The long days of summer are fast approaching and the kids of Decatur County will be looking for something to do. It doesn't take long for kids to get bored once school is out. That's where the library comes in. Kids can "Get a Clue @ Your Library" this summer with our reading program, where kids as young as 18 months old can earn prizes for reading. They will be able to "investigate" good books, magazines, comic books and books on tape or cd. Besides reading material the library will also be offering a variety of story times, special craft programs and some fantastic performers throughout the month of June.
The Summer Reading Program will begin with our kick-off on Wednesday, May 30 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Kids too young to read on their own will be part of the "Dynamite Detectives" reading club. Elementary kids will be part of the "Super Sleuths" Reading Club and teens will have a reading club of their own. Besides signing up for their reading clubs at the kick-off, kids will be able to bounce around in a Scooby Doo bounce house, see some animals, check out a Greensburg Fire Department fire truck, take a look at some awesome radio controlled airplanes, visit a "crime scene" with a Decatur County Sheriff's deputy, try to crack a code using a decoder ring, write a message in invisible ink, have refreshments and lots more! You can also get registered to win four tickets to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game. Don't worry if you can't make it to the kick-off, you can sign up for the reading program any day after May 30 as well.
When kids sign up for their reading clubs they will receive a reading log to keep track of how much they read or have read to them. When they finish each level they simply bring their form back to the library and receive a prize like a new book or a food coupon from a local restaurant. Parents aren't going to be left out of the reading club either. When kids sign up they can also register to be part of the Family Reading Club. As long as at least two people in a family are reading at the same time they can earn a coupon for a free medium pizza from Domino's. Don't forget kids can sign-up for their reading clubs at the Westport Branch Library or on the Bookmobile if those locations are more convenient.
Besides the reading clubs, kids who enjoy crafts can join us on Tuesdays in June at 10 am, 2 pm, or 6 pm. Our crafts this year will be painting a ceramic detective dog bank, a father's day craft, a t-shirt decorating craft, (you bring the shirt) and a 4th of July craft. Besides a $5.00 charge to paint the bank all the other crafts and programs are free of charge. (What a great deal!) If your kids aren't crafty plan to see some of the awesome performers we have booked for this summer. Silly Safari's Animal Show with Alligator Aaron will be our first family program on Wednesday, June 6 at 2:00 pm. The show will be held at the Greensburg Elementary School (entrance 7) so there will be plenty of room for everyone. "Wizards on a Mission" will be our next family program on Wednesday, June 13 at 2:00 pm, also at Greensburg Elementary School. Storyteller, Lori Durbin will put on her storytelling hat with her program, Lori and her box of stories on Thursday, June 21 at the library at 2:00 pm. Don't forget to wear your bathing suit to the lawn of the Greensburg library on Wednesday, June 27 at 2:00 pm for the Water Show. Don Miller will be returning with this popular family program and kids are guaranteed to get wet. Cowabunga!
Even with the abundance of crafts and performances going on we haven't forgotten about our regular story time programs for the summer. We will be offering Story Time for kids' ages 3 to 6, Toddler Time for children ages 18 months to 35 months, and our littlest patrons, babies 6 to 17 months can attend the Lap Sit class.
The library wants to test kids'detective skills all summer. A new mystery will be on the Children's Room bulletin board every week. Come in and try to unscramble the words or crack a code! Kids can also try to "spot" Spot, a Dalmatian stuffed dog that will be at some of our sponsor locations around town in June. If a child spots, Spot they can take a ticket from his dog dish and bring it to the library for a treat and be entered in a special prize drawing just for kids who spot, Spot. So all you detectives out there be on the lookout for Spot! Kids in grades 4 to 6 can try and solve a real mystery on June 20 when a "crime" occurs at the library. They will gather clues, interview suspects and try to figure out "whodunit!"
Kids who finish each level of their reading club will also be entered in a prize drawing each week for tickets to places like Holiday World, the Children's Museum, the Newport Aquarium, Connor Prairie, the Greensburg swimming pool and lots more! So make sure you come into the library each week with your completed reading form to get in on those drawings.
To register for programs or for more information on all of our programs this summer please call the Children's Room at 663-4455 or stop by the children's Circulation Desk and pick up a calendar. Don't be "clueless" this summer! Come see us and "Get a Clue @ Your Library!"