Observe Success At Observation Station

Carol Bunker, YS Librarian II at SE created an Observation Station that highlights a rotating collection of insects, amphibians, fish, etc. in the children’s department.  The station includes featured animals in their habitat, magnifying glasses, and materials on the subject for check out.  Carol also designed a sign with lift-the-flap Q&A's (see pic below) and jokes about the animal on display.  Sometimes you cannot see the station because so many children and families are around it.  It has become a must see when visiting the department.  Additionally, the book display has to be replenished often as children are curious and want to read about Observation Station animals.

Carol said, "Currently, we are going through the life cycle of a ladybug at Southeast. The children can observe ladybug larva for the next two to three weeks until the next bug flutters into the branch. 

This month we added an interactive board for the children to play with and learn a little about ladybugs. They learn how long it takes for a ladybug to go from an egg to a ladybug which is about two to three weeks. We have plastic replicas of each stage for the children to see along with our ladybug habitat. A few fun facts that are fascinating for the kids are: ladybugs smell with their feet and antenna and ladybugs can beat their wings 85 times per second and can fly up to 15 miles an hour!