Reading is a way for all of us to escape and inhabit worlds other than the one we live in everyday. But books can also introduce us to new concepts and ideas, in turn fueling the creativity and innovation necessary to change the world we do live in. At the Houston Public Library during our 2017 Summer Reading Program, we’ll explore ways to make our world a more interesting, fun, accessible, sustainable, and beautiful place through books and activities. We’d like to invite your kids and grandkids to participate in “Building a Better World” with us.
Every Monday afternoon or evening, we’ll be hosting special events showcasing people who have found a way to make the world a better place. You can pick up a list of events at the library or check out our Facebook page and/or website later for more information. In addition, on Thursday nights from 6 to 7 pm, we’ll have our popular Bookhound Program going on in our children’s room. And don’t forget to look for our Book Bike as library staff pedal it around town to meet up with kids at outdoor events in town this summer, facilitating their access to reading materials during these busy months.
We are NOT doing reading logs this year (to help make the world a better place for parents and kids like), but will instead offer weekly challenges for kids that may be turned in anytime during the summer to be entered into weekly drawings for Barnes & Noble gift certificates. And remember: starting Monday, June 5th, the first 100 kids to stop in and pick up one of these weekly challenge sheets this year will receive a free book bag! Stop by the library while supplies last!
The Houston Public Library’s 2017 Summer Reading Program, which runs from Monday, June 5th through Saturday, August 26th, is sponsored by the Friends of the Houston Public Library, HARC, Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, SELCO’s Legacy Grant Program, Sub-Zero Pizza & Ice Cream, memorials in honor of Teresa & Banjo Erickson and Illa Sweet, and a generous donation from Jayne & Jim Gilmer. It is open to all children, preschool through young adult, with games, prizes, drawings, story hours, and more. Remember: kids who read (or are read to) over the summer keep their brains active, entering school in the fall ready to learn and succeed. We hope that your family will take advantage of the free materials and services provided by your local libraries over the course of this coming summer.
If you or your child would like a library card, please stop by during our regular hours of operation with your current Minnesota’s Driver’s License. Now that we are fully automated and part of the online SELCO system, we require this piece of current photo identification from a child’s mother, father, or legal guardian to issue a library card. By providing this information, you accept responsibility for any overdue fines, damage charges, or replacement costs that your child may incur. Please call 507-896-READ or stop by the library at 202 East Cedar if you have any questions!