Summer Reading Week Four
We’ve finished half our summer reading program, but there’s still plenty of time to sign up!
Don’t forget we’re closed on Monday for Independence Day.
Maker Monday
Join us for a special Maker Monday on Tuesday. We will make patriotic rocket crafts and red, white and blue pretzels.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Bring your stuffed friends in for a special storytime at 6:30, then leave them behind for a sleepover. Wednesday morning you can pick them up along with a report on their adventures.
Teens & Tweens Thursday
We will make a red, white and blue windsock.
Coding Club
Learn coding for ages 8-12 and 13+. Please bring your own device if you have one.
Preschool Storytime
Enjoy stories and crafts for ages 3-6 with a caterpillars theme.
Drop-in Crafts
Make a shadow puppet and/or a stick person.
Summer Reading Program Week Three
It’s hard to believe that we’ve already finished two weeks, but there are four weeks to go. There’s still plenty of time to sign up!
Maker Monday
We will write our names with natural materials. If you want to bring along small amounts of grasses, leaves, or other natural materials to use, feel free. Please only harvest with permission; don’t pull up your neighbor’s flowers.
We will also have a trail mix bar. There will be no nuts or peanuts, but we can’t guarantee everything was produced in a nut-free facility.
Toddler Storytime
Our monthly storytime for ages 18 months to 3 years with a baby theme.
Teens & Tweens Thursday
We will make beautiful handmade journals.
Coding Club
There is no leader for Coding Club this week. If you want to get together to work on your projects, you may, but there will be no one to guide you.
Preschool Storytime
Enjoy stories and crafts for ages 3-6 with an Independenc
e Day theme.
Drop-in Crafts
We will have a cool 3-D paper campsite and a campfire craft for you to put together.
Fine Free!
Declare your freedom from fines! Starting July 5th, we will no longer charge late fees for items from our library that are returned late. Existing late fees on items from our library will be wiped out.
We still expect you to return your items on their due date so that others may check them out. If you lose or damage materials, you will be charged. Items from other libraries may also still incur late fees.
FAQ
Q: Does this mean I can just keep my items as long as I want?
A: No. We still expect you to be responsible and return or renew your materials on time. Don’t deprive your friends and neighbors of the chance to check them out.
Q: Won’t removing late fees mean materials not being returned?
A: There is mounting evidence that libraries that go fine free don’t see a significant increase in items being returned late. In fact, some have seen more returns as people stop being afraid to come back to the library.
Q: I’ve always thought of my late fees as a donation to the library. Can I still donate?
A: Absolutely! We always accept donations that we use for cool things like the summer reading program.
Q: Will this mean the library will have to cut back on services?
A: No. Last year, late fees only accounted for less than 1% of our budget. Plus, we have already received a generous donation to cover the first year.
Q: Why did you decide to make this change?
A: There is a growing consensus that late fees have little efffect on timely returns and create an unnecessary burden, especially on lower income people. We want everyone to feel welcome to use the library, not scared of collecting fees.
Q: Will there still be other fees?
A: We will still charge for lost or damaged items, since we need to replace them. We will also continue to charge fees for printing, copying and faxing, since they help to offset some of the price of those services.
Summer Reading Program Week Two
Summer reading program is off to a great start! We saw lots of you on week one and hope to keep the momentum going for week two. Haven’t registered yet? There’s still lots of time! Come on in and bring your friends!
Maker Monday
We will craft a paper plate camping scene that goes from day to night and a 3-D tent. We might also sing some camp songs if anyone will sing along.
Teens & Tweens Thursday
We will make a very cool leather bookmark. You don’t want to miss this one!
Coding Club
Learn coding for ages 8-12 and 13+. Please bring your own device if you have one.
Summer Camp Escape Room
We have slots available Thursday at 2:00 and 3:30; Friday at 11:30, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00; and Saturday at 10:30 and 12:00. Please call the library ahead of time to sign up. Limit of 5 per session. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Storytime
Princesses!
Drop-in Crafts
Make a camp necklace and a s’mores headband.
Summer Reading Week one part two
As we wind down our first week of summer reading 2022, let’s look back at what we’ve done already.
Kickoff Cookout
We had a FANTASTIC turnout for our first day event. We signed up 89 kids and served 140 hot dogs!
Maker Monday
Flower Power: Helping Bees and Butterflies
Kelly from 4H gave a great talk on pollinators and everyone went home with a plant!
And that’s not even including Teens & Tweens, Coding Club, storytime or the cool drop-in crafts. We’ve got five more weeks to go!
Summer Reading Program Week One
Week one is actually more than a week, since we start on a Friday, but please play along. You can sign up for the summer reading program starting on June 10th or any day after that until July 22nd. Here’s what’s happening just in the first week!
