IREI Micronesian Puzzlebook Launch Event - May 19th, 2012!

With funding from the Australian Embassy of Pohnpei, the Island Research & Education Initiative (IREI) has produced Maps of Micronesia puzzlebooks for the children of Pohnpei. Each amazing hardcover book contains seven beautifully illustrated jigsaw puzzle maps, covering all of the island groups in the Federated States of Micronesia and are designed to help Micronesian children learn about the islands that make up their nation, develop spatial associations, and understand how maps can be practically utilized.

On May 19th, 2012, from 9am to 12pm, Pohnpei Public Library will be hosting the launch event for these books. EVERYONE is invited! EVERY family with children in attendance will receive a FREE puzzlebook! Don't miss this!! Come get your very own Maps of Micronesia Book of Puzzles!

Library Week 2012

This year Pohnpei Public Library celebrated its 24th Anniversary with a “Library Week,” from April 9 to 13. The theme for this year’s celebration was “DREAM BIG.”

Two Schools visited the Library to participate in the events on Thursday and Friday. 4^th graders from Lukop and Sapwalap Elementary Schools had the opportunity to come to the library for a tour and story.  Fourth graders heard stories from guest readers Tania Sufficool and Laurie Eastup.

On Friday evening, the library held a special celebration to commemorate the anniversary and to recognize essay and art contest winners. The program began with an invocation from Senator Ishmael Lebehn.  He also went on and welcomed everyone to the ceremony. This year we were fortunate to have two keynote speakers. The first Keynote was Dr. Rufino Mauricio, he talked about the theme and asked the students to share their ideas about their big dreams. One of the students responded by saying that she dreams that there will be world peace. The second speaker was Professor Susan Moses and she shared a story with the audience entitled “The Little Red Hen." Moses also talked to the students about how important it is to read in order to achieve our dreams. 

The program ended with the presentations of awards to the students who were selected as winners for the art and essay contest.

Art winners were Milan Preston Porter, CCA, Kindergarten; Rhea Mae Buensalido, CCA, 1^st grade;  Vernica David, Ohmine School, 2^nd grade; James Olmos, Kolonia School, 3^rd grade; Morena David, ESDM, 4^th grade; Sheffy Ezekias, CCA, 5^th grade; Jance Henry, Palikir School, 6^th grade; John John, ESDM, 7^th grade; Destiny Etse, SDA, 8^th grade; Nate Anson, NMHS, 9^th grade; RoxeAnne Fredrick, NMHS, 11^th grade; and Brittney Itimai, 12^th grade, SDA.

Essay winners were Jenna Helieisar, PCS, 2^nd grade; Roseleen Iohp, Kolonia School, 4^th grade; Sidney Nanpei, Ohmine School, 5^th grade; Hersiann Ligohr, Nett School, 6^th grade; Natalia Lohn, Ohmine School, 7^th grade; Sonsha Padock, CCA, 8^th grade; Avriel M. Merencillo, CCA, 9^th grade; Ellisa Marie Hadley, CCA, 10^th grade; Siorine Pahmer, MHS, 11^th grade; and Kevin Jr. Kiyoshi Ihara, CCA, 12^th grade.

Pohnpei Public Library wants to express its gratitude to the following individuals, businesses and organizations for their contributions and support that made this Library Week successful.

Businesses include Ace Hardware, Ace Office Supplies, Amcres, Blue Nile, China Star Restaurant, Dollar-Up Enterprises, Happy Mart, Micro PC.fm, Palm Terrace, Panuelo Enterprises, Pitt Stop, Pohnpei Clean Living, Pohnpei Computer Consulting, Scooby’s and XIX Store.

Organization and Individual Volunteers and Contributors include Dr. Rufino Mauricio, Ms. Susan Moses, Carol Hayes, Cori Jo Jahnsen, Janelle Santos, Kenneth Girrard, Laurie Eastup, Lori Wohlgemuth, Tania Sufficool, Janet Panuelo and the College of Micronesia-Pohnpei Campus.

Friends of the Pohnpei Public Library would also like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their contributions to the Adopt-a-Magazine Program and to the Library's wish lists on Amazon.com: Aaron Nighswander, Alex Zuccarelli, Alison Stenger, Emanuele Taibi, Ira Shiflett, Amy Prahar, Marstella Jack, Michael Benjamin, Lynn & Terry Hoot, Yvonne Neth, Lara Studzinski, John P. Ranahan, Jean Ranahan, Adam Thompson, Anthony & Cheri Zuccarelli, Diane Isherwood, Janet Isherwood, Elaine Isherwood, Richard MacNeace, Chris Hilbert, Dreamworlds Beyond Time, and Eugene Joseph.

"Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a library card!"

These words were said over and over on Saturday, as 64 GEAR UP students were part of the first of five groups to complete an orientation that earned them a library card.

Students received a tour of the library and participated in a scavenger hunt as well as an activity that was aimed at helping students find books to read at the proper reading level. After students completed both activities they were given a library card free of charge.

The library is one of GEAR UP's partners and as such has pledged to give a set amount of goods and/or time each year of the GEAR UP program.
By the end of April it is the hoped that all GEAR UP students will have completed the orientation and will be visiting the library and using their cards on their own time.