 The Summer Reading Program theme for this year is “Libraries Rock!” We will have a lot of music in our events this June & July! Here’s what’s coming up this summer:
Kids ages 0-11 can sign up for Summer Reading Program now at the library or on our website.
No sign-up necessary for young adults (ages 12-19) to participate in our Summer Reading Program! When a young adult checks out a book or comes to a Summer Reading Event, they get a scratch off ticket! (Limit two tickets per person per day.) Most scratch tickets are prize winners. The ones that are not winners are entered to win the grand prize! We have a variety of prizes, including fidget cubes, small speakers, and earbuds.
Adults, complete the stops on our Summer Reading World Tour for prizes! Watch our website for fun summer activities! Watch movies, make crafts, and listen to music.
- This Saturday at 1:30 pm, Poppa D. Clown will present a musical program for our Summer Reading Kickoff! Free popcorn and drinks will be served.
- USD 480 is serving free lunches for kids ages 1-18 at the library starting on Monday, June 4. Lunches will be served Monday – Friday, 11:30 am
- Ages 12 & up can join us for weekly games of Yu-Gi-Oh on Mondays at 6 pm, starting next week!
- Starting June 5, we will have three weekly storytimes, featuring stories, songs, and a craft! Storytime for ages birth – 3 years old is on Tuesdays at 11 am, ages 4 – 6 years on Thursdays at 11 am, and all ages on Thursdays at 6 pm. Every child gets a free book at every storytime!
- Mad Science will be here on Tues., June 5 at 1:30 pm to show kids the science of sound.
- We will have Video Game Day for ages 12 & up on Wednesdays at 4 pm! Plus, we will have a craft for ages 12 & up every other Wednesday at this time.
- Starting June 8, every Friday is Funday at 2 pm! We’ll be watching movies, building with Legos, playing Video Games, making crafts, and enjoying free refreshments.
- The next Library and Lunch is on Tuesday, June 12 at noon. Bring your lunch and join us for a discussion of the book Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.
- Smokey Hills PBS is coming to the library on Wed., June 14 at 1:30 pm with a Daniel Tiger storytime for ages 3-7!
- Get your hair styled like a Rock Star on Mon., June 18th at 1:30 pm!
- Dan Dan the Magic Man puts on a magical, musical show on Friday, June 29 at 2 pm!
- Musician Aaron Fowler will be at the library on Thursday, July 12 at 11 am! Music, movement, and stories for ages 4 and up.
- Learn about Native American dances and traditions on Tuesday, July 17 at 2 pm! Ken Dixon and Regina Smith will be at the library for this special event.
- Our End of Summer Reading Party will be on Saturday, July 28 at 1 pm. Enjoy ice cream and celebrate all you’ve done over the summer!
July is here and the weather is hot. But inside the library, we’ve got a lot of cool programs for all ages! Our Summer Reading Program continues throughout July, so make sure to keep reading and recording the books you’ve read! Here’s what we’ve got going on at the library in July:
- Want to learn how to paint with watercolors? Then join our Beginning Watercolor class, Monday the 10th and 17th at noon. Learn the basics of watercolor painting, including using the color wheel and different color tones. Attend one or both sessions. Adults only.
- Our weekly storytimes feature fun stories, songs, and a craft! Plus, every kid gets a free book to take home and keep! Tuesday at 11:15 am is our storytime for ages birth – 3 years. Tuesday afternoons at 2 pm, ages 7 – 11 years are invited to storytime. Ages 4-6 years can come to our storytime on Thursday at 11:15 am.
- Don’t forget, USD 480 serves free lunches for kids ages 1 – 18 at the library. Monday – Friday, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, come to the downstairs activity area for a free and healthy lunch. No ID or registration required.
 Tuesday the 11th at noon, it’s our monthly Library & Lunch! Bring your lunch and join us for a discussion of the book Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey.
- This Thursday at 4 pm, kids and teens ages 9 and older are invited to “Build a Mouse Maze!” Build a maze with your team and then program a computerized mouse to go through it!
