Are you ready for summer? The Georgetown Public Library is!
Summer reading kicks off on June 1 for all ages, whether you are 2 or 102. The theme this year is Color Our World, so let your creativity flow at one of our events or check out something to inspire you. Remember, reading materials can include books, comics or graphic novels, magazines, audio books and ebooks.
Kids ages 0-12 can pick up a reading tracker at the children’s desk and color in the stripes for each week you read. Turn in your log by July 31 and you’ll be entered into a grand prize drawing. Additionally, for each week you read, you get a pom-pom to help us fill our big bowl. If the bowl gets filled by our community of readers, then we’ll earn a new stuffie for the Children’s Room. Please note, our storytime schedule changes during summer reading. Regularly scheduled storytimes return in September.
Teens ages 12-18 also have a chance to participate in an artistic and creative summer. Teens can pick up a reading log at the children’s desk and join a reading team: Team Flame, Team River, or Team Leaf. Teens will then track the number of days they read. The team with the most tickets at the end of summer wins and gets to decorate the Teen Space in the theme of their team. Additionally, individual prizes will be awarded from the winning team, including one grand prize winner who will receive a $100 Lark and Owl gift certificate and gift bag. Three runners-up, one from each team, will win $50 Lark and Owl gift certificates and gift bags. The last day for teens to turn in reading logs is July 31.
All SRP events are free and open to the public, though space is limited. Tickets are required for kid, tween, and teen events and will be handed out on a first come, first served basis one hour before the start of a program at the children’s desk in the children’s room. Due to the popularity of the programs, the library cannot accommodate groups such as churches, camps or daycares.
Adult summer reading also starts June 1 and runs through July 31. Adults do not have a reading tracker, but instead are invited to play summer reading BOOK-O and win prizes. For every line on your BOOK-O card you complete, stop by the reference desk and get a ticket for a prize entry. Entrants must be ages 18+. Winners will be announced in August.
You can get your BOOK-O card online at the library website, or pick up a printed copy from the second floor reference desk. All summer reading events are exclusively for adults ages 18+.
There will be three grand prize winners along with eight $25 gift card winners. Three grand prize winners will win gift baskets with travel mugs, paint by number kits, games, and fidget toys. Gift cards will come from local businesses.
All programs are also listed on the library’s website and calendar of events!
See you soon at summer reading.
Summer Reading Events at the Library
Kids Ages 0-12
Events are ticketed-pick up tickets at the Children’s Room desk one hour before each event (excluding Storytime Playdates in the park)
June Events:
June 3 | 10 a.m. Silly Sparkles - Puppets, magic and balloons.
June 4 | 9:30 a.m.: Storytime Playdate. Join us in the park for storytime and fun. Located at San Gabriel Park, Event Lawn Pavilion, 445 East Morrow Street
June 10 | 2 p.m. Summer Movie: Despicable Me
June 17 | 10 a.m. Oscar Muñoz, Master Magician.
June 18 | 9:30 a.m.: Storytime Playdate. Join us in the park for storytime and fun. Located at San Gabriel Park, Event Lawn Pavilion, 445 E. Morrow St.
June 21 | 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Austin Reptile Shows. Two shows, choose one.
June 24 | 2 p.m. Summer Movie: Despicable Me 2
July Events
July 1 | 2 p.m. Summer Movie: Minions
July 2 | 9:30 a.m.: Storytime Playdate. