Dietitian from Food Explorers to make Chocolate Cheesecake Egg Rolls and Loaded Veggie Tot Nachos! Ingredients are listed on our Event Calender. For kids ages 6-12. Please register for these virtual events and you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the start of the program.

Take + Read: Blind Date with a Book

Pick up February 8-13, 2021

Blind Date with a Book is a “mystery” book, wrapped in brown paper, tagged with clues, and is yours to keep! This can be a fun way to discover something new or read outside your comfort zone. Registration is required to reserve and pick up a kit, and kits are limited to one kit per teen per week. register to pick up your kit in the Children’s Room any time the library is open during the week of February 8, or arrange for contactless pickup. For grades 6-12.

Virtual Paint Time (Adult Take & Make )

Pick up kit Tuesday, February 5, 2021, from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Painting Program Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 2:45 – 4:45pm

Learn how to paint a real work of art at home! Follow instructor Pamela Halligan of Pam’s Picassos online as she walks you through the steps of creating your own masterpiece and you will create a beautiful completed painting. You must be registered for the program in order to pick up a paint kit, which will be available for pickup on February 5, 10-4. There are limited spots for this program. Please make sure you can attend (and pick up kit) BEFORE you register.

Adult Cooking Program – Chocolate!

Thursday, February 11, 2021, 3:30 – 4:30pm

Join Food Explorers to learn how to make two chocolate recipes with a Registered Dietitian! Perfect for Valentine’s Day, we’ll be making Chocolate Bark and Chocolate Avocado Truffles, and while we’re cooking you’ll have the chance to ask any food or nutrition related questions you may have. Please register for this virtual event and you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the start of the program.

Cartooning Workshop for Beginners

Thursday, February 11, 2021, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Award winning cartoonist and humorous illustrator, Rick Stromoski, will teach you how to create your own cartoon characters, draw facial expressions and animals! All you will need is a stack of paper and something to draw with. For children and teens in grades 3-8. Please register once per family and you will receive a Zoom meeting link 1 hour prior to the program start time.

Pajama Storytime

Monday, February 15, 2021, 7:00 – 7:30pm

Put on your pajamas and fuzzy slippers and tune in for a fun-filled evening of stories, songs, and adventures! Best for ages 2-5. Registration is required for this virtual event. You will receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the event start time.

Homeschooling: What’s Next?

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30pm

You’ve decided to homeschool. What’s next? Join Linda Hincks of Wren Homeschool Consulting to find out not only what to do, but how! Please forward your questions to aallen@cheshirelibrary.org ahead of time so Linda can include the answers in the her presentation. Please register for this virtual event, and you will receive a Zoom meeting link 1 hour prior to the program.

Looking for Owls

Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Through field experiences and knowledge about the life histories of owls, we will embark on a continuing expedition in search of owls and in the process reveal strategies for finding owls in your backyard, your local patch, and beyond. Please register for this virtual event, and you will receive a Zoom meeting link 1 hour prior to the program.

Minecraft Hour of Code: Voyage Aquatic

Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Join us for this free, one-hour virtual workshop to take part in the global Hour of Code movement. Using the power of code, students will explore aquatic worlds and uncover hidden treasure with the 2018 Minecraft Voyage Aquatic tutorial. For children and teens ages 8-16. Please register for this virtual event and you will receive a Teams Meeting Link 1 hour prior to the program start.

Genealogy Research Tips & Tricks

Wednesday, February 24, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Carol Ansel, Director at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, will share a number of hints to make your online genealogy searching easier and more effective. Please register for this virtual event, and you will receive a Zoom meeting link 1 hour prior to the program.

Teen Take & Make: Book Hedgehogs

Wednesday, February 24, 202, 6:00 – 6:45pm

Learn how to fold discarded books into adorable hedgehogs and personalize them with a variety of craft supplies. Pick up a Take + Make kit with supplies for the craft any time the library is open during the week of February 15, 2021. (Arrangements can also be made for contactless pickup.) Registration required to reserve supplies to be picked up and to attend this virtual program.

Facing War: CT in WWI

Thursday, February 25, 2021, 3:00 – 4:30pm

What was life like on the homefront during WW1? Learn about this dramatic time during which CT confronted women’s demand for the vote, a deadly flu epidemic and the mass immigration- all while sending thousands of men and women to the front. Please register for this virtual event, and you will receive a Zoom meeting link 1 hour prior to the program.

