Summer Reading Program to Build a Better World

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Regional Public Library.

Pottstown Regional Public Library is ready for Summer Reading 2017, inspired by the theme of “Build a Better World”.

The Summer Reading Kick-Off Party is scheduled for June 13 at 6 p.m.

 The library and its community partners will be having a building workshop, a planting table, recycled crafts, games, door prizes and snacks to celebrate the beginning of summer.

During the summer, free family programs are scheduled at the library on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. and Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Registration is not required to attend. A full schedule of events for all ages is available on the library website and printed fliers are available in the library.

It's easy to be a part of the Summer Reading Program! Starting June 12, children ages 0-18 may pick up an activity log in the children’s department at the library. There are three different participation levels to choose from:

• Pre-Readers - children who cannot yet read on their own
• Elementary Readers - children who are in elementary school 
• Teen Readers - children who are in Middle or High School. 

The children's section is in the library basement.

As participants mark their progress on the activity log they earn prizes for their efforts. All children who complete and return their entire activity log before Aug. 19 will be entered into grand prize drawings.

Traditionally, summer reading programs are designed to encourage children to keep reading during summer vacation. Preventing the “summer slide” continues to be the main objective of summer reading programs. Students can lose two months of reading achievement in the summer. For many families the public library is the only community space available during the summer months where they can access free educational and cultural enrichment activities and programs.

The benefits of summer reading programming for children:

• Children are motivated to read.
• Children develop positive attitudes about reading, books, and the library.
• Children maintain their reading skills during summer vacation.
• Children have access to experiences that further their sense of discovery.
• Children have access to experiences through which they can learn to work cooperatively.

Summer is a great time to build and create and have fun with friends! Your local library is the perfect place to help your imagination take off! Join us this summer for books, movies, music, activities and fun… And together we can build a better world.

Summer Reading and Fun, Every Day at the Library

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

The Pottstown Regional Public Library has kicked off its Summer Reading program and (hopefully) there is still time to sign up.

There are two age groups in the program, birth to 5th grade and for them the summer theme is "Every Hero Has a Story."

For students 6th grade and up, the program is "Escape the Ordinary."

(Note that, thanks to the Soroptimists Club, no library card is required for the programs.)

They both kicked off on June 15.

(Sorry for the late notice, but the library did not send me anything and I found this on the Pottstown School District web site.)

The library will also offer free lunch at the library for any child under 18 until Aug. 21.

Each has its own calendar of events which will not reproduce well here so, because it's a slow night, I will attempt to reproduce it for you, however some events are for all ages, including:

Marvelous Mondays at 6 p.m., stories and a craft:

• July 13: Cape-tastic craft, register by June 29
• July 20: Boom! Pow! Program, register by July 6
• July 27: Daredevil Deeds, register by July 13
• Aug. 3: Command Center, register by July 20

Anime Club: Monday, June 29 and Monday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday Night Drive-in Movies, held at 6 p.m. for all ages. Shows will be June 30, July 14, July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4. Check with the library for which movie is playing.

Wednesday Morning Performances are held from 10:30 to 11:15.

• July 1: Eric Dasher's Brainwash Game
• July 15: Family Stages Theater
• July 22: IllStyle and Peach Hip Hop Dance Crew

(Here's some video I took of them last year when they performed at the library:)

• July 29: Lehigh Valley Zoo.

Teen Book Talk Thursdays, held at noon, the first 10 receive a copy of the book.

• July 2: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
• July 16: Notes from the Midnight Driver
• Date not set: Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip
• Date not set: El Deafa

Fun Friday, at 10:30 a.m., all ages welcome.

• July 3: Sunny Sidewalk Chalk
• July 10: Althouse Arboretum
• July 17: Bubbles
• July 24: Green Houses
• July 31: Painting Surprise
• Aug. 7: Bubble-Wrap Stomp Painting

Tween Fridays at 4 p.m. for ages 8-14

• July 3: Superb Superheroes, register by June 15, or beg them to let you in.
• July 17: Superhero Shrinky Dinks, register by June 29
• July 24: Life Size Clue, register by July 6
• July 31: Life Size Candyland, register by July 13
• Aug. 7: Spy Party, register by July 20.

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

Now, for the youngsters -- birth to 5th grade: 

Science in the Summer will be from July 6 to July 9 and registration is required

Dogs are Readers Too: The third Saturday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m., meaning that will occur July 18 and Aug. 15.

Lego Club: Meets the first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. with then next meetings at July 11 and then Aug. 1.

Magical Mondays, stories and a craft, meets Mondays at 10:30 a.m.:

• June 29: Paw Patrol Party, register by June 15 (but maybe they'll let you in anyway)
• July 13: Peppa Pig Party, register by June 29
• July 20: Princess Party, register by July 6
• July 27: Fresh Fruit Story time, register by July 13
• Aug. 3: Pete the Car Story time, register by July 20

Tip-Top Tuesdays, story time every Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m.

