Oh, libraries, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways…
Actually, good luck counting up all the ways our local public libraries will be entertaining and enriching readers, young and old, this summer! Annual summer reading programs at New Orleans Public Libraries, Jefferson Parish Libraries, and St. Tammany Parish Public Libraries are firing up, and there a prizes, activities, and events galore in store.
New Orleans Public Library
June 1 – July 31
NOPL’s summer reading program, “Summer Fun,” offers hundreds of free events for all ages and chances for everyone to earn and win prizes. Everyone who signs up for Summer Fun will earn a registration prize. Children and teens can earn prizes and raffle tickets each time they read or are read to for 200 minutes, up to 1,000 minutes. There’s also a BINGO Challenge in which all ages can earn raffle tickets by completing activities and getting BINGO on their Summer Fun BINGO card. Adults, ages 18 and over, can win prizes for submitting a short story, poem, or essay as part of their 5th annual Adult Writing Contest (details via the link).
Children’s Events:
- Michelle’s Magical Poodles Programs
- Magic Shows with Irwin Royes “The World’s Smallest Magician”
- Professor Universe
Teen Events:
- Nintendo Switch Gaming Sessions
- Simple Coding with Ozobots Coding Robots
- Crafting with Heat-Fused Perler Beads
Adult Events:
- History of the Cocktail Presentations
- Bob Ross Paint Party
- New Orleans Street Name Spelling Bee
Details here: http://nolalibrary.org/article/77/summer-is-coming
Jefferson Parish Library
June 1 – July 31
The Jefferson Parish Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program, “A Universe of Stories,” will begin on June 1 with Librarypalooza Kick-off parties at the East and West Bank Regional Libraries. The East Bank event will run from 10am – 1pm and begin with a special performance from Johnette Downing followed by space crafts and activities. At West Bank Regional, Star Wars themed crafts, games, activities , and face painting will take place from 11am-2pm. Both events will feature appearance by Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion and the Rebel Alliance.
From June 1-July 31, all ages are invited to Read 5 and Win a Prize by participating in the summer reading program. Children (ages birth – 5th Grade) will earn a Universe of Stories sports bag, a free meal from Raising Cane’s, a free pass for the Spray Park at Lafreniere Park, a bumper sticker and entry into a grand prize raffle for a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Teens (grades 6-12) will earn a Universe of Stories t-shirt, a bumper sticker, entry into a weekly prize raffle and entry into a grand prize raffle for a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Adults will earn a ticket for a FREE BOOK at the Friends of the Library Book Sale (redeemable in the fall of 2019 or spring 202) and a bumper sticker. Children and Teens will also have the opportunity to earn additional prizes and raffle chances by completing virtual activity badges within the program.
Throughout the summer, there will be fun and free programs and performances to attend at all library branches. For more information, please go to srp.jplibrary.net.
St. Tammany Parish Library
May 24 – August 17
STPL library invites participants to launch into this astronomical adventure to read as many minutes as they can and to visit a galaxy far, far away at area branches where they can blast through fun, free events before the end of the summer with the children’s, teen and adult summer reading challenges. Registration for the 2019 A Universe of Stories Summer Reading Challenge officially begins on Friday, May 24 and will end on Saturday, August 10. To register:
Children 0-11: Stop by your favorite branch to sign up and receive a prize. Children 6-11: Regular sign-up is in person at your favorite branch; however, this age group may also participate in the “R2 Club”. R2 pre-registration starts Saturday, May 19. Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “A Universe of Stories” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours. Teens 12-18 & Adults: Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “A Universe of Stories” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours.
Children ages 0-11 are to read 12 hours during this period. Upon reaching the 12-hour goal, children will earn a certificate of achievement and cool backpack. Children ages 6 to 11 who participate in the R2 Club will complete missions to earn brag tags and collectible beads. For every mission completed they will be entered into a prize drawing for an Ozobot robot or a Kindle Fire.
Teens ages 12–18 and adults ages 19 and up will also participate in the 12-hour reading challenge to win prizes. In addition, teens and adults can play bingo and/or attend programs to win extra prizes. Those who have completely filled in their bingo card will be entered into random drawings for gift cards.
Special “A Universe of Stories” events have been scheduled for all age groups throughout the summer at all library branches. The summer reading challenge kicks off with the A Universe of Stories SRC Launch from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24, at the Slidell Branch, 555 Robert Blvd., and then again the following evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at the Madisonville Branch, 1123 Main St. Join us for crafts, challenges, outdoor sky viewing, glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt, silent disco, LED hula-hooping and a whole lot more!
Children’s events will explore all things about space, space travel, aliens, robotics and more through storytelling, crafts, music, science experiments and other activities, including a visit from a real rocket scientist and star shows in an inflatable planetarium. Teen events will include D.I.Y. craft projects, music, Friday night after-hours events plus workshops for art, cooking, anime, creative writing and more. Scheduled programs for adults ages 19 and up throughout the summer at the St. Tammany Parish Library branches include craft classes, movies and science presentations just to name a few. While all library programs are free and open to the public, registration is required for each event by calling the branch where the event will take place or by visiting the library’s events calendar.
For more information on the Summer Reading Challenge or other library programs, call your local branch library, check the calendar of events on sttammanylibrary.org, or contact Children’s Services Coordinator Tanya DiMaggio at 985-893-6280 ext. 2017, Teen Services Coordinator Jennifer Rifino at 985-626-9779 ext. 3004 or Adult Programming Coordinator Jillian Boudreaux at 985-893-6280 ext. 2010.