Macramé Earrings & Necklace (Adult Take & Make )

Pick up kit Tuesday, February 23, 2021, from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Macrame Workshop Saturday, February 27, 2021, 3:00 – 4:30pm

Join macramé artist Linda and learn to make macramé earrings & necklace using basic knots. We will make a set of jewelry using 2 mm cotton or jute cord, and working on a small scale, so average manual skills in tying knots are needed. You must be registered for the program in order to pick up a supply kit, which will be available for pickup on February 23, 10-4. There are limited spots for this program. Please make sure you can attend (and pick up kit) BEFORE you register.

What’s Happening (Virtually) at Cheshire Library in January

December 29, 2020December 21, 2020 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Happy New Year! Back when we started doing virtual programming in April, we thought it might be for a couple of months. Now here we are starting our tenth month of virtual programs, with no in-person programs on the immediate horizon. We like to think we’ve gotten pretty good at them, though, and have found that some kinds of programs actually work better in a virtual setting. We’ll keep working to bring you entertaining and informative program online – we’ve got a ton of them coming in January, here’s a look:

January Teen Volunteering Challenges

Art: Make a fancy snowflake (cutting from paper), or draw a picture of an Abominable Snowman.
Writing: Write a story, poem, or essay about someone who inspires you.
Food: January is National Soup Month, so make some soup and warm your family up with piping hot bowls of comfort!
Reading: Read a book about Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18th).
More Reading: Celebrate A.A. Milne’s birthday (also January 18th) by reading (re-reading?) a Winnie-the-Pooh story.
Even More Reading: Build a pillow fort and read a book inside it!

If you participate in the challenges, earn community service credit by submitting your creations so we can share them on our social media pages!

Take + Make: Paracord Bracelet

Pick up January 4 – 9, 2021

Make something at your own pace with Take + Make kits! We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit in the Children’s Room any time the library is open (hours listed here) during the week of January 4, 2021. For grades 6-12, one kit per person, please.

Support Through Meditation – Weekly Zoom Event

Tuesdays, January 5-26, 2:00 – 3:00pm

This introductory meditation class is geared towards helping you through these anxious and challenging times. You will learn various meditation techniques that you will practice in session and guidance to perform meditation on your own. Presenter Tia Mandrozos will explain the purpose of meditation and interact with the participants to provide the help needed and to address specific concerns. Please register via the Event Calendar for each session you wish to attend.

White Memorial Through the Seasons – White Memorial Conservation Center

Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Brother and sister Alain and May White left their fingerprints all over Litchfield County, beginning with our 4,000 acre sanctuary. Sit back and enjoy breathtaking images from a variety of contributors depicting the extraordinary people, places, and things that make up this living masterpiece! Advance registration is required to join this program.

Murder of the High Wizard – Virtual Murder Mystery

Thursday, January 7, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00pm

The College of Wizards investigates a shocking murder! Join us in playing the roles of wizards and faculty for this virtual magic-themed murder mystery game. For teens in grades 6-12. Please register in advance to receive your character sheet before the program.

Adult Take & Make Workshop: Macramé Coaster

Pick up materials: Tuesday, January 5, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Zoom workshop: Saturday, January 9, 3:00 – 4:30pm

A macramé coaster is a great project for beginner to intermediate level crafters. We will use cotton rope and basically we will repeat one type of knot several times in a circle to create this useful and cool looking object. Join our Macramé artist Linda to make this fun project. Supplies are limited, registration is required to pick up your supplies on January 5th and attend the virtual workshop on January 9th.

Foundation Gardens and Native Plants: A Winter View

Monday, January 11, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Presenter Kathy Connolly will discuss how to use winter’s lean lines to assess a foundation area, imagine new design, and build your plant list during the dark months. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Homeschooling 101

Monday, January 11, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30pm

So you’re thinking about homeschooling? Join Linda Hincks, East Hampton homeschool mom and owner of Wren Homeschool Consulting, to learn the basics of homeschooling and the laws in Connecticut. Please forward your questions to aallen@cheshirelibrary.org ahead of time so Linda can include the answers in the Zoom presentation. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Baby Steps

Bathtime! Tuesday, January 12, 10:00 – 10:30am
Putting on Clothes! Tuesday, January 26, 10:00 – 10:30am

Join us in an exploration of shared activities for babies ages 0-12 months and their caregivers that provide the opportunity to strengthen your connection with your child and enrich your baby’s cognitive development through joyful movement and social experiences. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Preschool Storytime

Wednesdays, January 13 – February 10, 10:00 – 10:30pm

A virtual storytime for preschoolers (and their grown-ups!) to learn through talking, singing, reading, writing,and playing! Best for children ages 3-5. Younger and older siblings are welcome. This program meets five times: January 13, 20, and 27 & February 3 and 10. Registration required, register once to attend all five sessions.

Getting Started in Genealogy

Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 2:00 – 3:00pm

Carol Ansel, Director at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, will present the ABC’s of beginning genealogy, with an emphasis on the 8 (or so) basic types of genealogical records—where you can find them and how best to use them. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Sing Your Story

Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Sing Your Story is an education music experience where kids become songwriters! Creator, Michele Urban, is an Early Childhood Music specialist, songwriter and vocal performer. Check out the song we wrote this summer here! Best for children in grades K-6. Please register for this virtual program to receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the program start time.

Cooking Program: Ditch the Diet

Thursday, January 14, 2021, 3:30 – 4:30pm

Join Food Explorers to learn how to start the New Year off in a healthy way with a Registered Dietitian! No more calorie counting or juice cleanses, you’ll learn how to determine if a diet is fad or fact. You’ll also have the chance to cook along and make a delicious lunch-prep recipe: Sweet Potato Fajita Bowls with Guacamole (ingredients in the calendar description). Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Teen Take + Taste Challenge: Kit Kats!

January 19 – 23, 2021

Try some new tastes in the New Year- discover the wild and wacky flavors of Kit Kat candy bars and try to guess the flavors without peeking… do you think you can guess the flavors by just their taste? We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit in the Children’s Room any time the library is open (hours listed here) during the week of January 18, 2021. For grades 6-12. Registration is required to reserve and pick up a kit, and kits are limited to one kit per person per week.

Connecticut & the Pandemic of 1918

Thursday, January 21, 2021, 3:00 – 4:30pm

What was it like to live through the Influenza Pandemic of 1918? In this program, we’ll look at archival images, letters, and newspapers to explore this topic, including sources left by Connecticans who experienced the flu first-hand. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Take + Make: Snowflake STEAM

January 25 – 30, 2021

Make something at your own pace with Take + Make kits! We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit in the Children’s Room any time the library is open (hours listed here) during the week of January 25, 2021. For grades K-6, one kit per child, please.

Cut the Cord

Monday, January 25, 2021, 6:00 – 7:30pm

Join us for an entertaining presentation meant to help cable-TV customers break the expensive and often frustrating cable service cycle. The presentation will cover details of streaming equipment (some of which you may already own) and how to explore the ever-expanding list of channels and services streaming—as well as the “forgotten” free resource of broadcast TV—can bring to your living room. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Books Over Coffee: The Searcher

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Want to engage in great discussions about books? Meet new people? Join us for an adult monthly book club program called Books Over Coffee. This month’s book is The Searcher by Tana French. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

Feeling Alone-a Because of Corona

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Hands-on Workshop with On-hand ingredients – with Velya and Ehris Urban. We’ll learn how to make DIY Ginger Ale and Vanilla/Almond Extracts. Registration is required, registered participants will receive a Zoom link via email on the day of the program.

What’s Happening (virtually) at Cheshire Library in November

October 27, 2020November 5, 2020 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

We’re ramping up our online storytime programs and book clubs this month, and looking forward to a virtual visit from our favorite humorist, Joyce Saltman. Reading and laughing, what could be better?

November Teen Volunteering Challenges

Art: Create fall-inspired art.
Writing: Write a story, poem, or essay, about being thankful.
Food: Make a dish using pumpkin or apples as an ingredient.
Reading: Read a book about voting, elections, or running for office.
More Reading: Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by reading a book about our nation’s first people.
Even More Reading: It’s also Picture Book Month- read a picture book you’ve never read before and review it for our families.

