By Susan Smith
San Marcos Public Library
July 05, 2008 02:54 pm
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Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information. "Answers•To•Go" highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 East Hopkins, call 393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm.
Hello, San Marcos Library!
Q. I’m really enjoying the new fountains in the ponds across University Drive from Sewell Park. I’ve seen some beautiful big birds there. Can you help me figure out what they might be?
A. Those new fountains are lovely. I found information on birds found in the are of the old fish hatchery ponds at the San Marcos River Foundation’s web site on birding around San Marcos: www.centuryinter.net/birding/
The web site reports sightings of double-crested cormorants fishing in the ponds as well as green-backed and tri-colored herons. A flock of red-crowned parrots flies among the cypress, and western kingbirds nest near Old Main.
We have great large and pocket-sized books for identifying Texas birds at the library. Come on in and we’ll help you find out more about those particular birds.
Q. Every two weeks my daughter and I come to the library to check out a bunch of picture books and several children’s books on CD. When she was four, we began listening to “Charlotte’s Web” in the car. At six her attention span and vocabulary are impressive, and our time in the car is something to look forward to. I know books on CD are very expensive. Thank you for investing in them.
Is it possible to place new additions to the collection on hold for us?
A. Certainly. We’d be happy to reserve audio books for you. You may ask at the desk, give us a telephone call, or place your own holds from home on the library’s online catalog: www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm
Children’s books on CD have been popular with many of our families. Miss Ashley suggests Beverly Cleary’s books. Here’s a sample of what we have on audio CD: “Ramona the Pest,” “Ramona the Brave,” and “Ramona Forever.” There are many more Ramona books on the library shelves. If you’d like to continue the series for bedtime stories, you’ll have lots of choices.
We have great choices for older children, too. Boys eagerly await the newest animal hero tales in Brian Jacques’ medieval adventure series. We have these on CD: “Redwall,” “Martin the Warrior,” “Taggerung” and others. There are 18 books in the series. If your kid enjoys the audio CDs, he can move on to the books.
Listening to stories on CD or a parent reading at bedtime, is a great way to get kids hooked on books.
Before long, they’ll want to finish the book themselves so they can find out more quickly what happened.
At that point, you’ll just have to check that they aren’t under the covers with a flashlight when you head to bed yourself.
The library also stocks audio books for teens and adults. The downside to listening to audio books in the car — sometimes your trip is just too short. It’s difficult to turn off the engine at an exciting moment, but it’s way too hot to sit in a parked car!
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