Michigan LEGO® Users Group

Located at three libraries in Livonia, Michigan

Standing room only cround at the Livonia Library Summer Kids Program Lego day.

Attendees

• Michele Van Hecker
• Chris Leach
• Tom Morse
• Benjamin Morse

Picture Galleries:
Tom Morse

Show Report:

by Tom Morse

Introduction

The Livonia Library has a summer kids program at all three of its libraries every Tuesday in the summer and invited MICHLUG to do a train display along with a program about LEGO.

Setup

9:30 a.m. at Sandburg Library.
2:00 p.m. at Nobel Library.
6:30 p.m. at Civic Center Library.

Sandburg Library

Setup started at 9:30 a.m. at the Sandburg Library on 7 Mile Rd. We unloaded our vehicles into the room and realized we did not have the K8 box for the kids to build with, so Tom went home to get some pieces from his collection for the kids to use. Before we finished with the setup, kids were lined up at the door to get in. At 11:00 a.m. when the doors opened, 145 kids/parents came in for the program and completely filled the room; we were told that it was a record for this library. Michele and Chris did the program, and I just interjected with thoughts during the program. Michele did a great job keeping the kids interested. When the program was over, the kids crowded the display and we started the trains running. When the floor was clear we dumped out my LEGO bricks for the kids to build with. At 12:15 we started picking up the display, and the kids that were left started picking up the LEGO bricks on the floor. When we were loaded up, we all went to Nobel Library to set up the next show.

Nobel Library

I arrived first at Nobel Library, but nothing was ready for us. We had to move tables around and set up the area before we could start setting up the display. We finally got the area the way that we wanted and started on the display. Chris designed a different display for each library. Kids started arriving early and getting in the way, but we still managed to finish the display on time. A reporter from the Livonia Observer arrived to do a story (so get a copy of the paper)! Someone counted the crowd and said that there were 165 people here, but this was not a record for this library because some of their programs bring in over 200 head count. This show and program went very well with the exception of some kids getting too close and knocking the trains off the tracks. I built three items from library books. One of them was a gun that shot paper air planes and the kids loved it. We dumped the LEGO bricks out in a small glassed in room for the kids to build. The crowd cleared out on time so we stopped the trains at 3:00 p.m. and started picking up the display. Kids picked up the bricks in the other room for us and a very young little girl came out of the room carrying two LEGO buckets full of LEGO, she was very cute. After loading the trucks we all went to Bates Hamburgers for supper.

Civic Center Library

After eating, I went on to Civic Center Library to get an idea of where we were going to set up because someone told us that we may be setting up on stage in the auditorium. That rumor was wrong, and the tables and chairs were already set up in the room that we were going to be in. This display was one table larger than the other two. Chris had a problem with his Comerica Tower so the rest of us started on the display while Chris fixed his building. I tried to put different trains on the track at each display. Some people started arriving before we were finished setting up, but for the most part they stayed out of the way. A child and his mother helped us set up the display and my son Benjamin showed them where to put things. At 6:30 p.m. the room was filled to the max, but this time no one counted the crowd. It looked like a few more people than the last show. Michele did the program again, with a little more help from Chris this time. The display went very well with only a couple small train crashes at the end of the show. We finished at 7:30 p.m. and started taking the display down. We were packed up at 8:35 p.m. and soon we were on our way home.

Another great show finished. I am sure that the Livonia Library will want us back again!

New MOCs

Tom’s 7 stud wide – 4449 Daylight train (not track ready yet)

Other LEGO Creations

Michele’s brought a table full of built kits for the kid to see.
Tom’s: camel-from a library book (Amazing Animals)
Tom’s: Dog – from a library book (Amazing Animals)
Tom’s: paper airplane gun – from a library book (Forbidden LEGO)