Past Events: Ladies' Valentine Luncheon, February 2012

Library party-planner extraordinaire Karen Osborne and her buddies among the Friends of the Library - the same ladies who plan all of our great themed parties for kids - decided to plan a fancy event for older ladies as well. Here's what they came up with in 2012. 

Each table was elegantly decorated.

A chocolate fountain was one of the many decadent treats available.

Ladies enjoyed a lively discussion of the book Pay It Forward.

Ladies were encouraged to bring a friend to the event.

If you would like to attend an event like this, sign up for our Downton Abbey tea party on Saturday, February 22, at 1:00PM. The event is free but registration is required.

2014 Adult Winter Reading Program

When the weather is cold and snowy, it's nice to stay inside and read a good book. Maybe you'll sit by the fire or wrap up in your fluffiest blanket, sip the warm beverage of your choice, and coax your favorite pet to curl up in your lap. That all sounds lovely, doesn't it?

Hey! While you're at it, why not sign up for our adult winter reading program for a chance to win some fabulous prizes?

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

When is it? 

January 2 – February 28

Who can participate? 

Anyone ages 16 & up who has an Andover Public Library card.

How do I register?

Just go up to the front desk, tell a librarian you want to register, and receive your winter reading program brochure.

How does the program work?

When you register at the front desk,  you will automatically be entered into a weekly small prize drawing and receive a brochure. (Limit one weekly prize per patron. Weekly prize winners are still eligible for the grand prizes.) Use the brochure to enter our grand prize drawings. Each time you finish reading a book (of 100 pages minimum), fill out one of the book chats in your brochure. When you are done reading your desired amount of books (max. 6 books), return this brochure to the library. Brochures returned by 5 p.m. on February 28th will be entered into one of five prize drawings, depending on how many book chats are filled out.

PRIZES

Weekly Drawing - Automatically entered upon registration

Grand Prize: Kindle Fire - Read 6 books to be eligible

2nd Place: $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate - Read 4-5 books to be eligible

3rd Place: $10 Scooters Gift Certificates (3 available) - Read 1-3 books to be eligible

Other donated prizes - To be drawn randomly

Brochures MUST be turned in no later than 5 p.m. on February 28th to be eligible for prizes. Winners will be drawn at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 3rd and will be called shortly after! 

Past Events: Dolly Parton Imagination Library Kick-Off Party, January 2011

The first year Andover Public Library offered the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, we held a party to celebrate. Click here for more information about the program. Sign up forms are available in the library any time.

Our friendly Andover Policeman reading a story.

One of the local Fireman reading another story.

Event Report: Hometown Christmas 2013

On December 12, 2013, the library participated in Andover's annual Hometown Christmas event by providing Christmas crafts and tables for cookie decorating. We also gave out information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. We had a wonderful time and we hope everyone in attendance did as well!

Get Ready for Hometown Christmas!

The City of Andover will be hosting Hometown Christmas this year on Thursday, December 12, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM. Enjoy kids' crafts, hay rides, pictures with Santa, and other fun activities. Pay $2.00 to sample the offerings in the annual chili cook-off, then head over to the fire pit to make yourself a s'more for dessert. The cost of admission is a small donation to Andover Caring and Sharing of either a canned good, a new toy, or cash. All donations benefit Andover families.
It promises to be a fun night and we hope to see you there. Check out these pictures of Hometown Christmases Past. 

Event Report: Barnes and Noble Bookfair 2013

On Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, Barnes and Noble at Bradley Fair hosted a book fair to benefit the Andover Public Library. Here is Librarian Cheri greeting people at the door. 

Several books we wanted for the library collection were on display near the entrance. Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, we will be able to acquire $1000 worth of free books for our library.

Teachers from Primrose Academy hosted a face painting table. They also painted hands.

Thank you, Primrose Academy, for helping with our book fair.

The Prairie Creek Panthers elementary school choir performed a selection of holiday songs for a large crowd.

The choir's performance could be seen from the café . 

Costumed Star Wars characters promoted our event and posed for pictures with customers. Here we have librarian Tiffany (right) posing with Aayla Secura (left).

Library director Tom (center front) poses with two imperial gunners and Han Solo (in his cold-weather Hoth gear, center back).

In the afternoon, the Corry Academy of Irish Dancers showcased their award-winning dancers of all ages and all levels.

