Did you know that just 15 minutes of reading each day can make all the HUGE difference at any age? Academic, emotional, social, and other measures of success depend very heavily on reading, so we encourage all parents to read as much as possible with their children! Our local libraries are incredible resources that go ABOVE & BEYOND during the summer months to make reading accessible and fun. We’ve gathered lots of information for 9 of our favorite local libraries’ programs for you to review and explore!
You can also see our directory listing for local libraries, where ALL the libraries we cover in the Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, & Northumberland counties are included!
Bloomsburg Public Library & Columbia County Traveling Library (Collaboration)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 1-August 1
KICKOFF EVENT: The 2024 Adventure Begins Summer Learning Festival: June 1; 10am-1pm @ Town Park (Market Street, Bloomsburg)
AGE GROUPS: All Ages!
PROGRAM PERKS: Mother Goose on the Loose, lots of Storytimes, Gaming Club, Book Club, Family Movie Ties , and so much more!
Learn More
Contact
Bloomsburg Area Lending Libraries
Thanks to our friend and fellow mom, Kim Morris, we have a link to all the local lending libraries in the Bloomsburg area. This map shows all the places where mini lending libraries are present in and around town!
Orangeville Public Library
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Reading Through the Year”
DATES: June 11-August 6 (skipping July 4)
AGE GROUPS: Preschool Session: 3-5 years; Elementary Session: 5-10 years
PROGRAM PERKS: Children will meet on Tuesday mornings for a fun time of stories, crafts and games.
Preschoolers: 9-9:45am; Elementary: 10-11 am.
Learn More
Contact
Montgomery House Warrior Run Area Public Library
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins At Your Library”
DATES: June 3-August 3
AGE GROUPS: All ages
PROGRAM PERKS: The Smokey Bear reading challenge! It will be his 80th birthday, and we are doing outdoor themed this year. Smokey the Bear, Growing Up Wild, and reading logs.
Learn More
Contact
Milton Public Library
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins At Your Library”
DATES: June 1-August 3
KICKOFF EVENT: June 15, 11am-12pm @ Milton Public Library
AGE GROUPS: All ages
Learn More
Some of our Favorite Upcoming Events!
Our calendar is chock full of great summer reading events! Check them out!
Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library (Northumberland)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 3-July 31
KICK-OFF EVENT: Touch-A-Truck: June 1, 10am-2pm @ King Street Park (Northumberland)
AGE GROUPS:
–School Age (completed K) through 5th grade: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri from 1-3pm
–Wee Ones (birth to 5 years): Wed from 10-11am
PROGRAM PERKS:
–Wee Ones (birth to 5 years): Wednesdays 10-11am
–Preschool STEM: Wednesdays 2-3pm
–Cruise into Kindergarten: Fridays 9:30-10:30am
–Summer STEM (5 to 12 years): Tuesdays 4-5pm
–Lego Club (5 to 12 years): Thursdays 4-5pm
–Summer Lunches: Monday-Friday 11am-12pm; FREE bagged lunches are available for children up to age 18!
Learn More
Contact
Union County Library System: Herr Memorial Library (Mifflinburg); The Public Library for Union County (Lewisburg); West End Library (Laurelton)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 3-August 10
AGE GROUPS: Children, Teens, and Adults- something for everyone!
PROGRAM PERKS: Challenge yourself to read 1,000 minutes this summer and earn brag tags, books, and prizes! For all ages!
Learn More
Contact
Tips for Summer Reading Success
📚Get a bag or basket that is just for library books. When the kids aren’t reading the books, they go in the bag or basket (there are lots of cute baskets at Target, Walmart, Marshall’s, etc.!) This GREATLY helps when it is time for library book returns.
📚1st and 2nd grade is a great age to introduce graphic novels! This genre is super fun, and even if they just look at the pictures, chances are they will try to read at least some of the pages. (Some of our favorites: The Hilo Series, Cat Kid Comic Club, Dog Man Series and The Babysitter’s Club).
📚Read to your kids! How often do they stop moving and sit and cuddle with you? Start early, and it will be such a treat when they are “too old” to snuggle, but they still read. Having a nighttime ritual of reading guarantees that you get your 15 minutes a day in!
📚Read a book as a family, then watch the movie! (We recommend: The BFG, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz and Charlotte’s Web to get started.)
Degenstein Library (Sunbury)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 1-August 7
KICKOFF EVENT: Animal Rescue Fair: June 1, 10am – 12pm @ Central Park (next to the Library). FREE FOOD. FREE BOOKS.
Talent Show; June 9, 5-7pm
AGE GROUPS: All ages: Littles (0 – 5 years), School Age (6 – 11 years), Preteen & Teen (12- 17 years), & Adult
PROGRAM PERKS:
Each week is a different theme with various activities.
Ongoing/typical programs continue too:
Mother Goose on the Loose: Tuesdays, 5pm & Wednesdays,11am
Storytime: Tuesdays, 11am.
Learn More
Contact
Thomas Beaver Free Library (Danville)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 1-August 12
AGE GROUPS: Birth to 18 years
PROGRAM PERKS:
Lots of events happening throughout the summer! You can also log reading times and enjoy activities in the Beanstack app!
Learn More
Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library (Selinsgrove)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 3-August 5
AGE GROUPS: All ages
PROGRAM PERKS:
Enjoy diverse, fun activities each Monday from June 3 to August 5, fostering creativity and learning for children. Visit your local branch to sign up for the summer reading program.
Learn More
McBride Memorial Library (Berwick)
SUMMER PROGRAM: “Adventure Begins at Your Library”
DATES: June 3-August 3
KICKOFF EVENT: Children’s Storytime @ the Berwick Farmers’ Market (Market’s Opening Day), June 1
AGE GROUPS: Multigenerational programming will allow for an all ages experience.
PROGRAM PERKS: Read your way through your summer adventure map to earn prizes and awards! Lots of events throughout the summer.
Learn More
Contact
Local Program Spotlight:
Dolly Parton Imagination Library (Berwick & Millville Area School Districts)
Did you know Berwick and Millville Area School Districts have chapters of the national program Dolly Parton Imagination Library?! This is an incredible book gifting program that mails FREE, high-quality books each month to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income! After launching in 1995, the program grew quickly, and by 2003 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. It would prove to be the first of many millions of books sent to children around the world, and your child can be a part of it!
📚Berwick- If you live in the Berwick Area School District, their program is funded and run by Berwick United Way. Contact Ayrin to find out more and to enroll your child (must be under 5 years old to be eligible).
📚Millville- If you live in the Millville Area School District, their program is funded by The Millville Community Association. See brochure below to enroll your child (must be under 5 years old to be eligible) via online or mail-in form.
For more information, or if you have any questions, contact Molly Werntz (Millville Area Program Coordinator).