Library opens new Middle School Zone
July 12, 2012 3:52PM
Updated: August 14, 2012 6:12AM
Elgin: Middle school Zone opens at Gail Borden
Kids in grades six to eight now have an area to call their own at Gail Borden Library. The Zone, a separate area within the Youth Center, offers comfortable seating for reading, tables and chairs for collaborative projects, a gaming station, and a book collection organized into fun themes such as Life Less Ordinary, Fantastic & Futuristic, and Manga. The Zone gives sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders the chance to mingle with peers, take a Hunger Games quiz, try out Playaways, browse through magazines and participate in Zone programming, which includes a Zone Leadership Team, Writers’ Camp, Multimedia Artists’ Workshop and Edible Sculpture Challenge. The gaming station is equipped with a Wii and Xbox 360 game system. The Zone’s book collection is well-used as members of this age group who use the library are frequent readers; this last June, the entire collection was checked out at least once, with some items being checked out twice (a 106 percent circulation rate). More than 800 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders are participating in the library’s summer reading program.
Elgin: Shred Day set for Saturday in downtown
State Rep. Keith Farnham, D-Elgin, is teaming with AT&T and the city of Elgin to provide a giant shredder for individuals and businesses in the community to use at no cost to dispose of confidential papers as a way to protect against identity theft. Elgin Shred Day will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the city of Elgin’s parking lot at 150 Dexter Court. The giant shredder, being provided free by AT&T, will be in the southeast corner of the parking lot near the intersection of Douglas and Highland avenues in downtown Elgin. Call 847-841-7130 or email at krfarnham@gmail.com.
St. Charles Twp.: The Beetles coming to Kane
Learn from Jim Louderman, collections assistant in the Division of Insects at The Field Museum of Chicago, about the insect order Coleopterak, or beetles. With pictures and specimens from the museum’s collection, Louderman will explain the ecological, economic and cultural importance of this large group of insects. The “Meet the Beetles” program will be held Saturday at the Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center and is $20 per person. This program is for ages 16 and older, and registration is required. The award-winning program series is co-sponsored by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Geneva Park District and St. Charles Park District. Register at 847-741-8350 or email programs@kaneforest.com. Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center is at 35W076 Villa Marie Road south of South Elgin.