• June 30: Happy Birthday America, register by June 15 (ask anyway)
• July 14: Sunflower Sunshine, register by June 30
• July 21: Bumblebee Fun, register by July 6
• July 28: Tap, Clap, Drum, register by July 13
• Aug. 4: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs, register by July 20.

Arty Party held at 2 p.m. Wednesdays for ages 5 and older

• July 1: Hamburger Hamdoodling, register by June 15 (you know the drill)
• July 15: Chocolate Party, register by June 29
• July 22: Cupcake Decorating Bar, register by July 6
• July 29: Library Card Cases, register by July 13
• Aug. 5: Clay Hand Bowl, register by July 20

Twisted Tea Party: Thursday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m. Sign up and receive a free copy of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Program day will consist of games and other Wonderland fun.

Super Saturdays, held at 11 a.m.

• June 27: Ninja Turtle Party, register by June 15
• July 11: Summer Snowball fight, register by June 22
• July 18: Superhero Saturday, register by June 29
• July 25: Color in the Classics, register by July 6
• Aug. 1: TEEN Henna Party, register by July 13
• Aug. 8: Star Wars Storytime, register by July 20.

Brown Bag Book Talks, held from 12 to 1 p.m. Sign up and the first 10 receive a free copy of the book. 

• June 30: My Weird School
• July 15: Captain Awesome Vs. the Evil Babysitter
• July 21: the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, register by July 6
• July 28: One Duck Stuck, register by July 13
• Aug. 4: The Red Barn, register by July 20

End of Summer Wrap Party, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m.

Earn your summer reading certificate by Aug. 5 and be invited to the awesome Secret Lair Super Party.

On to the Teens, 6th grade and older

Those registered for the summer reading program will not only receive weekly prizes like food and t-shirts, the raffle prize at the end is a GoPro camera.

Cave Council: Wednesday, July 1 and Aug. 5 for ages 12 to 17. Tell the library what you would like to see there.

Anime Party: Wednesday, July 29 at 6 p.m., must wear (acceptable) costumes to attend.

Teen Movie Night: Tuesday evenings in "The Cave" at 6 p.m. NEW movies will be screened and food is provided. Dates are June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 4

Whatever Wednesday: Held at 6 p.m. for ages 12 to 17

• July 1: Awesome Jewelry, register by June 15
• July 8: Backyard Scrabble, register by June 22
• July 15: Chocolate Party, register by June 29
• July 22: Cupcake Decorating Bar, register by July 6
• July 29: Anime Party, register by July 13
• Aug. 5: DIY Candles, register by July 20.

Thunder Thursday: Held at 4 p.m. for ages 12 to 17

• July 2: Watermelon Seed Spitting
• July 16: Funky Pens, register by July 29
  
• July 23: Water Balloon Fight, register by July 6
• July 30: Super Surprise, register by July 13
• Aug. 6: Ice Cream Tasting, register by July 20

Slammin' Saturdays: at 11 a.m. for ages 10 to 17

• July 11: Snowball Fight
• July 25: Color the Classics, register by July 6
• Aug. 1: Henna Tattoos, register by July 13, (Parent permission required)

Party Time: Aug. 11 at 5 p.m., food, prizes, music and games. If you hope to win the GoPro, you must be present at the party to claim the prize.

Summer at the Library

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Regional Public Library

Many summer programs are occurring at the library in June, July, and August. 

The first "Wednesday Morning" performance is at 10:30 on June 25th. The crowds are so big for these Wednesday performances that we hold them on the main floor of the library and put all other functions of the library on hold. 

 There are six Wednesday Morning performances scheduled, so there are plenty of chances to join the fun. (all free, no registration required).

The library also has programs, crafts, and parties scheduled tailored by age. 

Some programs require registration, so visit the website and event calendar to check it out. http://ppl.mclinc.org/ Don't forget to register and record your reading - you may win a prize.

Research shows that kids who read over the summer avoid a loss of reading skills. They call that the "summer slide" (and it is one slide you want to avoid).

Besides the hard work of the children's department, you can thank the Greater Pottstown Foundation, Soroptomist, and Trinity Reformed Church, for supporting Summer Reading at the Pottstown Regional Public Library

Summer Bash Celebrating Reading: Where Else? At the Library

Children who participated in the Pottstown Regional Public Library's summer reading program will be treated to an "End of Summer Bash" tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, according to children's librarian Leslie Stillings.

The bash, which will feature a petting zoo, games, food and prizes for participants, is designed to "create a sense of community, parents meet other parents and children find new playmates," according to Stillings.

"Children and their families get to celebrate their accomplishments," she wrote of the event.

"Literacy is a family affair," according to Stillings.

"We are not a silent library – we encourage exploration through play and hands on interaction with books, animals, games, and educational toys," she wrote.

"The library is a place of active exchange; an exchange of ideas, information, and social matters," according to Stillings.

For Love of Libraries

ATTENTION BIBLIOPHILES: The Friends of the Pottstown Regional Public Library Book Sale
starts tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the basement!

This was the John C. Hart library I saw outside
my window growing up in Shrub Oak, NY.