Just look at those lovely, traditional Irish dancing costumes! Thank you, Corry Academy, for a wonderful performance!

APL's Barnes and Noble Bookfair

Support your local library while you get your Christmas shopping done with Andover Public Library's Barnes and Noble Bookfair. This Saturday at the Bradley Fair Barnes and Noble, Andover Library patrons can do both by having a percentage of their total sale contributed to the library. Simply present a bookfair voucher to cashiers (like the one you can print from here) or tell them our Bookfair ID number (#11207412).

Although our ID number is also good both online and in stores from November 23 through November 28 (shop online through BN.com/bookfairs), we are hosting several fun events at the Bradley Fair store on Saturday from 12:00-4:00.

We will have face painting provided by Primrose Academy as well as costumed Star Wars characters available for photographs from 12:00-4:00. At 1:30, Prairie Creek Elementary Choir will be performing in the store for about an hour. At 3:00, the Corry Academy of Irish Dance will perform. Additionally, APL librarians will be available periodically throughout the day to help shoppers select books for that special, hard-to-shop-for loved one on your list.

It's going to be a fun event and we hope to see you there!

Past Events: Star Wars Day, November 2011

As part of our Andover Caring and Sharing Toy Drive, we invited costumed Star Wars re-enactors from the 149th War Wolves of Kansas to spend the day at the library.

The War Wolves posed for pictures with patrons and throughout the library all day.

We featured a variety of Star Wars memorabilia in our display cases to help set the mood.

Even the librarians wore costumes.

Darth Vader returns his books on time. Do you?

Event Report: The Library's 5th Birthday Bash

On Saturday, October 26, we had an excellent turnout for our 5th birthday celebration.

We went a little crazy with the streamers around the library...
Party hats and favors were also available.

Our entertainment for the day, Richard Holmgren of Salina Kansas and his "Flying Debris" juggling show, was a huge success with our patrons. 

A willing audience member helps Mr. Holmgren perform a trick called "The Fountain".

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and signed our guest book!

Cookies and cake balls were purchased from Andover's own Stadium Bakery, (316)218-4600 ext. 51900

Past Events: Fire Truck Visit, July 2013

On July 30 this year, we enjoyed a visit from the Andover Fire Department. Although it was not sunny or hot enough for playing in the fire hose like we were able to do last year, librarians and children were still able to explore inside the fire truck, try on some fireman gear, and enjoy fire safety lessons from the Andover firemen.

Join the Lego Club!

Children ages 5-11 are invited to Lego Club on the last Wednesday of each month from 4:00PM to 5:00PM. At each meeting, builders are given a theme, an hour, and a bucket of Legos. Past themes have included airplanes, lunar landers, dinosaurs, and fire trucks. Sometimes, librarians Benjamin and Tori get bored and include Lego challenges such as Tallest Tower contests and other timed events. You never know what you'll get at Lego Club! 

Registration is required in person or by phone (558-3500).

Past Events: Pinkalicious Party

This spring, the fabulous Friends of the Library ladies, along with skilled party planning Friends member Karen Osborne, hosted a Pinkalicious Tea Party here at the library. Mothers and daughters (and a few grandmothers) attended the event together in their very pinkest finery and their finest pinkery. Everyone had a great time! 

Here some of the girls are gathered for a spirited reading of Victoria Kann's Pinkalicious.

Here you can see some of the girls sporting their lovely pink outfits.

Even some of the food was pink.

The Friends go all-out for these themed parties.

Event Report: International Talk Like a Pirate Day, 2013

For International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2013 (Thursday, September 19), we tried something we'd never tried before: a pirate photo booth. We set aside a corner with fun pirate props and let patrons take their own pictures. The booth was open all day.

We made our pirate props out of vinyl foam craft sheets for durability. We could be reusing them for years to come. 

By setting up the photo booth in this corner, it was both out of the way and accessible to everyone. 

These dashing pirates are actually three of our librarians in clever disguises.

Later that evening, we had a pirate party. Patrons who attended in costume were eligible for prizes (including pirate finger puppets, foam daggers, or the grand prize of I Spy: Treasure Hunt by Marzollo and Wick), but we also gave out pirate stickers and temporary tattoos. We served cookies from the Andover Stadium Bakery, told bad pirate jokes, had a pirate parade through the library, and watched a pirate movie. We had a wonderful time!

The pirate posse was restless as they waited for the movie to start.