Summer Reading Fun At the Library
Summer is right around the corner, and the library will once again be offering a host of fun-filled events and programs for children and their families during our annual six week Summer Reading Program. Enrolling in a library sponsored reading program is an excellent--and fun!--way for kids to keep up their reading skills during the long summer break.
This year's program's theme is "Books: A Treasure," and it begins with a kick-off celebration on June 27th at 6:30 PM in the Library Annex. We will be hosting a performance by the Fairy Tale Puppet Theatre, and kids will be able to register and pick up their reading logs. It promises to be a magical evening, but even for those who cannot attend, we will be accepting registrations and handing the logs throughout the week of June 27th and beyond.
Once children get their reading logs, they can keep track of all the books they read (or for pre-schoolers, of the books they have read to them). Our reading program is non-competitive and we are less concerned about how many pages the children are reading than how much they have enjoyed the experience. But when they do drop by to show us their logs, they get to select a prize from the Treasure Chest.
We offer a number of weekly programs that will appeal to youngsters of all grade levels and abilities. Our "Lunch Bunch Reading Patch Club" for grades 3-6 has been a perennial favorite. This year's series of sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 12:30. Students bring their lunch and get to talk about the books that they have come to "treasure" and recommend them to their peers. Students earn a sew-on patch for having read two books in a given category.
Our Children's Chess Club, for grades 2 and up, will take place on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM. Participants should have at least a minimal familiarity with the game and are asked to bring their boards with them to the program.
Last year, the town of Hyde Park won two times over when children from both Hyde Park and Staatsburg tied for first place in the Mid-Hudson Battle of the Books contest. This program, eligible to students entering the 6th grade and up to 9th grade--is a challenging weekly quiz competition, in which students read and answer questions about books that they have previously selected. It's a "Not So Trivial Pursuit" and a good deal of fun. The competition culminates with a "Final Battle" in September. Young readers who welcome a challenge are encouraged to take part and to help us defend out title!
We will once again be offering our Reading Buddies Program, in which older students (grades 6 and up) are encouraged to work with younger students (those who have completed grades 1, 2 or 3) to assist the "junior buddies" in developing their reading skills. Buddies get together for independent sessions at the library. Middle-school level students who dream of embarking on a teaching career are especially encouraged to participate. This "each one teach one" styled program reaps benefits to all concerned.
In keeping with the Summer Reading Program theme, we will be offering "Treasure Hunting Tuesdays" for students in grades 2 and up. Participants will seek treasure from prehistoric days right up until the present, and there will be games, a craft and either a story or a booktalk. Themes will vary from week to week and will include such topics as: Ancient Egypt, Dinosaur Digs, Gold Rush Days, Pirates, Medieval Times and Underwater Treasure.
And speaking of story times, we will have a number of weekly sessions this summer all featuring a virtual treasure trove of fairy tales, Caldecott winners, books by favorite authors and featuring favorite characters. The "Precious" session (for infants up to 26 months) meets on Mondays at 9:30. "Gemstones" (age two) will convene on Tuesdays at 9:30. "Silver Stars" (pre-schoolers) will meet on Mondays at 10:30. "Gold Nuggets" (Kindergarten and first grade) meet on Tuesdays at 10:30.
Special events will also be numerous and varied. Please join us for "Magic with Danie," meeting Thursday, July 13th at 2:00 PM. "Down the Nile" (for ages 12 and up) on Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 PM. A special "puppet workshop" with puppeteer Jackie Hammond will take place on July 27th at 2:00 PM, and "Animal Treasures" with Jan Berlin will take place on Thursday August 3rd at 1:00 PM and will feature Jan Berlin and her friends from "Everything Animals."
It's a busy summer schedule with something for everyone. And that's not all. All Dutchess County families are invited to attend the Dutchess Reading Festival on August 4th at 6:00 PM at Freedom Park in Lagrangeville. And all our participants are invited to attend an Ice Cream Social here on August 29th at 6:45. Children who have kept a reading log will receive a free book on that evening.
Registration is required for all events and programs.
Summer Festival:
The special Summer Festivals we began two years ago have proven to be such a success that making it an annual tradition seemed to be in order. We are planning just such an event this year for Saturday, August 5th (with a rain date of Sunday, August 6th). Please join us for more fun, food and additional special programs, and keep your eye on future columns for more details.
Concert
Local father and son act "The Lipps" will be appearing in concert at the Library Annex on June 24th. Alan and Dan Lipper have appeared here before and have delighted audiences with their jazz-inflected vocals and instrumental work. The concert begins at 8:00 PM. There is a five-dollar admission charge.
Medicare Orientation:
This past spring we were fortunate to host a number of individual Medicare sessions for those seniors trying to sort their way through the thicket of information regarding changes in the program's drug benefits. Representatives for the Dutchess County Office of the Aging assisted applicants for those benefits for several months prior to the May 15 deadline. We are pleased to announce that we will offer periodic workshops and will likely host future individual counseling sessions for the future applicants as well.
Those who receive our calendar may have noticed a scheduled workshop for June 27th. PLEASE NOTE: That program has been canceled and rescheduled for August 1 at 6 PM.
We will run additional reminders in future weeks. However, those who may wish to register for the August event early may do so by calling the Office for the Aging at 486-2555.
Library Auction
We announced our library auction in a previous column. This August event will focus on antiques, artworks and collectibles. We welcome donations in any of those areas and would like them by July 1, if possible, so that they may be included in our pre-event exhibit and brochure. Those wishing to donate an item can do so by calling Marianne Grace at 845-229-2296, or Pat Costello at 845-229-2559.
Please note: the previous date of that event has been changed. We are now planning to hold the auction here at the library on August 19th at 7:00 PM.
Board Election In September
September is closer than you may think, and our annual election for board members is virtually right around the corner. The library is looking for dedicated, civic-minded individuals who reside in the library district to serve on our library board. Those who have served on the board have found it to be a rewarding experience. Libraries are growing and changing--and becoming an increasingly important presence in their communities. We need the involvement of a broad range of community residents to guarantee continued success in meeting our present mission and establish a vision for the future.
Those interested in serving our community and its library might consider attending a board meeting (the next meeting will be July 20) or speaking with the library director and/or with former and present board members. Please call 229-7791 for details.
For information on the library visit us at www.hydeparklibrary.org.
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