If you love books, then chances are you love libraries.

I had the great good fortune of growing up across the street from one -- the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak, N.Y..

Begun in a grand old clapboard Victorian directly across the street from the grand, old clapboard Victorian in which I was raised, it was big news when a brick extension was added.

(There have since been several expansions)

My next library was the Mt. Pleasant Public
Library, in Pleasantville, N.Y.

In middle school, we moved to Pleasantville, N.Y. (yes, it's a real place) and found, next to the middle and high school complex, a fantastic, well-stocked and incredibly comfortable library -- the Mount Pleasant Public Library.

All of which is to say that it would have been a surprise if I had grown up to hate books.

No surprise, I don't.

Perhaps that's also due to the fact that that grand old Victorian I called home actually had  a room in it that was a library, for all my dad's books.

Dad's super-cool blog photo

(He has a blog too and wrote about that collection in this March 27 post. His most recent post, about "Reading Robert Caro," made me want to rush out and "catch-up" on my understanding of Lyndon B. Johnson.)

(And by the way, if you like to write about books you read, or read the reviews of ordinary folks, you can join Goodreads, where I and hundreds of thousands of others, do quick write-ups about our most recent reads.)

But I digress. This is not a memoir!

This is a community service post about Pottstown's own best resource, the Pottstown Regional Public Library.

Photo Theft from Ivy Lane Designs

Pottsgrove High School's National Honor Society collected books for
the last book sale.

First of all, before we get too far down and you lose interest, you should know that the best bargain for book lovers in town starts tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The Friends of the Library's semi-annual book sale begins at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, and opens its doors again Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you are like me, when you see a book you may want to read, you usually have to buy it if you can afford it because you have too many in line (in my case, on a window sill) already and know that if you take it out of the library, you'll never get to it before its due.

In that case, the book sale is for you. I have found copies of books I "meant to read" and forgot about, as well as those I have been looking for.

Book blogger Michelle Karas

The last time I was at the sale, I snuck away from work with Mercury book blogger extraordinaire, Michelle Karas, and found a wonderfully worn out old copy of "Moby Dick which, I shudder to confess, I have never read -- despite a near encyclopedic knowledge of turn of the century whaling.

This sale will feature "classics, modern novels, cookbooks, children's books, young adult books, puzzles, audiobooks, and way more at the cheapest prices you'll find ANYWHERE," according to the posting on the library web site.

(Fellow TownSquare blogger Ivy Lane Designs posted about December's sale. In fact I stole two of her photos! If you want to get a sense of what you'll find at the book sale, click here.)

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

Susan Davis, the Pottstown library's new director.

And, if you read today's Mercury, you know that I also interviewed the Pottstown library's new director Wednesday. Her name is Susan Davis and she too seems to have loved libraries, "from the time is was in the sixth grade."

She talked about how the library is more than just a place to find books. In our new digital age, it is also the place you look for a job, update your resume or register for Social Security. It's the place you rent DVDs or play video games or have a book group.

Which reminded me of the great summer programs my son enjoyed there while he was younger, particularly the Summer Reading Programs and Science in the Summer.

Science in the Summer is a great (FREE!) program

So I thought I would provide some info on that too, (also to be found in the Parks and Recreation summer newsletter, I might add.)

• The Summer Reading Program, in which kids, tweens and teens can read for prizes, free food certificates and gift cards, beings June 18.
• Science in the Summer runs from July 23 through July 26 and is held for kids entering grades 2 through 6.
• From June 25 through Aug. 6 is "Manly Mondays" for boys only at 6:30 p.m. (I can only imagine what that's about!)
• Pre-School Story Time, which includes snacks, crafts and stories, will be held on the following Tuesdays, June 19, July 3, July 17 and July 31 at 10:30 a.m.
• Whatever Wednesdays is for teens only and runs from June 20 to Aug. 8, with the exception of July 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Porter Fun Fridays runs from June 22 to Aug. 3 at 2 p.m.

Registration is required for all of these programs, so it sounds like you had better hurry on down and check in at the library.

Registration is NOT required for the following FREE Wednesday morning performances, all of which occur at 10:30 a.m.:

Magician Eric Dasher

• Philadelphia Zoo, June 20;
• Ran'd Shine Magic, June 27;
• Dragons and Dreams Sciencetellers, July 11;
• The Magical Entertainment of Eric Dasher, July 18;
• Fryed Folk, Aug. 1

As long-time library trustee, former borough councilman and former Pottstown High School teacher Art Green recently told borough council, the library is a great deal.

According to its annual report, in 2011 it had a circulation of 130,642; ran 433 programs which attracted 13,200patrons; was visited 107,348 times and its computers were accessed 36,141 times -- and all for just over a half-million dollars in local funding.

The state's $109,435 share last year covered only 18 percent of the library's budget.

Pottstown provides represent 26 percent of the library's funding; Lower Pottsgrove 10 percent; Upper Pottsgrove 4 percent; West Pottsgrove 3 percent, while 9 percent comes from fundraising; grants 17 percent and library fees, 12 percent.