SUMMER BRINGS its share of fun, but those of us with littles know the days can be long, the risk of “summer slide” is real, and we’ll undoubtedly hear the refrain “I’m bored” at some point as the season drags on. Our local libraries are an incredible (free!) resource for education and entertainment, especially with special summer programming. Keep your kids and teens engaged this summer with a line-up of literary events. (Bonus: There’s fun to be had for mom and dad, too!) Here are a few highlights; click over to your library system’s homepage for a full summer schedule!
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LIBRARY, athenslibrary.org Family Fun Day Summer Reading Kick-Off, June 4 Special Summer Shows featuring puppets, magicians, jugglers, music and more on Thursday mornings
HALL COUNTY LIBRARY, hallcountylibrary.org Costume Character Storytimes, various dates in June & July Oceans of Possibilities summer reading program using the Beanstack app to track reading and activities with prizes for all ages, from pop-its to restaurant gift cards
FORSYTH PUBLIC LIBRARY, forsythpl.org Seeing Stars with Elachee Starlab (elementary ages only), June 9 (Cumming) & 24 (Hampton Park) Animals Around the World, July 22 (Sharon Forks) Cooking with Young Chefs (grades 6 – 12), various dates in June and July at Cumming, Post Road, Sharon Forks and Hampton Park Writing Workshop for Teens, July 11, Post Road Southern Fishing Series (adults), select Sundays in June & July, Cumming, Post Road, Sharon Forks and Hampton Park
MOUNTAIN REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM, mountainlibrary.com Summer Reading Program for kids features everything from petting zoos to puppet shows to foam parties on various dates in June and July throughout Union, Fannin and Towns counties.
SEQUOYAH REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM sequoyahregionallibrary.org Butterfly Garden seminar, June 16 (R.T. Jones) Hootenany’s Junior Jam, June 18 (Gilmer) Pirate and Mermaid Pajama Party, July 7 (Woodstock) Summer Finale Luau, July 19 (Ball Ground) Teen Super Smash Bros. Tournament, July 25 (Hickory Flat)
