Library offers eclipse program

COEUR d’ALENE — Two programs for families at the Coeur d’Alene Public library will shed some light — and dark — on the upcoming solar eclipse.

Eclipse Readiness 101 will be held Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Community Room at the library, 702 E. Front Ave. This program will detail what an eclipse is and what we can expect in our area, important safety considerations, and how to construct a pinhole projector for viewing the eclipse. Each family attending the program will receive a pair of solar-eclipse glasses.

The day of the eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, the library will host a Solar Eclipse Party beginning at 8:30 a.m. The eclipse begins at 9:13 a.m. The first 100 people attending this program will receive solar-eclipse glasses.

- In preparation for fall, the library’s youth services will also host Back-to-(Home)-School Day on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Community Room. This program is for families who are considering home schooling and those who are more experienced with home education. Library circulation clerk Amy Bardwell, who has experience as a homeschool mom, will lead the discussion about library and community resources and hear suggestions for additions to the library collection.

- Young patrons can continue to track the time they read — or are read to with reading logs. Children who pick up a reading log at the Coeur d’Alene library can have any overdue fines on their library cards waived. For every three hours of reading time logged they can pick up a prize in the Seagraves Children’s Library. The final day to turn in reading logs will be Sept. 2.

Each time children visit the library they can also vote for their school. The school to win the most votes will earn the right to house the Summer Reading Traveling Trophy in their school library for the next school year. In addition, for each 50 votes a school receives, its school library will receive a book.

Children younger than 6 visiting the library need to be supervised by an adult or a person who is at least 14, even during programs. Children ages 6 to 9 should be accompanied by someone who is at least 14 who will remain in the building.

For more information call (208) 769-2315 Ext. 438 or email Susan Thorpe, youth services supervisor, at [email protected].