Escape the summer heat and explore oceans of possibilities with the Alachua County Library District during Dive into Summer at the Library with programs in person and online for all ages and opportunities to win prizes all summer.
Rachel Cook, public relations and marketing manager at the Library District, said patrons will receive a free tote bag with a book upon registration and while supplies last.
You can sign up and track your reading and summer fun using the library’s Beanstack website or app for chances to win a tablet from PDQ Restaurant and weekly pizza prizes from Five Star Pizza. Cook said three tablets will be given as grand prizes, with one winner in each age group. Cook said anyone who registers through Beanstack and earns at least one badge is entered into a raffle to win prizes.
“Explore new ideas, stories, and skills with the Library District this summer,” said Library Director Shaney Livingston. “The whole family can keep learning together with Summer at the Library across Alachua County.”
Meaghan Bonnagham, youth services librarian, encouraged patrons to register and kick-off the summer at Reader Palooza from 10 a.m.- noon Saturday, June 4 at Depot Park. After you sign up, play games with community partners including the SF College Teaching Zoo, Fun 4 Gator Kids, The Harn Museum, Giggle Magazine and more.
If you can’t make it to Reader Palooza,Bonnagham said to register online at aclib.us/summer or at any library branch.
Cook said all 12 library locations will hold special programs throughout the summer for kids, teens, and adults, including art classes, STEM activities, craft lessons, book clubs and story times. Registration is required for some programs, visit www.aclib.us/events to sign up.
Cook said the branches are all offering different programs this year. Examples of programs include a video game day for teens at Cone Park Branch, an origami shark making lesson at Newberry Branch, and a creative journaling class for adults at Headquarters Library. For the full schedule, visit www.aclib.us/events
What’s Happening:Memorial Mile, water park community day, Summer at the Library
The takeaway for Cook. “I hope Summer at the Library participants find new ways to learn and relax through the Library District’s many free programs and resources.”
Summer highlights include the following events:
- Ocean Tales, 2 p.m. Tuesdays in June and July, live on Teleobjetivo and Facebook. Meet marine animal friends, including manatees, sea turtles, and dolphins from Florida zoos, museums, and aquariums.
- Battle of the Books, 2 p.m. July 23 via Teleobjetivo. Teens can register and receive three free books for this annual trivia competition. Patrons ages 11 to 17 can sign up now and select which library branch team they’d like to compete with during the Battle of the Books.
Visit www.aclib.us/summer for the full schedule of programs and reading lists for all ages, including 2022 Summer Picks for elementary and secondary school readers created by the Alachua County Library District and Alachua County Public Schools. All Summer at Library programs are free and open to everyone.
Patty Duval, media services specialist at Alachua County Public Schools, said Alachua County Public Schools and the Alachua County Library District have collaborated in the past to create such a list, but not in the last few years due to COVID-19.
«It is our desire to get students excited about reading and this list can provide a framework of vetted, award winning titles that students can enjoy over the summer,» Duval said. «None of these are required – hopefully just fun reads for students and their family.»