The Children's Room, on the second floor of the library, has separate collections for preschoolers, children, young adults and parents. Both fiction and nonfiction are available, as well as reference materials, audio books and videos. We also have a variety of computer programs (edutainment) and a public terminal through which you may access additional resources available here and through the Ramapo Catskill Library System.
On the web we offer links to parental and children's Internet resources as well a closer look at some of our special collections at the library, including the Parent's Collection and recent acquisitions for all ages. This page, along with the Library News page serves to inform the public of new library items, upcoming events and programs, and other special announcements.
Return frequently to our Internet site (www.thrall.org) to stay informed. Our website contains not only important news and program schedules--it also hosts a growing number of exclusive services designed to meet the advanced information needs of our community. For example, did you know you could look up books and retrieve (for free) full-text articles at home? If not, visit or WebPAC page. Did you know we have our very own Internet search tools? If not, go to our Proteus Search page or try our new kids-only search service, 5 W's and One H!. Did you know we have an entire photographic book of Middletown's history at our site? If not, click here and begin reading this rare work. Did you know we have special guides to information on the Internet--for things such as Literature, Law, Government Information, College Education? If not, explore our Internet Resource Guides page. And that's just a sampling of it all....
Our website is a continuation of our mission to serve the Middletown community and provide a means for you to intelligently retrieve information from the Internet in the commercial-free comfort of your own library's virtual environment. There are many other special features at our site, and you are encouraged to follow links and discover on your own. Plus, if you have any suggestions or comments, you may use our Virtual Suggestion Box or e-mail us directly. Making us your start-up home page in Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer is one way of knowing you'll be starting on out the net in the right direction. Our Internet address is: http://www.thrall.org
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the
Children's Department at
We offer progams for children ages 2 years and older. Summer programs are offered during the months of July and August. Special group visits to the library can be arranged by calling the Children's Department. Additional programs and events for children are planned throughout the year.
A wide variety of novels and periodicals which appeal to the reading interests of preteens and teens can be found in the Children's Room. Young adults are encouraged to make use of the entire library (upstairs and downstairs) for recreational reading as well as school work. There are a number of research tools throughout the library. Come and discover something new and exciting!
"Middletown Thrall Library Children's Department announces the opening of a toy lending library collection. The Junior League of Orange County began a new community service project in conjunction with Middletown Thrall Library. The toy lending program is another way to expand services beyond what is traditionally thought of our main area of service, and that is books.
Toys and creative play are those first bits of interaction between the child and discovering the outside world. Creative play helps children to discover colors, shapes, patterns, and develops critical thinking, as well as nurturing that creative process which I like to think of as appreciative joy.
The Junior League was instrumental in initiating the project, supplying
volunteer liaisons, and contributed $1,400 to seed the
project. Toys will circulate for three weeks (no holds or interloans)
and a variety of age appropiate toys are available for loan."
- The Children's Librarian
(914) 341-5470, thrall4@warwick.net
To further serve our community's reference needs we have several computers available--three with CD-ROM encyclopedias, and one Patron Access terminal, where you may search for books. You may also search for current articles online and books in other libraries via our public terminal. If you've never used the PAC, our staff members will gladly introduce you to it. It's very easy to learn and quite a powerful research tool once you feel comfortable with it.
A number of new and informative books concerning Developmental Disabilities are available in the Children's Department thanks to a grant funded by the New York Disabilities Planning Council received in 1996. Click here to learn more about these materials and to explore some of the many titles in this collection.
We have select guides to educational and entertaining Internet sites for children and parents. You may find them at the following URLs at our site:
- Links for Kids - http://www.thrall.org/kids
- Links for Parents - http://www.thrall.org/parents
You're also welcome to explore our other exclusive guides to Internet resources at the following location on our site:
Internet Resource Guides - http://www.thrall.org/guides
This is part of our ongoing mission to guide you to some of the brightest resources in the library and remotely on the Internet. If you know of any sites you would like to suggest for any of our guides, you may use the Suggest a Source page. While we cannot respond individually to suggestions, we appreciate your input as we endeavor to serve our community in the Information Age.
