Category Archives: News

Easter holiday hours, renewals, and AGM

News
Dear CEL members and volunteers,

The Easter school holidays are from Saturday April 12- Sunday April 27.  The CEL will only be open during this time on Friday afternoon April 25th.

A reminder, please take note of the date your books are due.  The loan period for books is 4 weeks. We do send out a renewal reminder email but this is only a courtesy.  It is everyone’s responsibility to renew or return their books on time. If you can’t make it back to the library before the renewal date then send a renewal request to renewals@celstuttgart.de.  If you do have overdue fines then please pay them.  These fines help support the library buy new books and keep the lights on.

Thank you to everyone that joined us at the CEL Annual General Meeting.  It was nice to review the work of 2024 and makes plans for the rest of 2025!

Here is a note from Liz Weiser, Chairman of the Board of Directors:
2024 was a very active and successful year at the library. We did more fundraising than ever before. There were so many activities and community events to engage our members and increase community awareness of the CEL.   This was all made possible by an extraordinary board of directors and a dedicated group of volunteers.  Thank you so much to all of our volunteers and all of our board members for giving your time and energy to ensure that the CEL continues to run and operate smoothly and provide a wonderful place for books, reading, crafts, and getting together with other English speakers.  A special thank you to Frances for all of the computer and library management support and for generously giving so much of your time to the library and specifically helping me so much.
The library is a special place and we are lucky to have it. Thank you to all of you for working so hard to ensure the CEL continues to exist for years to come.  We have a lot to look forward to in the coming year at the CEL!

We wish you all a nice Easter break.

The CEL Board

Coming soon: As announced at the AGM we will soon be launching a Supporter’s Membership

Read-a-thon and AGM reminder

Event, News

Dear Members,

The second annual Read-a-thon is approaching! What is a Read-a-thon?
A Read-a-thon is a fundraiser where participants collect donations from family and friends in exchange for a commitment to read (or be read to) during a designated time period.

This is a wonderful way for the library to collect donations to pay for things like books, member events, rent, and more! Last year we raised over 600€ and collectively read over 2,000 minutes!

You can pick up your packets at the library starting Friday, April 4 or find them online here. The read-a-thon will take place over the Easter school holidays between April 19 and April 26. Kids who hand in their worksheets and donations receive a prize!

Our Annual General Meeting is on April 10th at 7:30 pm. We will hold a vote for two changes of our constitution. One is a liability clause and the second is a new Supporters of the Library membership option. The new additions are in the CELSatzung_nderungsvorschlag25.
Please let us know if you will be joining us or send your apologies to info@celstuttgart.de.
Donations of nibbles welcome.

Best wishes,
The CEL Board

CEL News: AGM – Holiday Closing – Open Day

Event, News
Hello Members,
We would like to invite all members to attend our Annual General Meeting on April 10th at 7:30 pm at the library. We will be voting to add a new Library Supporters membership option to our organizational charter in addition to the regular AGM Agenda. After the meeting, there will be time to socialize and exchange books. Drinks will be provided and donations of snacks are gladly accepted. Please RSVP at info@celstuttgart.de.

The Carnival School Holidays begin this Saturday March 1st through Sunday March 9th. During this time, the library will only be open on Friday afternoon March 7th.

We will have a Fantasy themed Open Day at the library on Saturday March 22nd from 1-5 pm. Dress up as your favorite fantasy book character and don’t forget to invite your friends https://www.facebook.com/events/859042906245655! There will be a craft, storytime, activities, and a bake sale!

Best wishes and happy reading,
The CEL Board

Save the dates for two upcoming events at CEL!

Event, News

Hello Members and Volunteers,

Here are a few upcoming events at CEL:

On Friday February 7th at 7:30 pm, we will be hosting a Blind Date with a Book event open to our Adult members and volunteers. Bring a wrapped new or gently used book with a few descriptive clues written on the wrapping to exchange. Please bring a snack to share and we will provide drinks. Let us know if you are coming at liz.weiser@celstuttgart.de. Hope to see you there!

We will be having a fantasy themed Open Day on Saturday March 22nd from 1-5 pm. There will be a craft, storytime, activities, and a bake sale. Come dressed as your favorite fantasy character and get a prize! This open event is open to all so please share with your English speaking friends and groups. Use this link to invite those on FB https://fb.me/e/aBxhZQntN
Request for volunteers to help and bake goods donations will be sent out closer to the date.

Best wishes and happy reading,
The CEL Board

Lego Club and Cinema tickets for Paddington in Peru

News

Happy New Year!
CEL is open as usual again from tomorrow – Friday 10th January.

This Saturday: Lego Club

Join us this Saturday for our CEL Lego Club.
All kids aged 6-12 are invited to come discover and build.
Children must be members of the library.
No sign up necessary.
From 1:30pm to about 2:30pm (the library will open at 2pm, so you can check out books before leaving)

 

Film Poster

Paddington Cinema Tickets
Long standing CEL Member, Emma has reserved the cinema at Corso-Cinema Stuttgart to watch the new Paddington in Peru film.

When: 01.02.2025 at 12:45
Tickets: 6,50€
If you want to reserve tickets then please e-mail film@celstuttgart.de with how many you would like.
On the day please arrive in plenty of time to pay for your tickets, buy snacks and find your seat.
See you there😊

A successful book drive and CEL holiday closure

News

Dear CEL members and volunteers,

The last of the book donations were delivered this morning and that means our 6th Annual CEL Children’s Book Drive is completed for the year!
674 books were donated to 6 local organizations that support children and families! I‘d call that a big success!

The different directors of these organizations all said how grateful they are to get books again this year. Every one of them told me how much the kids and families have enjoyed and used the books from previous years. It was really heartwarming to hear that we are really doing something good for these kids and for our community. I hope it warms your hearts, too.

Thank you all so much for donating books, telling friends and neighbors about our book drive, and especially for helping us to do something good in memory of Henry. ❤️

The CEL will be open this Friday December 20th. The library will be closed from Saturday December 21st until January 6th. Normal opening hours resume on Friday January 10th.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading,
The CEL Board

Grinch workshop, Lego Club, CEL Merch, and a successful Santa visit!

Event, News

Hello CEL members and volunteers,

Looking for some holiday present ideas? Next time you are at the library, be sure to check out our new display case full of CEL merchandise! We have children’s t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, and stickers!

This Saturday, December 7, is Lego Club from 1:30-2:30. Ages 6-12. See you there!

 

 

Join us for this fun Grinch read-aloud and Christmas craft for all ages on Saturday December 14 beginning at 3 pm. Sign up is required at info@celstuttgart.de. Space is limited to 10 children.

This past Saturday was a really fun day at the library. We had a great turnout for photos with Santa, a very successful bake sale, and we had two new families join! A big thank you to all of our bakers and helpers!

The library will be closed for school holidays from Saturday December 21 until Monday January 6. Regular opening hours resume on Friday January 10th.

Happy Holidays and happy reading,
The CEL board

 

Santa CEL Fundraiser – Saturday 30th November

Event, News

Saturday 30th November 14:00-17:00
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Come get your holiday pictures taken with (or without) Santa Claus at the Children’s English Library.
Santa Pictures – Bake Sale – Letters to the North Pole – CEL fundraising merchandise.

There is a suggested donation of 2Euro per photo.

Donations requested for the bake sale -please e-mail bakes@celstuttgart.de

Open to non-members – invite your friends and encourage them to join CEL as an early Christmas present that lasts all year!

Don’t forget this is also the final day for donations to our book drive for children less well of than our own.