Take a look at the beautiful resin bookmarks created this month by participants in our Adult Arts & Crafts program!

We are excited to announce that the exterior of the Litchfield Library will be getting a renovation this fall! The stucco work is planned to begin on Wednesday, August 28, and the roof work will begin around a week later. The project will wrap up in about 2 months.

The library will stay open during renovations. We appreciate your patience with the noise and the mess.

The project is beginning on the south side of the building, which will not affect access to the book drop or front door.

by Miss Rachel
7/17/24

What are you likely to find in every toy box, diaper bag, children’s play area, and childhood bedroom? Stuffed animals! Now more commonly referred to as “stuffies,” these classic toys are great companions for kids of all ages. Like I mentioned in my last column, Bruce the bear is a very popular stuffie that kids enjoy seeking out in the children’s section. Stuffies are a fun component at the library!

We recently hosted a stuffie sleepover here at the library. If you’ve never heard of such an event, it’s probably what you are imagining. Kids bring in a stuffie of their choice on a Friday, and the stuffies stay overnight, getting into all kinds of crazy shenanigans. Look on our Facebook page or our website to see the pictures of the wild things the stuffed animals did: like play bingo, make music, play dodgeball, and read stories together before they went to sleep. The next day, the owners come back to the library to pick up their stuffies along with a packet of pictures and a certificate for participating in the stuffie sleepover.

But we also have quite the collection for our baby/toddler storytime on Wednesdays. While I initially had used a stuffed teddy bear in my lap to show how to do the lap bounces and songs with actions, the kids all decided to mirror me and put stuffies into their own laps. As long as the kids are having fun, we love using the stuffies at storytime!

In an article from the International Collegiate Journal of Science, studies have shown a number of benefits for kids who have their own stuffed animal companions. For example, stuffies can serve as transitional objects, providing comfort in unfamiliar or stressful situations. Stuffies can also aid children in developing and maintaining good sleep habits, as they provide physical and emotional comfort and support at bedtime. Logically, they can also help encourage kids to read – they serve as a captive audience. Stuffies aren’t just good for kids though. This article covers benefits of stuffed animals for adults as well, so you need not throw any of your cuddly companions out!

We also have a new picture book about a stuffed animal: “The Imposter” written by Laura Bower and illustrated by Kerisa Greene. In this story, a girl named Olive treasures her stuffie, Mr. Snuggles. When he goes missing one day, she is devastated. After many attempts to find and even recreate Mr. Snuggles, he miraculously reappears, and Olive rejoices! But when Olive sees that Mr. Snuggles has reappeared, she notices he’s not quite the same. Check out this book to see what happens next!

Stuffies, or stuffed animals, hold a special place in childhoods everywhere. Whether they’re participating in adventurous sleepovers at the library or joining toddlers in interactive storytimes, stuffies enrich lives with comfort, creativity, and companionship.

Lai, Vincent. “The Positives of Plushies: Stuffed Animals Have Benefits for Children and Adults – Icjs – International Collegiate Journal of Science.” ICJS, 21 Aug. 2021, icjs.us/the-positives-of-plushies-stuffed-animals-have-benefits-for-children-and-adults/.

The Litchfield Library Board and the Litchfield Library staff had a great time handing out kids’ books at this year’s Watercade parade! Thank you to the Friends of the Litchfield Library for the funding for most of it, and to the Litchfield Library Foundation for contributing!

We are excited to announce the winners of the Litchfield Library Foundation bookmark contest! Out of the 75 entries, these got the highest number of votes by the foundation board members:

1st place: Eva Sohl

2nd place: Madelyn Beecroft

3rd place: Mesa Sohl

Eva’s design will be used for the 2024-25 Litchfield Library bookmark, which will be handed out at the Watercade parade.

All of the entries will soon be put on display at the Litchfield Library. Thank you to all of the students who submitted their designs!

The Friends of the Litchfield Public Library will hold the 2024 book sales on these dates:

Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. to 2 pm. (Watercade book sale)

Saturday, November 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.