Submit HERE for the Art, Writing, and Food Challenges. Submit a 300 word book review HERE for the Reading Challenges.

**Comics Club – Pick up New Kid this month!**

Comics Club will be held on Thursday, December 17 at 4pm. Starting November 2, copies of New Kid by Jerry Craft and the program supplies are available for pickup at the children’s information desk during open hours. Want to know what the book is about? Watch the book trailer here! For children in grades 3-5, register for the December meeting here.

Book Buzz Teen Book Club – Pick up your December books this month!

In December, we are going to do something different- we will each read a book of our choice (all different books) and then share the stories with each other. Books will be provided and are yours to keep! Books are available for pick up at the Children’s Desk. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing during pickup. We’ll meet on Zoom to discuss our books on December 16. For grades 6-12.

Take + Make: Paper Helicopters

Monday, November 2, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Tuesday, November 3, 1:00 – 4:00pm

Make something at your own pace with Take + Make kits! With this kit, you’ll make your very own paper helicopter. For grades k-6. We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit at the library on Nov. 2 or 3.

Baby Playgroup on Zoom

Tuesdays, November 3 -17, 2020, 10:00 – 10:30am

For babies ages 0-12 months and their caregivers, this program provides an opportunity to strengthen your connection with your child and enriches your baby’s cognitive development through joyful movement and social experiences. We will meets five times beginning October 20, you only need to register once to attend all five classes. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link on the morning of each program.

Support Through Meditation – Weekly Zoom Event

Tuesdays, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Preschool Storytime

Wednesdays, November 4 & 18, 2020, 10:00 – 10:30am

A virtual storytime for preschoolers to learn through talking, singing, reading, writing,and playing! Best for children ages 3-5, younger and older siblings are also welcome. This program meets four times: October 21 & 28 and November 4 & 18, (there will be no storytime on November 11). Register once to attend all four sessions. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link on the morning of each program.

Kids Cook Dinner: Guacamole Grilled Cheese with Baked Fries

Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Spend some quality time with your children in the kitchen while encouraging them to try new foods! An instructor from Food Explorers will show kids 7-14 how to prepare a delicious meal for the whole family! Registration is required, and the ingredients needed for this program can be found on the Event Calendar listing.

Toddler Storytime

Thursdays, November 5-19, 2020, 10:00 – 10:30am

A virtual storytime for toddlers and their caregivers, with interactive songs, stories, and other fun activities. Best for children ages 1-3. Younger and older siblings are welcome. This program meets five beginning October 22, you only need to register once to attend all sessions. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link one hour before the beginning of each program.

Take + Make STEM: Polymer

Monday, November 9, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Thursday, November 12, 1:00 – 4:45pm

Make something at your own pace with Take + Make STEM kits! With this STEM-based kit, learn all about polymers by making your own stress ball and completing two other fun experiments for kids in grades 1-6! We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit at the library on Nov. 9 or 12. Please be advised this kit contains latex.

Adult Take + Make: DIY Folded Book Turkey

Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 10:00am – 4:00pm

Do you enjoy the Cheshire Public Library book turkey? Have you wanted to make one yourself but didn’t know where to start? Now is your chance to make a Do It Yourself Folded Turkey book. On November 10 from 10-4PM, pick up the pre-reserved materials you will need at the library. When convenient watch the video and make your turkey book. Registration required to reserve supplies. (You will also need: an Exacto knife or other sharp cutting tool, a ruler, a hot glue gun and glue, and some tape.)

Pandemic Pandemonium: Joyce Saltman Virtual Program

Monday, November 16, 2020, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Is the pandemic getting you down? Join us for a little dose of positive thinking, with a double dose of humor. In this timely session, Joyce will attempt to lighten our loads with some positive re-framing of the present corona virus pandemic and lots of crazy jokes that have been produced by the creative minds of some obviously desperate individuals! Please register online to receive a link on November 16 to join the program.

Take + Make: Thankful Tree

Monday, November 16, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Tuesday, November 17, 1:00 – 4:00pm

Populate a tree with leaves of things that make you thankful in this simple craft for kids of all ages. We have a limited number of materials so please register to pick up your kit at the library on Nov. 16 or 17.

