Dino Derby– Libraries compete to raise money for children’s programs

You’ve got your Kentucky Derby. You’ve got your Dino Derby. One for horses. One for librarians (libraries).

Not, in the case of the latter, that there will be any real dinosaurs running around a track – although if the Houston County Library System (Nola Brantley in Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville) thought they could pull it off, they’d give it a try.

It’s really just a fundraiser, “a local drive where the funds go straight into children’s programs,” said Perry Library branch manager Judith Malone. It is also a “friendly” competition between libraries, she added.

Whereas Kentucky Derby winners get the garland of roses – among other things – the winning library gets … well … “It’s just made out of paper mache,” Malone said of the trophy. But with plenty of “sentimental” value? “Definitely,” she laughed.

People can help determine the winner of the Dino Derby by visiting any of the branches and give of their “coins, bills or checks.”

There are also some dino-related events. The Perry Library will have a dinosaur egg hunt Tuesday at 6 p.m. (No dinosaur-sized eggs, Malone said, but eggs with dinosaurs in them.) It’s for 4-8-year-olds and will be held at their temporary location at the former Perry Primary School (1530 Sunshine Ave.). The Dinocize Derby – family walking and Zumba – will be held March 17 at 6 p.m.

Nola Brantley will be have toddler – 2-5-year-olds – readings of “Snappy Little Dinosaurs” and “Flapdoodle Dinosaurs” Tuesday and “How Do Dinosaurs say I’m Mad” and “How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon” Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Centerville will be holding several “dino-related” events for homeschoolers. They include a dinosaurs roundtable discussion, a couple of book readings and a discussion on “What happened to the brontosaurus?” (Hint: It was actually an Apatosaurus.)

Dino-related books will also be read to children 9-24 months and 2-3 years, 10:30 a.m. and 11:15, respectively on Wednesdays and 3-4-year-olds at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. (Note: It’s not dinosaur related but the “diggers” – backhoes, bulldozers, etc. – will be at the library March 25 at 10:30 a.m.)

Check out the full calendar for all of the libraries at http://houpl.org/.

HHJ News