Children's

Baby Sign

Baby Sign programs at the Olean Public Library use beginning American Sign Language (ASL) as a bridge to speech for hearing babies. Baby Sign Story Times combine Baby Sign and other language activities like songs, games, and stories to provide a complete language and communication experience for you and your baby.

Story Time

Story Times for all ages are offered regularly throughout the year. Story Times are free and open to everyone, registration is required. Story Times provide a variety of language and early literacy experiences for parents and children. Click here for current schedule. Download Story Time Helps.

Investigation Stations

Investigation Stations at the Olean Public Library provide opportunities and materials for children and parents to explore and learn together using the theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI).

At each station children and adults can participate in free play and/or directed activities. These activities help children develop the skills to have a successful school experiences and to help parents stimulate all of their children's smart parts.

Group programming is offered as part of the Investigation Stations. Books, materials and activities that expand on the experiences and connections presented at the stations are available for families to use at home. Click here for more information.

Summer Reading

Kids of all ages who read or are read to can earn prizes, enter in prize drawings, and participate in special events. Children who continue to read during the summer vacation perform better in the fall when school resumes.

Parent Programs

Parents are active participants in the programs at the Olean Public Library. Programs specifically for parents are also offered. These include: the statewide Growing a Reader program that assists parents in their role as their child's first teacher; Baby Sign workshops; informational workshops on helping children use technology; and various special programs by experts in the fields of literacy, children's literature and child development.

Library Materials

The Olean Public Library has a wide variety of materials for loan. Of interest to parents and children is the large collection of children's books and materials. This collection includes board books for the very young, picture books, chapter books, audio and video tapes, magazines, puzzles, and research materials. Our special Parent/Teacher collection, specifically for use by adults who care for children, includes books, magazines and Kid Kits, which contain learning toys, activities and books.

A Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System (CCLS) library card is required to borrow library material. Cards for children under age 13 require the signature of a parent or legal guardian—who presents identification—on the registration form. We currently have no minimum age requirement to get a card. Click here for more information on how to get a library card.

Assignment Alert

Teachers can notify the library in advance by filling out an Assignment Alert form so we can have materials ready and available for students.

Technology

AWE Early Literacy Computer Station, specifically designed for children 2 to 8 years old, has age appropriate software in the areas of math, science, reading, social studies, problem solving, computer skills and more. The Early Literacy Station will add new dimensions to the Investigation Stations and will allow parents to work with their young children learning computer skills. In addition computer stations for older children that include educational software and directed Internet access are available in the children's computer center.

The following programs are available on the AWE Early Literacy Station:

• Bailey's Book House - seven easy-to-use early language activities with clear speech and graphics. Activities offer a nice introduction to letter sounds and words in a light context.
• JumpStart Toddler - the graphics are adorable. In Grandma Duck's magical garden Children discover original songs, brightly colored screens and eight activities that introduce numbers, shapes, colors and more.
• JumpStart PreSchool - young children are introduced to letters & numbers in dot-to-dot games & presented with letter sounds in picture/sound matching activities. “Paint by matching letter” helps make letter-sound matches.
• Flash Action Phonics Made Easy - phonics Made Easy includes a simple, straightforward main menu from which kids can launch hundreds of quick phonics exercises from four learning areas.
• SpongeBob SquarePants Typing - SpongeBob SquarePants® Typing is an unbeatable tutorial, with multiple levels, two modes, and several irresistible learning pals.
• Microsoft Calculator - children learn to use Calculator to perform standard operations normally performed on a handheld calculator.
• Microsoft WordPad - Microsoft WordPad is robust word processor with many of the functions and features of MS Word. Easier to use than Word, it provides children with an introduction to an industry standard.
• USA Explorer - teaches US geography. Kids track down Joe across 50 states, visit interesting locations and landmarks. Locations reward players with historical facts, landmarks, and animal inhabitants.
• Kidspiration - helps students see, organize, and develop their ideas. Using proven visual learning principles, builds confidence in organizing information, understanding concepts and expressing their thoughts.
• Between the Lions Shooting Stars - Between the Lions is an award-winning PBS television series designed to foster literacy skills while playfully demonstrating the joys of reading. Introduces: Stars, Constellations, Meteors.
• World Explorer - kids embark on a world tour to find Joe; explore 40 scrolling map scenes, 600 information screens, 16 videos, 19 journeys and 5 games. Interesting introduction to maps, atlases and geography.
• Encarta kids - Encarta kids features 500 articles especially for children with clear icons, a simplified interface and topics kids like to search such as animals, science, games, and everyday life.
• Microsoft Paint - Microsoft Paint provides students with basic draw and paint software that is universally available. Many sophisticated graphic packages use the same principals as MS Paint.
• Krazy ArtRoom - a rare, magical program. Easy-to-use art and creativity center captures the power of interactive media. It's like having a fully stocked art studio with paint and draw tools.
• Between the Lions Pandora's Box - Between the Lions award-winning PBS television series is designed to foster literacy skills while demonstrating the joys of reading. Pandora's Box introduces Greek myths and Literacy tips.
• My Amazing Human Body - this entertaining and educational introduction to the human body is perfect. Four fun activities led by a humorous skeleton teach about skeletons, organs, body systems and how each works.
• Encarta Dictionary - the Encarta Dictionary, an outstanding English Dictionary, includes language translation for Spanish, French, Italian and German, making the ELS an outstanding ESL tool.
• Between the Lions Waiter there's a fly in my Soup - Between the Lions is an award-winning PBS television series designed to foster literacy skills while playfully demonstrating the joys of reading. Waiter.. introduces humor & literacy.
• My First Amazing History - children travel back in time to visit eight countries and are engaged for hours locating historical artifacts. Their mission is to rescue a professor lost somewhere in history.
• JumpStart 1st Grade - ten main activities in all, each of them very well designed to teach math, reading, science and more. It includes general assistance when kids are struggling.
• Reader Rabbit Math Ages 6-9 - unusually good math practice is in the guise of nine entertaining activities. Players are stranded on Pirate Island and use success with the activities to gather up the scattered pieces of their boat.
• Trudy's Time and Place House - Trudy's is a solid set of educational activities focusing on time and geography skills. Inside Trudy the Alligator's main room children choose from five activities, each with two ways to play.
• JumpStart Phonics - the program offers twelve activities that begin by teaching letter recognition and sounds at lower levels and progress to reading words and sentences at higher levels.

Visit the AWE Web site at www.awe-net.com for more information about AWE hardware and software.

For more information about these or any program for children, contact the Children's Department.