Book Buzz Teen Book Club: Alice By Heart

Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 3:00 – 4:00pm

Our new teen book club! For our first book we’ll be talking about Alice by Heart by Steven Sater. A young girl takes refuge in a London Tube station during WWII and confronts grief, loss, and first love with the help of her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland, in this debut novel from Tony Award-winning playwright Steven Sater. Books will be provided (pick up a copy starting October 1 in the Children’s Room) and are yours to keep! Please register online, registered participants will receive a Zoom link on the day of the program. Didn’t read the book? Join us anyway and hear what others thought of it!

Pajama Storytime

Monday, November 23, 2020, 6:30pm – 7:00pm

Put on your pajamas and fuzzy slippers and tune in for a fun-filled evening of stories, songs, and adventures! Best for ages 2-5. Registration is required for this virtual event. Registered participants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting 1 hour prior to the event start time.

Murder of the High Wizard – Virtual Murder Mystery

Tuesday, November 24, 2020, 3:00 – 4:00pm

Join us in playing the roles of wizards and faculty for this virtual magic-themed murder mystery game. Your character sheet will be emailed to you about a week before the program so you can become familiar with the wizard you are playing, and the link to this event itself will be emailed to you an hour before start time to join this Zoom Virtual program. For grades 6-12, registration required.

Virtual Books Over Coffee: The Darwin Affair

Wednesday, November 25, 2020, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Want to engage in great discussions about books? Meet new people? Join us for an adult monthly book club program called Books Over Coffee. We will meet over Zoom.. This month’s book is The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason. Please register in advance, registered participants will receive a Zoom meeting link on the day of the program.

Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

Monday, November 30, 2020, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join noted floral designer and Cheshire resident Sylvia Nichols virtually in her design workroom as she prepares to “dress up” her home for the holidays. This fun fast-paced program will be filled with easy, affordable, practical ideas. Sylvia uses her personal holiday keepsakes, which will inspire your own creativity. As always, she will entertain you with lively anecdotes and offer her reassurance that you too, can create beautiful holiday arrangements. No stress! It’s fun! Please register online for this virtual program. We will email you an hour before the program begins with a link to join the Zoom meeting.

Outside Book Groups

Art Book Discussion: A Piece of the World

Friday, November 20, 2020,11:00am – 12:30pm

Do you love to read? And love art? Let’s discuss! Join us for a monthly book club discussion on the third Friday of each month from 11am to 12:30pm in a Zoom Virtual meeting. This month’s discussion is on A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. Please register for this program online.

Murder by the Book Mystery Book Club: Fer-de-Lance

Thursday, December 3, 2020, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Do you like to read and talk about mysteries? Then join us for monthly book discussions, fresh perspectives, new authors and a friendly atmosphere! We are meeting virtually via Zoom. This month’s discussion is on Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout. Please register for this program online, registered participants will receive a Zoom link on the day of the program.

Become a “Fake News” Detective – how to verify what you see online before you share it

October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 / Louise / 2 Comments

In 2019, Pew Research found that 55% of American adults said they get their news from social media either “often” or “sometimes” . And while some news on social media may come from reliable sources, plenty more “news” may be from articles reposted or retweeted by friends. So, as you’re scrolling through your newsfeed and seeing articles (or comments on articles) that provoke a reaction in you, how do you know what you’re seeing is legitimate?

We are living in an age of misinformation – just about anyone can become a “publisher” these days with little to no oversight or verification. And many of these publishers aren’t even people! Recently, researchers at Carnegie Melon University studied more than 200 million tweets about the novel coronavirus. Of the top 50 most influential retweeters, 82% of them were bots! What were they retweeting? Dozens of inaccurate stories about things like bogus conspiracy theories and phony cures.

How do we know what’s real and what isn’t nowadays? It takes some digging. And it’s worth doing a little fact-checking of your own before hitting the “share” button. We should also understand that there are different types of unreliable information out there. For instance there’s a difference between deliberately misleading information (propaganda and libel) and unintentional misinformation (mistakes). But we don’t want to spread either kind, so let’s look at how to separate the fact from fiction.

The C.R.A.P. Test, developed by Dominican University Librarian Molly Beestrum, is a helpful tool to use when trying to decide if something is a credible, valid source. When you come across questionable information, run it through these four categories:

Current

How current is the information?
How recently was it was posted? Has it been updated?

