The children’s and teen departments at Carnegie Public Library have planned an amazing summer of fun. Our theme is Space: A Universe of Stories, and in addition to all the fabulous books waiting to be read, we have an extensive calendar of events for families, kids and teens to enjoy.
There are five big events everyone should mark on their calendars. We’ll kick off the Library League Reading program at Roller Haven on Thursday, June 6 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free after registering to join the “Library League of Readers.” Prizes will be raffled at this event, including four tickets to King’s Island!
Don’s miss the Gordon Russ: Cosmic Magic show that is totally OUT OF THIS WORLD! Watch the show either at the Jeffersonville Library on Thursday, June 13 at 11 a.m. or at Cherry Hill Elementary at 2 p.m.
Learn about Australian culture, music, science and comedy at Digeridoo Down Under. Kids 6 and older will enjoy this wacky audience participation program. The musical instruments they will be demonstrating are quite unusual and will delight everyone. Grace Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall is the site of all the action starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12.
United Way and Carnegie Library are joining forces to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Fayette County. All children between the ages of birth to 5 years are eligible to sign up for this exciting literacy program. Every month a new book will be mailed to each child under the age of five in a family. Register children to participate in the Dolly Parton Library at Party in the Park. Listen to stories, sing songs and enjoy activities throughout the park. Hot dogs will be served, bring a beverage and enjoy a picnic and kiddie entertainment. This event is on Tuesday, July 30, at 11 a.m. in Eyman Park Shelter House. The rain date is Aug. 1, please check our Facebook Page for changes.
In August, the library will be hosting Neusole Glassworks from Cincinnati during the Downtown Art in the Square event on Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Learn different techniques of glassblowing. Artisans will discuss what they are doing as they are working, and answer questions during and after the demo.
After a 10-year hiatus, we are bringing back movies to the library! Every week, we will be showing space-themed movies for everyone. Star Wars fans will want to take advantage of weekly movies during June. Other space movies are planned weekly for the rest of the summer.
For our nature lovers, sign up for Discovery Camp co-hosted by Fayette County Farm Bureau and Fayette Soil & Water. This will be the third year we have offered this program to the public. Explore the outdoors by visiting wetlands and creeks at local farms. Learn the conservation practices of the landowners and the workings of a farm. Transportation is provided from the library and back again each day. Enjoy the great outdoors, nature and have fun exploring Fayette County.
Other nature-related activities include planting and maintaining the children’s garden with OSU Master Gardeners. Let’s get our hands dirty and see how colorful we can make this garden this year!
We are also offering plenty of STEM programs, including launching rockets and building robotic Legos. Teens will enjoy learning the basics of coding websites, animation, games and more. Learn at your own pace. Budding artists and crafters will find plenty to do, too.
The best part of the Library League summer program is selecting and reading books for enjoyment. Allow a child to select books they enjoy. If a child only wants to read Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by all means let them indulge in their preferences. Summer reading is for pure pleasure and audio books also count towards receiving prizes. To encourage reading, the library rewards readers with prizes. By reading a certain number of books that parents and kids agree to, a reader will win more than 12 coupons to area businesses. There are also opportunities to win tickets to many events in the surrounding area, such as free tickets to attend the Cincinnati Zoo or King’s Island. Our Library League program is all about reading and enjoying great books. Participating in our activities is just another bonus!
Jeffersonville Public Library also offers many programs during the summer, and we encourage families to visit both of our facilities and participate. Adults and teens can join in the fun, too. Fill out an entry form for each book read for a chance to win prizes.
There is so much to see and do during this summer at the library. A huge thank you goes to Fayette Travel & Tourism for sponsoring many of our programs. Sonja Seiler, a charter member of our local Altrusa International chapter, has been a longtime supporter of the children’s department with her generous contributions and encouragement. Alice Craig, another Altrusa member, has also donated generously. Thanks to their substantial contributions, we can provide outstanding summer reading programs. To learn more details about the summer events, visit our website at www.cplwcho.org, Carnegie Facebook page, or pick up a newsletter at the library.
I want to hear what you are planning to read this summer, and I’ll share my “summer reads” list with you! Register before July 15 to participate in the children’s Library League! Summer programs start June 3! Let’s do this! Learn, laugh, cry, be entertained, be stimulated, be amazed by the magic of reading!