- Thursday at 6 pm, join us for Bad Art! It will be a fun time crafting art where the worst is the best! We will be making art from leftover crafting supplies. Prizes will be given for the worst project. Adults only.
- Adults, don’t forget to turn in your slips for books you have read by Friday at noon to be entered into our weekly prize drawing! And, don’t forget to keep filing out your Bingo sheet for an entry for the grand prize.
- Every Friday, join us for board games at 1 pm and a family-friendly movie at 2 pm! Free popcorn and drinks are served during the movie.
- Have you ever wanted to learn how to use the library’s 3D printer? Then join our Beginner’s 3D Printing Workshop, Monday the 17th at 6 pm. We will walk you through the process of finding a print-ready file online that you can print as-is or alter to fit your needs. Sign up at the front desk or online at http://lmlibrary.org/blog/2017/06/20/beginners-3d-printing-workshop-july/
- Kids of all ages are invited to our Construction Petting Zoo, Wednesday the 19th from 10 am – noon. See and touch some construction vehicles and learn about what they do!
- Join our popular dice game, Bunco, on Thursday the 20th at noon! This month, it’s Hula Bunco, so make sure to wear your grass skirt! Registration is required, so talk to Shannon. Adults only, snacks provided.
- Do you love building with Legos? Then join our Building Challenge, Thursday the 20th and 27th at 4 pm. Use your imagination to build something great! All ages welcome, join us at one or both sessions.
- Recipe Swap will be on Tuesday the 25th at 6:30 pm! Bring something you’ve made (along with the recipe) to share and enjoy everyone else’s creations! This month, we’re making cookout food.
- Adults, turn in your Bingo card with a Bingo by noon on July 28 to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing!
- Saturday, July 29 at 1 pm is our End of Summer Reading Party for children and teens! Eat some ice cream and celebrate all that you’ve done during Summer Reading!
- Kids and teens should have their summer reading logs turned in by August 4 in order to receive their prizes!
 What’s happening this week
- Tuesday at 11:15 am Birth to 3 yr-olds Storytime – We will have special storytimes for each age group during Summer Reading. Listen to stories, sing songs, and do a craft.
- Tuesday at 2 pm 7 to 11 yr-olds Storytime
- Tuesday at 6:30 pm Recipe Swap – Join us for Recipe Swap and share your favorite recipe with fellow patrons who share your passion — cooking! Every month is a different theme! This month’s theme is “Picnic Foods”.
- Thursday at 11:15 am 4 to 6 yr-olds Storytime
- Thursday at Noon and again at 6 pm Bird Watching – Adult Summer Reading – Learn the ins and outs of effective bird watching in Southwest Kansas. We will meet at Blue Bonnet Park at the gazebo.
- Thursday at 4 pm Building Challenge – Kids Summer Reading – Complete a fun challenge using Legos, blocks, and other building materials!
 Friday at 1 pm Dan Dan the Magic Man – Summer Reading – If We Can Dream It, We Can Build It.” Dan’s magic show will guide you on a journey full of architecture and construction!
Lunches – This summer lunches will be served from 11:30 to 12:30 in the Downstairs Activity Area at the Library courtesy of USD 480’s Summer Food Service Program. This program is open to all children and teens, ages 1-18. No registration or identification required. For more information, contact Connie Vogts at 620-604-1204.
 New Children’s Area Complete
The renovation of the children’s area of the library is finished and it looks great. There are beautiful trees and rolling grassy mounds along the walls. Sarah Foreman came up with the forest themed concept and Mindy Allen painted the artwork on the walls. Cowboy’s Custom Cabinetry made the big tree in the corner storytime area and the tree bookshelf near the entrance of the children’s area.
This year’s Summer Reading Program theme is “Build A Better World!” And the library has a bunch of fun programs lined up this month to help inspire us all to do just that.
- The Library is once again hosting USD 480’s free lunches for kids! Kids ages 1-18 can come to the Downstairs Activity Area for a free lunch from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. No signup or ID required.
 Comfort For Critters is this Monday and next Monday at noon. Adults only can make no-sew fleece blankets to be donated to Angels for Animals. Angels for Animals will be joining us to talk about homeless pets and may bring a few that need a home! Attend one or both sessions.
- Library & Lunch is Tuesday at noon. Bring your lunch and join us for a discussion of the book Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.
- Every child gets a free book to take home at Storytime! We have three storytimes a week split by age group. Ages Birth – 3 years, Tuesdays at 11:15 am. Ages 7 – 11, Tuesdays at 2 pm. Ages 4-6, Thursdays at 11:15 am. Join us in The Learning Center (at the back of the library) for stories, songs, and a craft! This week, we’re making a special Father’s Day craft and reading about construction!
- Smoky Hills PBS is presenting a special “Bob the Builder” storytime this Wednesday at 1 pm. Join us for a story, a cartoon, and a building activity! Recommended ages: 3-7.
- Building Challenge is every Thursday at 4 pm! Have fun building with Legos and other materials.
- On Fridays, we play boardgames at 1 pm, followed by a movie at 2 pm! Popcorn and lemonade will be served during the movie.
- Adults, don’t forget to turn in slips for books you’ve read by Friday at noon to be entered into this week’s prize drawing! And keep filling out your Bingo card for an entry to win the grand prize!
- This Saturday at 1 pm is Outdoor Fun day! We’ll do crafts, play games, and have fun outside in front of the Learning Center.
- Singer and storyteller Aaron Fowler, along with his dog, Bella, will be joining us on Tuesday, the 20th at 10 am! Music, movement, and stories, recommended ages: 4 & up.
- Bunco, our popular dice game for adults, will be on Thursday the 22nd at noon. Registration is required, so talk to Shannon if interested. Snacks will be provided.
 Recipe Swap is Tuesday the 27th at 6:30 pm. Bring a dish you’ve made along with the recipe, and enjoy everyone else’s dishes! This month, we’re making picnic foods.
- Want to learn the basics of effective bird watching? Just enjoy watching birds here in Liberal? Then join us at Blue Bonnet Park at the gazebo on Thursday the 29th at noon and/or 6 pm for Bird Watching!
- Dan Dan the Magic Man will join us on Friday the 30th at 1 pm! If we can dream it, we can build it in this magical show.
 Summer Reading Program is off to a great start! If you haven’t signed up your kids yet, you can still do so at our website http://lmlibrary.org/kids/summerreading/ or at the library. Teens (6th – 12th grade) can sign up at http://lmlibrary.org/teens/summerreading/
The library has lots of fun stuff going on every week! Here’s what’s coming up in June:
The school system is serving free lunches for kids ages 1-18 Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm here at the library, in our basement. No registration or identification is required.
 Today through Thursday: Storywalk! Take a stroll outside the library and read a fun book at the same time. Start outside our front doors (next to the big open book) and go to your right until the last page, which is on the outside of The Learning Center annex.
We have a great guest coming on Wednesday at 6 pm! Former KU Basketball player and Graphic Novelist Scott Novosel will be here, it should be a lot of fun!
We have four storytimes every week, for all ages of kids. Wee ones & toddlers are invited to our Tuesday 11:15 am storytime, and we have a storytime on Tuesdays at 2 pm for 3rd – 5th graders. Thursdays at 11:15 am is our Preschoolers & Kindergarteners storytime, and 1st & 2nd graders are welcome at our 2 pm storytime on Thursdays. If you have children in multiple age ranges, you are welcome to come to the storytime that fits best with your schedule.
If you can’t join us at our normal storytimes, we’re also doing a special storytime on Friday, June 17th at 10 am at Spencer Browne’s Coffeehouse. Enjoy coffee or your favorite morning beverage and relax as your kids listen to stories, sing songs, and do a craft.
This week, we also have a special puppet show! “Racing to Read” is Friday at 1:30 pm. Come watch the classic story about a tortoise and a hare.
Teens can join us every Tuesday at 4 pm for a movie and a craft in the YA area. We also have a video game & tabletop game club for teens every Thursday at 4 pm in the basement.