Reliable

How reliable is the information?
Does the author provide references or sources?
What proof do you have that the information is reliable?

Authority

Who is the creator or author of the information? What are his or her credentials?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the information? Is this a reputable information source?

Purpose/Point ofView

What is the purpose of this information? Is it intended to inform, entertain, or persuade?
Does the information sound like fact or opinion? Is it biased?
Is the creator or author trying to sell you something?

Something else to think about is the emotional response an article or post evokes in you. Content creators are all about the emotional response, and “fake news” stories often use emotionally driven content to push their agenda and compel people to share it. The next time you are outraged or amazed by a story, look a little deeper. Fact checking sites like Snopes.com and FactCheck.org, can help you determine if what you’ve seen is legitimate or not.

Here’s a helpful checklist by ProQuest (a global information-content and technology company that provides applications and products for libraries), which contains a lot of useful tips for vetting online content:

Want to go deeper into the subject of information literacy and “fake news”? Here are a few books to get you started:

Fake news, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies : how to find trustworthy information in the digital age by Donald A. Barclay

Merchants of Truth : the business of news and the fight for facts by Jill Abramson

The Smear : how shady political operatives and fake news control what you see, what you think, and how you vote by Sharyl Attkisson

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

What’s Fake News? by Joyce Jeffries

Additional sources::

Preschool Pirating

September 15, 2020September 4, 2020 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

Have we all gone stir crazy yet?

Imagine if you were on a 17^th century ship, with nothing around you but ocean for three months – or six months. Sure, you didn’t have bored kids fighting over whose turn it is with the TV, or a toddler screaming that Tickle Me Elmo is out of batteries again, but eventually that parrot is going to look pretty tasty when all you’ve had to eat is wormy hardtack and stale beer. If you’ve ever been to the Charles P. Morgan at Mystic Seaport, or the Mayflower up in Plymouth, Mass, or Old Ironsides in Boston proper, you know that those ships are pretty tiny on a ten minute walk-through. Now cram them with fifty people for three months, and suddenly your 1500 square foot house doesn’t seem so bad. At least you’re not seasick.

Pirates, whether illegal or privateers working for King and Country, were often violent men – and a few women – who were not very nice. But legends and lore get romanticized, and pirates – whether Captain Hook, Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, or Blackbeard himself, and kids are attracted to each other the way ants love sugar. Fancy hats, eye patches, wooden legs, cannons, swords, boats, and treasure – how cool is that?

When a new dog-proof garbage can arrived in a box larger than my three year old, it became her favorite toy of the month, and for one of the weeks we turned it into a pirate ship. Anything that keeps a bored three year old busy for a week deserves to be bronzed. We hung a garden flag from a broom handle for a sail, used a brass fastener to make a spinning wheel, dug out costumes from the older kids, watched a lot of preschool pirate videos and read a lot of pirate books. I drew a simple outline map of our living room and taught her to read maps by placing candy in various places as treasure, and marking X on the map. By the third candy, she was proficient on her own. Then we built our finale.

Using balloons, some Cheshire Herald strips, and a little watered down Elmer’s Glue, we made some cannon balls, and then painted them the next day. Then we built our cannon. The cannon balls were about 5 ½ inches, too big for a standard paper tube. But they worked just perfectly for a paint can! So we scavanged a paint can from the garage, which, thankfully, had only an inch of dried paint in the bottom. And these new-fangled plastic paint cans? The paint doesn’t stick! A few taps and peels, and all that dead paint came falling right out. A quick rinse, and we were good. I cut the bottom off with my Ginsu knife (a product that has lived up to every claim ever made on it – thirty years later it still cuts fences AND tomatoes, and plastic paint cans). I strung a piece of waistband elastic across the hole, held tight by Gorilla Tape, and we had our cannon. It was tricky getting the right angle, but pull the elastic back far enough with the cannon ball sitting on it, and we could get the ball to shoot four or five feet, which is plenty inside a house.

We won Preschool Zoom that week.

So scrounge your house, and see what you can come up with! With warmer weather, try staking out a ship outside with lawn chairs or wooden pallets. Anything that keeps a kid busy and sparks some interest is a good thing – and they just might learn something. And by the way, Saturday September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day – check out these awesome stories to get you in the pirate mindset: