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Kendall Young Library rolls out summer activities

Children, adults, families invited to take part in reading programs

As school wraps up across Hamilton County and families begin to plan their summer activities, Kendall Young Library officials are hoping that children, adults and whole families will take part in the summer reading programs.

Beginning Friday, four different reading programs are being offered, according to Ketta Lubberstedt-Arjes, library director, including a special one for the entire family.

“We received a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation,” she said. “This was towards a family reading program. It’s called Families Reading Together.”

Lubberstedt-Arjes said the program encourages families to read together – either children reading to parents, parents reading to children or taking turns reading to each other. Participants can complete up to three reading logs.

“We estimate that’s about an hour a week,” she said.

As a prize, there will be a drawing for a one-year family membership to the Science Center of Iowa or a gift card for Fort Frenzy. The reading logs must be returned by Aug. 31 to be eligible for the prize drawing.

An adult program, entitled Libraries Rock, will be held from June 1 too July 31. Adults can complete a reading log to be eligible for prizes, including a Google Home Mini, a Nicole Letters Wooden Sign and a variety of gift cards.

Lubberstedt-Arjes said there will also be two special programs for adults — 50s Night on June 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and a presentation on succulents with ISU Horticulturist and Master Gardener Yvonne McCormick on July 11 at 6 p.m.

Teens are invited to Teen Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. from June 5 through July 31. Participants who complete a Bingo Sheet, Reading Contract or a Minute Log will receive a small prize and they will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize — Bloxels Game Maker, a Google Home Mini, gift cards and books.

Teen Tuesday activities will include a variety of topics and themes, including Musical Movies, Music Art, Rock Candy Making, Music Bingo, a lip sync and Karaoke contest and a pizza party and scavenger hunt.

The summer reading program in the children’s department will include special activities, including preschool story time for those 3 to 6 years of age who have not attended kindergarten, and caregivers. The story time will be held Tuesdays from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m.

Explorers, ages kindergarten through fourth grade students, will meet Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The library staff is also planning kid tech game days for those in kindergarten through fourth grade. Those events are set for Aug. 1, 8 and 15 from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Those ages three through fourth grade will have a chance to adopt a pet rock, according to Lubberstedt-Arjes. Those will be available July 2 through July 28.

Special programs planned for the children’s department include a visit from Blank Park Zoo June 26 from 6 to 7 p.m., the Grout Museum “Mad Mixtures” on July 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. and a Magic Show on July 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Kids and families are welcome to these programs, Lubberstedt-Arjes said.

In addition, kids who finish reading logs by July 31, or who attend a program or check out books during the summer reading program, will be entered into a drawing for two Kindle Fire tablets to be given away.

Reading logs can be picked up at the check out desk of the library or in the children’s department on the lower level of the library.

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