Welcome back to Behind the Stacks! Summer is in full swing here at the library with our Summer Reading programs well underway. We didn’t let the heat wave put a damper on our children’s Summer Reading Kickoff–it was moved indoors to the Graham Room, complete with face painting, snacks, games, bubbles galore and so much more!
We have also begun handing out our Adult Summer Reading game boards (complete with spinner provided) so grown-ups can get in on the fun and excitement of a summer reading challenge. Keep an eye out for our all-ages Scavenger Hunt that begins July 14th–both adults and kids have the opportunity to win a prize! On July 11, grades 4 through 8 can join us for a book presentation and writing workshop with middle grade authors Rhonda Roumani & Catherine Egan! Rhonda Roumani is a Syrian-American journalist who has covered the Arab world and Muslim issues for more than two decades.
She is the author of the Middle Grade novel Tagging Freedom and the picture book Insha’Allah, No, Maybe So. Catherine Egan is the author of several middle grade novels including Sneaks and The Factory. The duo will answer questions about their works and the writing process and provide a brief writing workshop for tweens.
All month long, children 4 and under can enjoy our Play-Doh Playdates sessions, where we will have coloring, Play-Doh, and our indoor play equipment set up in the Community Room for little ones to get out some energy and socialize. Teens and tweens in grades 6-12 are welcome to join us for our monthly Video Game Club on July 30th–challenge your friends to your favorite Nintendo Switch games, test out a virtual reality headset, and enjoy some tasty snacks! This fun evening of gaming is hosted by Matthew Yanarella of MyProductionsCT.
The West Haven Library will also be hosting certified Master Wildlife Conservationist, Paul Colburn, for a lecture style-presentation “Wildlife and Connecticut’s Changing Landscape”. This presentation provides a brief natural history of Connecticut, addresses the current state of wildlife in the state, including a discussion of major species, factors affecting their habitats, challenges we face in managing them, and provides suggestions for what people can do to make a difference!
In new and exciting news, West Haven Public Library is now offering a circulating “Library of Things” collection which provides patrons with access to non-traditional library items such as cake pans, tools, beach toys, and lawn games! You can check these items and use them for birthday parties, trips to the beach, or for keeping the kids entertained over the summer.
Anyone with a valid library card in good standing can check out these items for one week at a time. We currently have the following items available for checkout: DIY tool sets, sandcastle kits, inflatable body boards, a portable cornhole set, a tabletop tennis set, a CD player, a metal detector, a travel chess board, and ten different style cake pans.
These items were purchased through a donation from the Friends of the West Haven Public Library group, and we are planning to expand this collection in the future. Call us or stop by the library for more information!
Lastly, we are extremely excited to announce the launch of our new library app, Libraries Online! With this app, you can search for titles, place holds, renew loans, check your account, register for programs, and so much more! We’ve had many patrons express their desire to simply get a text/notification when their items arrive and with this new app, this will now be possible! You can download this free app from your device’s app store or stop by the library and ask us for help.