Damrosch L!brary Adopts an Orangutan from the World Wildlife Fund

The only great apes found in Asia, orangutans are found only in the lowland forests of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. With 60 percent of their diet consisting of fruit, protection of orangutans’ habitat is vital. Sadly, the lowland forest habitats of these apes are disappearing quickly due to logging and deliberate burning to make way for agriculture and palm oil plantations. WWF and our partners are working to make sure these unique great apes are conserved in well-managed, secure, protected areas, and in wilder forest landscapes connected by corridors.

The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

From a book in our new library collection, Orangutan Rescue by Dougal Dixon: A photo-illustrated story about a young orangutan named Chang, who is taken out of the forest by poachers and, with some help, finds his way back to the wild. Includes a fact file and a glossary.

We have now adopted one each of the great apes.

Damrosch L!brary Adopts a Chimpanzee from the World Wildlife Fund

One of the most well known apes, the chimpanzee lives in the forests and savannahs of equatorial Africa. Highly intelligent, chimpanzees hunt cooperatively and use tools, such as branches and sticks, to forage for food. These omnivores survive on a diet of ripe fruits, young leaves, stems, roots, seeds, bark and insects. Once found in 25 African countries, chimpanzees are now extinct in three or four and are nearing extinction in others due to deforestation and commercial hunting for bush meat. All four subspecies of chimpanzee are endangered.
The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

And from the library's collection: On the occasion of Goodall's 40th anniversary of groundbreaking research with the chimpanzees of Gombe, this beautifully illustrated volume traces her work from its singular beginnings to the Jane Goodall Institute's present-day international activities. 65 full-color and 30 duotone photos.

Some student artwork

Mr. Lynton loaned the library some student art work.

The beginning of a Documentary Photography Collection

A really big book on wild animals. Maybe we can adopt one of every animal in the book.

This is a large book of photographs of deserts. Maybe we can adopt some animals that live in the desert.

This is another really really big book of gorgeous cat photography.

The tables

That's a giant book on space on the front table. It's about 3 feet tall. I have another one on wild animals and another on cats.

The closet

Fun stuff for the kids.

Pi-shu, named after Pi-shu : the Little Panda by John Butler

The panda is a housewarming gift from FAO Schwartz. He will sit in the storyteller's seat when it is empty.

From a book in the library's collection: Pi-shu, a young panda, and his mother are forced to search for a safer place to live as humans begin to destroy their natural habitat.

Story Circle

There are 32 blue and black cushions that will go on the floor in this area during story time. It looks so empty right now but real live children and a librarian will make it come alive!

Our New Sofa

The kids see the sofa through the glass doors of the library and yell "cool!"

The Books Come in "Dewey Packs"

Dewey Packs means that the books are already in Dewey Decimal order. They just need to be taken out of the box and put on the shelves.

Damrosch L!brary Adopts a Gorilla from the World Wildlife Fund

Western lowland gorillas inhabit the vast tropical and subtropical forests of Central Africa. Gorillas are herbivorous, feeding on fruit, shoots, bulbs, leaves and occasionally tree bark. They live in family groups that are led by one dominant male, called the silverback because of the silver hair that runs down his back. With threats such as poaching, habitat loss and disease, WWF is supporting protected areas and other conservation programs across the lowland gorilla’s range to ensure that no population is neglected.
The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

When the library opens, we will read books about gorillas to learn more about them. Here's one from the library's new collection:

Presents a full-color-illustrated examination of the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, and describes the effects of human exposure on the gorillas, how emergency medical care is provided to them in the wild, and ways to protect their species from poachers and common human diseases.

The books arrived

152 boxes of books arrived on Thursday. They will be unpacked by a team of volunteers on December 3rd.

Circulation Desk

A human being actually works here now!

Shiny New Furniture

The furniture is metal and very shiny. People pass by the glass doors and can't help but stop in and take a look.

The Day the Furniture Arrived

This is a view of the circulation desk from the front doors.
Another view of the circulation desk plus the rest of the library.

A Poem about Reading for the Holidays

’Twas Holiday Vacation
(Or: How to Keep Your Kids’ Minds Occupied and Your Home Intact Over the
Holidays)


‘Twas holiday vacation for two whole weeks long,
And mommy and daddy wanted nothing to go wrong-
The presents had been chosen by relatives with care,
In hopes it would save them from losing their hair!

But children were zipping and zooming about-
“We’re bored, we’re bored!” they exclaimed in a shout,
So mommy looked at Daddy with a twinkle in her eye,
“I have a solution that money can’t buy!”

And bundling their children they decided to go
To the public library (in spite of the snow).
They pulled in the lot and opened the door-
Creative Corner had begun with room for two more!

They heard a grand story about a mean, ugly Grinch-
And created a craft; it was all such a cinch!
They beamed with pride over the things they had made,
Then dashed to the wall with the book shelves to raid.

“Look, here’s Junie B. and Artemis Fowl-
These titles will keep us busy for a while!”
The parents let out great sighs of relief-
Children reading books meant an end to their grief!

And back to their home they soon did travel
With a stack full of mysteries to soon unravel-
So when this vacation at once came to an end,
They brought back the books they’d had out on lend.

When back at the school the kids they did chatter,
Of books they had read all about matter!
And the teacher exclaimed with the utmost delight,
“Joy over reading is a wonderful sight-
It will bring your learning to a commendable height,
So tell me the tales that you read before bed,
Or share that adventure still swirling in your head,
Reading is the best gift you gave to yourself,
Lasts longer and better than one from an elf.
I wish happy holidays to each one of you
And may you read many-a-book all the year through!”

~Stacey Greene Wicksall