Sump Memorial Library, 222 N. Jefferson St., Papillion, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, all ages
La Vista Library, 9110 Giles Road, La Vista, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, ages 4 to 11
Bellevue Library, 1003 Lincoln Road, Bellevue, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month for home-schooled children age 4 and older; open session for all children age 4 and older alternates between a Saturday or an afternoon after school each month (the next is 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18)
Plattsmouth Public Library, 401 Avenue A, Plattsmouth, 10:30 a.m. to noon every third Saturday of the month, all ages
Since Legos first hit the scene, their popularity with kids of all ages has not dimmed at all.
Children connect the colorful plastic blocks to build anything their imaginations can concoct. In doing so, they not only improve hand-eye coordination but also call on their brain power to figure out how their ideas can be accomplished.
Parents, who probably hate picking them up or stepping on them, now have another outlet for their kids' love of Legos — area public libraries.
Several have Lego clubs that meet anywhere from weekly to once a month. The libraries supply the Legos, so no cleanup at home is necessary.
Kris Cram directs the program at the Sorensen Library in the Dundee neighborhood, the only Omaha Public Library to offer a Lego club. She said it all started for her library with a Lego-building contest one summer that drew 30 kids. Now the library offers two clubs, one for younger children and one for kids 12 and older, every other week as an after-school activity.
They are consistently popular.
"We started with two tubs of Legos," Cram said. "Then we asked for donations," which added hundreds or maybe thousands to the collection.
Participants are allowed to design and build whatever they like. The only rules: No throwing Legos; no yelling; no fighting. The object is for kids to have fun and use their creativity. Children who build for 15 minutes get fruit snacks, which is a great incentive to keep the youngest kids at their projects rather than running around the library.
There is a display case for any creations the kids want to save. After a few weeks, they're dismantled and the blocks go back into the general Lego piles.
On a recent Wednesday, there were about 20 kids in the two groups at the library.
Debbie Galusha brought her grandchildren, Vivian Norval, 10, and Simon Norval, 4. It was their first time.
"We've been trying to come for a long time," Galusha said, adding that her grandchildren were excited about coming. Vivian kept telling her, "Don't forget Lego day."
"I love it that she's interested in building," Galusha said.
In the teen room, Jayden Huffaker, 13, was putting together a zoo. He was there with his brother Jaryt, 8, and cousin Breauna Hoffman, 8.
Jayden said they like coming every other week because it gives them something different to do after school.
Nearby, Becky McMahon and Shirley Fabian, both 13, were trying to create a fast-food restaurant.
"We got bored. They (the Legos) were here so we used them," Becky said. "It's fun."
The two girls seem like best friends. Not so, Shirley said. They met at the library about a month ago, but the two girls discovered a mutual liking for building with Legos.
Breauna's mom, Amanda Hoffman, came to pick up her daughter and nephews after sitting in another part of the library enjoying a little "me time." She said she likes bringing them to Lego club because "I can relax. I don't have to worry about them and they have fun."
And that's the point, Cram said. They kids are in a safe place after school, they're having fun and making new friends, and they get to use their brains.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1067, carol.bicak@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
