Welcome back to Behind the Stacks! We are gearing up for a fantastic summer with lots of programs and events for our community to take part in. As you may have heard, Connecticut’s state-wide summer reading theme is “Level Up at Your Library”, where Westies are encouraged to level up their skills and knowledge through games, puzzles, play, and reading!
Children up to grade 6 can participate in our Torch Tales Live Action Storytelling Event on the West Haven Green (event will be moved indoors at the Main Library in case of rain); and kids grades 7 through 12 can attend a special Pokèmon Cartooning Event for Teens! Learn how to draw your favorite Pokèmon with Bill Hernandez of Graphics Interactive LLC. No prior experience is required, bring your creativity and we will provide the rest! Registration is required for both events. Thank you to the Friends of the West Haven Library for sponsoring!
Don’t forget to visit our Ora Mason branch over the summer and check out their exciting upcoming programs! There are still a few spots available for “Science Heroes: Adventure of the Missing Color” on June 23rd at 6pm. Come help us observe the National Week of Making by helping the Science Heroes create a story at the Ora Mason library on a 45-minute mission to turn science into an adventure! A few children from the audience will be chosen to assist in various experiments throughout the story. Through hands-on experiments and fun, interactive stories, we get kids excited about the science that’s all around us as we celebrate the scientists who color our world with art! There will also be a “themed” canvas book tote & STEM Activity book raffle to participate in–as well as a free book giveaway courtesy of CT Humanities for every child that attends to get summer reading started on the right track. Registration is required to attend this event as seating is very limited. While you’re at Ora Mason, don’t forget to check out our ongoing puzzle sale–proceeds from which go directly to our volunteer organization, The Friends of the West Haven Public Library.
As promised, we also want to let adults get in on the fun this summer with our Adult Summer Reading LibraryLand Game Board–stop by either location to pick up a CandyLand-style game board, complete with spinner, to participate! Use the spinner to determine what color you land on, then check the game key to see which activities you can complete to move on. Return completed game boards to the library to be entered to win a prize (up to 5 entries per person). Good luck!
Also at the Main Library, keep an eye out for our upcoming Library of Things! A growing trend among libraries in recent years has been creating a collection of materials that most people wouldn’t expect to be able to check out at their local library. Some of these items include cake pans, tool kits, toys, metal detectors, and so much more. These items can be checked out and returned just like any library book or DVD! More information to come shortly!
As a reminder, the Summer Hours for the Main Branch of the West Haven Library start on June 30 and are as follows: 9:30-5 on Mondays and Fridays, 9:30-8 on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, and 9:30-3 on Saturdays
West Haven Public Schools will be handing out free lunches to anyone under 18 throughout the summer! Stop by the Main Library on 300 Elm Street at noon to receive a
free lunch! In order to receive a free lunch, the child must be present, in person. Lunch will be available Monday through Friday starting on June 30 and ending on August 8th. Free breakfasts and lunches will also be available at other locations throughout West Haven. Visit westhavenlibrary.org to view the full list of locations and the times they will be handing out meals.
And finally, in some new and exciting news, one of our part-time library assistants–Tatiana Franklin–has just been promoted to a position as Children’s Librarian! Tatiana graduated in August of 2024 with her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, while working for the library over the last four years. She is well-loved by staff and patrons alike, has the most stylish cardigans, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome her in her new role!