Tuesday at noon, we have our Book Club for adults – bring your lunch and join us for a discussion of Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.
Adults and teens can also join us Wednesday at noon or Thursday at 6 pm for Coffee provided by Spencer Browne’s and Crafts! This month, we’ll be making stone art.
And, adults can join our popular monthly dice game of Bunco at noon on Thursday, June 23! Registration is required, either on our website or by talking to Shannon.
On Wednesday, June 22 at 1 pm, join us for a show from Mad Science! Learn something about science through fun demonstrations.
 Do you like dogs? Friday, June 24 is “Take Your Dog to Work Day,” and Angels for Animals will be here at the library at 2 pm to show us some rescue animals!
Performers including singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and actors have a chance to show off their talents on June 25 at 1 pm for Open Mic Day! Anyone interested in participating should contact Tammy, tammyg@lmlibrary.org. Or you can just come and enjoy the show.
Our monthly recipe swap will be on Monday the 27th at 6:30 pm. Bring a food that’s served cold for summer or just come enjoy everyone else’s creations.
Smoky Hills Public Television will be at the library on Wednesday the 29th at 1 pm with a Curious George presentation! He’ll teach us about eating healthy in his funny way.
We’re having a lot of fun through our Summer Reading Program here at the library, so come join us as we read, play, craft, and learn for the win!
Whew! We did it! Or more importantly you did it. 2015 Summer Reading is officially in the books. The library hasn’t quite yet put all the numbers together, but it looks like we had another record breaking year in terms of program attendance and the number of finished reading logs turned in.
I want to take a quick minute and say thank you to our staff that put together an awesome childrens and young adults line-up. We left no stone unturned in providing what was a great summer reading gauging by the smiles on the faces of our participants. Library staff did an awesome job of improvising on the spot and doing what needed to be done to make sure things went off as planned. A good example of this is when a performer failed to show up and our Assistant Director Tammy gave an impromptu program on dog training.
This summer reading season also saw the library being a site for the Summer Food Program through the USDA and USD 480. Not only were we able to nourish kids minds but their stomachs as well. For the library it also meant a chance to reach more patrons and to tell people about library programs and services. The program continues through July 24th. An important thing to remember about the Summer Food Program is that the emphasis is on providing a child with a nutritious lunch. It is not dependent on income level or qualifying for any particular program. You come in, get a lunch, and eat up. That’s it.
 In a month of highlights it is hard to pick out just a few moments to talk about but there are a few that stand out. My personal favorite was the Southern Pioneer Power Van.
Usually when you see someone working on a utility pole you understand how dangerous it is, but aren’t really aware of just how dangerous. Watching the people from Southern Pioneer show us electrical arcing on a dummy drove the point home. If the crackling of the high voltage wasn’t enough to scare the wits out of you, the hot dogs they fried with that energy was a good lesson. Leave those power cables alone.
Another favorite moment was when Darth Vader once again visited the library. I mean. C’mon. How cool is it that Darth Vader has been in the library twice this year so far? The young adults were treated to a chance to sit down with a gentleman who portrays Darth Vader for local functions and at conventions around the area. He talked about making his own custom costume and what it takes to immerse oneself in the role. Plus, for those who stuck around they got to make light sabers.
In this moment of reflection, I want to take a moment and thank our Friends of the Library. They provided gift certificates and prizes for our summer reading programs and it was much appreciated. My favorite part was calling people to let them know they had won something. The Friends of the Library do a lot for the library and they make programs like Summer Reading even more exciting.
Last but not least, I want to thank you the library patron and community member. Part of what makes a successfully summer reading program is people taking the time out of a busy summer to attend programs at the library. Just as important is people in the community realizing we have such a program and sending their summer visitors over to participate. We have quite a few kids from out of town whose grandparents brought them down to the library during June.
Once again thanks. We take a bit of a rest in July, but not by much. We will return to our regular storytimes and will also be offering programs and don’t forget our Friday Movies at 2pm the rest of the summer.
See you at your library.
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