Summer Reading Program will ‘blast off’ this Thursday with ‘A Universe of Stories’
by Amber Countryman, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington Public Library is gearing up for another summer reading program with a theme of “A Universe of Stories”.
A Blast Off Party will be held Thursday, May 23, from 6-8 p.m. on the library lawn, and 7th Street, which will be blocked off in front of the library. Hotdogs, chips and water will be provided by Advance America. There will also be balloon animals, face painting, games, music, and more!
A registration table will be available for all ages to sign up for the summer reading program.
All ages are encouraged to read all summer long and to log their titles. Prizes, including a pool party, will be awarded.
Every other Monday, beginning June 3, matinee movies will be shown upstairs in the adult fiction room, at 2 p.m. Movies will be shown June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15, and July 29. Every Monday evening, a family movie will be shown at 6 p.m., between June 3-July July 22.
Stories on the Lawn will be held outside on the lawn, weather permitting, every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Bring the kids and join them for some great stories an songs out in the sunshine!
A Family Story Night will be held from 6-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, and Thursday, July 18. Come hear great stories and check out some great books to take home.
Teen After Hours will be held June 13 and 27 and July 11 and 25, from 8:30-10:30 p.m., with mini golf, art, and Mystery Science Theater activities.
The TCG Club (formerly Pokemon Club) will meet the first Saturday of the month, June 1 and July 6, from 12-2 p.m., in the young adult section. Collectors of YuGiOh, Pokemon, Magic the Gathering and other trading card games, will be played. Come to trade cards, challenge friends, learn to play new games, and have lots of fun!
On Friday, June 14, “Aliens: Escape From Earth” will be performed at the Wellington High School auditorium at 10 a.m. Throughout the intergalactic story, audience volunteers will discover the unbelievable world of science through experiments with chemical reactions, polymers, pressure, inertia, energy, explosions and much more! The family-friendly event is performed by ScienceTellers and is open to all ages. The action-packed alien adventure is out of this world! This event is sponsored by the Wellington Public Library and Kansas Reading Roadmaps.
A Stuffed Animal Campout under the stars will be held June 27-28. Drop off your stuffed animal for a fun, overnight visit to the library! Follow on Facebook to see what the animals are up to throughout the evening! Each child will be reunited with their stuffed animal anytime after 10 a.m. on June 28. They will each receive a keepsake from the sleepover. No registration is required. Limit one animal per child. Stuffed animals must be dropped off by 4 p.m. on June 27.
Family S.T.E.A.M. in Space will be held Saturday, July 13, from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Raymond Frye Complex. The Kansas Cosmosphere will be there with an interactive show, packed with some explosive surprises. Following the show, participants will build model rockets. Supplies are limited to 20 families. If you would like to reserve a spot, contact cmcneil@wellingtonpubliclibrary.org.
A Build an Alien Workshop will be held, with times to be announced. There will be a space-themed story time and you get to make your very own out of this world stuffed alien friend. You must pre-register and there is a charge. Space is limited, so sign up today.
Alien Hunts will be held all day on Friday, June 7, and Friday, July 12. If you like hunting Pokemon, try a new challenge. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet and search the library for extraterrestrials.
There will also be drawings and prizes awarded in the adult summer reading program. Patrons are encouraged to try something new, learn new facts about space, read a new book, try a new craft, meet new people, and much more!
Jerelyn Ramirez, from the Kansas Astronomical Observers, will demonstrate gravity and the fabric of space, and how black holes are created. Her presentation, “Black Hole Survival”, will be held on July 9 at 2 p.m. at the library.
To keep with the theme, a science fiction (sci-fi) writing contest will be held. There will be six age categories: 1st-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, young adult and adult (18+). Entry forms are available at the library, and entries must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, June 28. Winners will be announced on Friday, Aug. 2.
The Summer Sci-Fi Book Club will be reading “Artemis” by Andy Weir. Sign up at the adult circulation desk and pick up your copy. The discussion will be held Tuesday, July 30, 5 p.m., at the library.
To conclude the 2019 summer reading program, a pool party will be held Sunday, July 28, from 8:30-10:30 p.m. To be eligible, you must collect three stickers for your rocket. Stickers may be earned by attending library events, or a fully completed reading log (50 books/600 minutes).
