Summer is here! It’s a time of lazy, hot days full of sunshine, picnics, lemonade and vacations. But for librarians, it’s a time of reading—Summer Reading, to be exact. We know how important it is to keep kids reading throughout their summer break, and so we try to make it a fun time by offering Summer Reading Programs at our library branches. This week I would like to outline the programs at the library closest to you. The state-wide theme this year is “Super Heroes: Every Hero Has a Story.” We provide children with reading logs so they can keep track of the books they read during the summer. Children who can’t yet read independently are not left out—they have listening logs, and can keep track of all the books they listen to this summer. In addition to reading/listening to books, we have weekly programs so the children can come to the library, stock up on a week’s worth of books, and enjoy some activities while they are here. McClintic Public Library and the Linwood Community Library will be offering weekly programs on Wednesdays, beginning on July 1 and ending on August 5. McClintic’s programs will be held at 10:30 a.m., while Linwood’s will start at 2:30 p.m. Green Bank Library will also have Wednesday programs from July 1 through July 29 at 10:30 a.m. There will be stories, crafts, and maybe even an experiment or two! All three libraries are focusing on the Heroes theme this year. Hillsboro Public Library will have Thursday programs from July 9 through July 30 at 10:30 a.m. Their theme is “Capturing Nature” and in addition to stories, the children will do nature printing, bark rubbing, and make windsocks and toad houses, and more. Durbin Community Library is still in the midst of moving and settling into the new building, but plan to have a “Good Night Story” for children five years old and up on Monday evenings in July from 7 to 8 p.m., beginning on July 6. The story will be The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. PJs and slippers are optional attire. Then on July 18, from 10 a.m. until noon, youth of all ages are asked to come help assemble and decorate a “Bookworm float” for the Durbin Days parade. These weekly programs are all aimed at children from ages five to 12 and should last roughly 90 minutes. Please contact your library, either by phone or in person, to pre-register. Children under the age of eight must have a parent or guardian in the building per PCFL policy. We can be reached at the following numbers: McClintic: 304-799-6000; Hillsboro: 304-653-4936; Green Bank: 304-456-4507; Linwood: 304-572-BOOK (2665); Durbin: 304-456-3142.