Friday, June 10 at noon: Kickoff Cookout at Sticha Park
Eat hot dogs and chips, drink lemonade, sign up for the summer reading program and get a free book! All ages.
Monday, June 13 at 2 pm: Maker Monday
For our first week, we will make egg carton bees and butterfly rings. Plus, we will have a bee relay race. Best for ages 6-10.
Wednesday, June 15 at 1:00 pm: The Power of the Flower: Helping Our Bees and Butterflies
Educators from the Rice County Extension Department will present a program about the importance of pollinators, including a craft and a plant to take home! Best for ages 5+.
Thursday, June 16 at 11:30 am: Storytime with Chione Quintet
Join us for a special musical storytime based on Twin Cities author Ka Vang’s Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon. All ages. (This event was rescheduled. This is the correct day and time.)
Thursday, June 16 at 1:00 pm: Teens and Tweens
For week one, we are making workout headbands from old t-shirts. Bring your own t-shirt if you have one in a cool color. We will also have some at the library, but they may not be cool. Best for ages 11+.
Thursday, June 16 at 2:00 pm: Coding Club
Learn coding by working on self-directed projects. Ages 8-12 can learn Scratch or Dot and Dash robots. 13 and up may learn Python or advanced projects. Bring your own device. (If you are interested but don’t have a device, contact the library and we will try to arrange use of one for you.) Best for ages 8+.
Friday, June 17 at 10:30 am: Storytime
Every week we have a pre-school storytime with books, fingerplays, songs and crafts. This week’s theme is princesses. Best for ages 3-6.
Drop-in crafts
Each week we will also have a drop-in craft to do in the library anytime. Week one we have a toilet paper roll bee and a mix and match flower.
Chione Quintet Storytime RESCHEDULED
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Chione Quintet Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon storytime has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 16th at 11:30 am. We hope to see you then! Thank you for your understanding.
Kim Todd author tour
Join us Tuesday, June 14th at 7:00 pm for Minnesota author Kim Todd. You don’t need to have read the book to enjoy her presentation about pioneering female reporters who dared to tell the truth.
Kim Todd, Ph.D., is known for her award-winning storytelling about science, nature, and history. Her most recent publication, Sensational: The Hidden History of America’s “Girl Stunt Reporters,” is a 2022 MN Book Awards Finalist.
Summer Reading Program Grand Prize Baskets
When you sign up for the summer reading program, you get a chance to enter a drawing for one of these grand prize baskets. Earn more entries by filling out your reading log.
This year there are 14 different baskets! Numbers in parentheses are suggested ages, but choose whatever you like. (Please note: some items may be a choking hazard for younger children. Use caution.)
- BATH FUN (0-4)
Octopus bath toy
Dragon bib
Sand toys
Penguin stuffed animal
Mermaid rubber duck
- ANIMAL FUN (18 months-4 years)
Leapfrog 100 Animals
Fox stuffed animal
Beach ball
Green Frisbee
Sidewalk chalk
- HERO FUN (3-8)
Paw Patrol fire truck
Patriot beanie baby
Dirt bike toy
Green sunglasses
Blue jump rope
- NATURE FUN (3-8)
Binoculars
Bug catching kit
Stuffed hedgehog
Yellow dinosaur Frisbee
Yellow jump rope
- MUSEUM FUN (4-8)
Children’s Museum of Southern MN passes
Trolls World Tour coloring pack
Dog stuffed animal
Red Frisbee
Watermelon sunglasses
- ART FUN (6-14)
Window art kit
Modeling clay
Squishy Palz
Purple jump rope
Natural branch pencil
- GAMING FUN (7-11)
Minecraft Uno game
Two paracord bracelets
Slinky
Camping stickers
Natural branch pencil
- FASHION FUN (8-15)
Hair chalk
Pink unicorn stuffed animal
Daisy novelty glasses
Natural branch pencil
Rainbow splash ring
- CAMPING FUN (8-14)
S’mores Squishmallow
Camping stickers
Unicorn paddleball
Goofy string
Natural branch pencil
- OUTDOOR FUN (8-16)
Nerf gun
ATV toy
Camping stickers
Tire splash ring
Natural branch pencil
- WIMPY KID FUN (9-12)
Diary of a Wimpy kid book
Diary of a Wimpy kid bag
Camping stickers
Mandalorian coloring pocket activity
Natural branch pencil
- SUMMER CAMP FUN (10+)
Burt’s Bees lip shimmer
Read Beyond the Beaten Path book light
Camp iRead reflector
Plastic boomerang
Natural branch pencil
- NINJA FUN (10+)
Conquer Ninja gym passes (not pictured)
Read Beyond the Beaten Path water bottle
Camping stickers
Blue shark Frisbee
Natural branch pencil
- DRAWING FUN (11+)
Drawing pens
Sketch book
Fluffy rainbow pen
Planner stickers
Natural branch pencil
