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Chickens to be hatching this month at Tonganoxie Public Library

By Shawn Linenberger - | Mar 1, 2016

A special delivery to Tonganoxie Public Library will require employees there to provide mama chicken duties this month.

Ameraucana chicken eggs were delivered Tuesday morning just before story time with local youngsters.

Nicole Holifield, youth services librarian at the Tonganoxie library, ordered the eggs in time for Easter and purchased an incubator online.

The more expensive incubators periodically turn the eggs, so Holifield opted to supplement the less expensive incubator with authentic motherly love.

Library staff will turn the eggs twice a day to help with the incubation process.

“I thought it would be nice for Easter to have them here and watch them grow,” Holifield said.

She also hopes it will be something new for children who visit the library to learn about when they are there.

And, the youths can even try to guess when the eggs will hatch. Youths ages 18 and under can fill out contest forms guessing what date the eggs might hatch. Prizes will be given out to winners. Local residents also have agreed to take in the baby chickens once they hatch.

In addition, the library and The Mirror will be working to document the eggs’ progress through social media. Mirror readers and library patrons can join in the journey by using the hashtag #TonganoxieNestFest when taking photos of the eggs or any discussions about them on social media.

After-school snack program

Starting March 16 and continuing through May 18, the library will be offering Tasty Treats and Beats, a weekly afternoon school snack program for youths ages 7 through 18. The program allows youths to stop by for snacks and music.

The offering will be available from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting next month.

Spanish story time

The library now is offering Spanish story time.

The bilingual story time is 7 p.m. every fourth Monday of the month. Staff member Jayma Zook is bilingual and leads the program. Families are welcome to come for the program wearing their pajamas. The event is open to all ages.