Free Summer Fun at the Library

Looking for something cool and inexpensive to do with the kids on a hot summer day? Try your library. Most libraries offer special incentives for kids to visit during the summer months.

Library story times are a common practice and give younger children the chance to hear several stories while they visit with other kids their own age. A check of the New York Public Library confirms that they offer story times for children starting at birth. In most library districts, different story time sessions are offered for different age groups. With younger children, a parent is usually required to remain with the child but older children can often be left with the story group giving mom (or dad) time to browse the library shelves alone. Younger children often want to hear the same story over and over at home so a library story time gives them the opportunity to hear something different.

Many libraries have added additional fun summer activities for children to their schedules in an effort to encourage visits to the library. The St. Charles City County Library District in Missouri prints a complete summer activity schedule covering activities at all of their branches. "Sidewalk Fun - bubbles & chalk", a puppet show and a magician stand out as the type of child-friendly activities that bring families back to the library time after time. Different library sponsored activities are designed for specific age groups and the schedule shows a great mix for all ages, including family mysteries. These mysteries feature guests who use mime, humor, magic, science and skits to solve a mystery. Kids love live action and are often surprised to learn that they can actually have fun at the library.

Teens are not ignored at the local library. Many libraries offer teen book clubs, on-line book reviews by teens and special activities, including pizza nights, just for middle school and high school age patrons. These offer older kids the chance to get together and express themselves. Unfortunately, many kids who love to read find themselves putting books aside for other activities as they get older. These fun get-togethers at the library keep teens reading.

The mainstay of summer at the library has always been the summer reading program. Nearly all libraries offer this program with minimal variations. Children can enroll in the program early in the summer and track their reading over the summer break. Some libraries track by the number of books read but the trend seems to be tracking time spent reading rather than number of books. Libraries have begun to a book report requirement to the programs but these are usually short and easy for the kids to complete. When children meet reading goals they are rewarded. Often the reward is simply having their name placed on a wall or chart but some libraries have incentives for readers. Local businesses donate items to the library for use as incentives (think free fries from McDonalds) and the library purchases small trinkets to give away. Some library systems even have a party at the end of the summer to celebrate the reading done over the summer.

Libraries even offer summer reading programs for teens and adults. Generally the incentives are nicer but fewer. We all love to get something for our efforts and if you are already at the library with your children be certain to check about some fun for yourself.

Add a bit of fun and learning into your summer schedule with a trip to your local library.