Summer Reading is May 31 - July 26, 2023

Click on the image above to register!

Who Can Participate?

The Summer Reading Program is for everyone! We have programs from babies to kids to teens. Tracking slips can be turned in anytime during the summer, but the final deadline is Wednesday, July 26th, 2023.

Reading|Activity Trackers are available at the library.

(See Tracker examples & prizes that will be part of the Prize Drawings on July 28th, at the bottom of this page.)

Reading | Activity Challenge Trackers

Children: Birth - Kindergarten

When you read for 10 minutes, or complete a learning activity, mark your progress on the Reading|Activity Tracker!
Once you've filled out the whole sheet, bring the sheet to the library and cut out the completion slip to be entered to win a grand prize.
Complete more than one for more chances to win!
Slips must be turned in by July 26, 2023.
Names will be drawn for prizes at the Ice Cream Social on Friday, July 28th. You do not have to be present to win.
After completing one Reading|Activity Tracker participants will receive a Summer Reading T-Shirt from Hills Bank of Mt. Vernon. (While supplies last)

Children: 1st Grade - 5th Grade

When you read for 15 minutes, or complete a learning activity, mark your progress on the Reading|Activity Tracker!
Once you've filled out the whole sheet, bring the sheet to the library and cut out the completion slip to be entered to win a grand prize.
Complete more than one for more chances to win!
Slips must be turned in by July 26, 2023.
Names will be drawn for prizes at the Ice Cream Social on Friday, July 28th. You do not have to be present to win.
After completing one Reading|Activity Tracker participants will receive a Summer Reading T-Shirt from Hills Bank of Mt. Vernon. (While supplies last)

Teens: 5th/6th - 12th Grade

When you read for 15 minutes, or complete a learning activity, mark your progress on the Reading|Activity Tracker!
Once you've filled out the whole sheet, bring the sheet to the library and cut out the completion slip to be entered to win a grand prize.
Complete more than one for more chances to win!
Slips must be turned in by July 26, 2023.
Names will be drawn for prizes at the Ice Cream Social on Friday, July 28th. You do not have to be present to win.

SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Find program details below for each age group, including family & community programs.

For a calendar view of events click here.

Early Readers, Parents, & Caregivers

Little ones birth through incoming kindergarteners track activites & books read this summer with Reading|Activity Trackers available at the library.

Logs are due Wednesday, July 26th.

Early Readers - Story Time

~2 years old - Entering Kindergarten (younger & older children are also welcome)

Friday Mornings for the Month of June at Cruse Park.

10:15-10:45 a.m. (we'll meet at the open pavilion)

Be sure to bring yourself a lawn chair and a blanket for your children.

Jane & Meredith will be at the park Friday mornings during the month of June reading stories and having fun!

Special Guests

June 9th - Cedar County Naturalist (Miss Sarah)
June 23rd - ISU Extension (Ms. Dionne)

Middle Readers

Kids (incoming 1st - 5th graders) track activities & reading minutes. Reading independently, aloud, or listening to someone else read counts towards your reading minutes. When you read aloud to a friend or sibling, both of you may count that time! Reading|Activity Trackers are available at the library.

Logs are due Wednesday, July 26th.

Middle Readers - Programs

Kids (incoming 1st - 4th/5th graders)

We will be having many programs specifically for this age group. However, many of the programs will also be open to all ages.

Chalk Fun!

Wednesday, May 31st @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Care Center

We'll be having fun with chalk at the Mechanicsville Care Center.

The community is welcome to participate.

Mississippi River Museum**

Thursday, June 1st @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Memorial Building

Learn about sharks & stingrays and see a live shark up close!

The community is welcome to participate. See special guidelines below.**

Bubbles!

Thursday, June 8th @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Care Center

We'll be having fun with bubbles at the Mechanicsville Care Center. Miss Sarah will be there too!

The community is welcome to participate.

Storyteller Darrin Crow**

Thursday, June 15th @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Memorial Building

Join us for original stories by the awesome storyteller, Darrin Crow!

The community is welcome to participate. See special guidelines below.**

Blank Park Zoo**

Wednesday, June 1st @ 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Memorial Building

Learn about animal adaptations!

The community is welcome to participate. See special guidelines below.**

ISU Extension (Teresa Bohlman)

Thursday, June 22nd @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Cruse Park (Open Pavilion)

Join us and the ISU Extension for a STEAM Activity at the park.

This one is just for Middle Readers.

Wes the Magician!**

Wednesday, June 28th @ 1:00-1:45 p.m. | Memorial Building

We'll be having fun with chalk at the Mechanicsville Care Center.

The community is welcome to participate. See special guidelines below.**

Stand Up For Nature!

Thursday, June 29th @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Cruse Park (Open Pavilion)

Join us for a Nature Program with Miss Sarah at the park.

This one is just for Middle Readers.

SPECIAL GUIDELINES: Program Behavior Expectations

Programs designated with two asterisks () are family programs that are intended for school age children who can listen quietly & participate respectfully with the presenter. We invite all to attend, however we ask if your child is not sitting and listening quietly to please temporarily step out of the space, with your child, so others may continue to enjoy the program.

Children 6 and under need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

T(w)een Readers

Youths (incoming 6th - 12th Graders) track activities & reading minutes. Listening to audiobooks counts towards your reading minutes. When you read aloud to a younger sibling, both of you may count that time! Reading|Activity Trackers are available at the library.

Logs are due Wednesday, July 26th.

T.A.G. (Teen Activity Group) Summer Edition

T.A.G. is open to youths 5th/6th-12th Grade.

We will meet at the library on scheduled Sundays.

Sunday, June 11th @ 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Pinatas Pt. 1

We'll be starting the process of making Pinatas for a future summer program in July.

Sunday, June 25th @ 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Pinatas Pt. 2

We'll be putting the finishing touches on our Pinatas. This may require more time...if so Meredith will schedule additional time to work on the pinatas.

Sunday, July 2nd @ 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Painting (registration required - limited to 8 participants)

We'll be following a painting tutorial to make an 11x14 patriotic piece of art just in time for the 4th of July! This program will last longer than the regular one and a half hours.

REGISTER HERE

Registration opens two-weeks before the event.

Sunday, July 23rd @ 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

CD Upcycling

Let's see what creative ways we can upcycle old CDs/DVDs.

Sunday, August 13th @ 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Tie-Dye (registration required - limited to 10 participants)

Last year was a blast! We're doing it again!!

We'll provide one t-shirt and the dye. If there is dye remaining, you may use it on an item you brought from home.

REGISTER HERE

Registration opens two-weeks before the event.

FAMILY & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

These programs a part of the Middle Readers' programs but all are welcome! Please see Special Guidelines below to learn about program behavior expectations.**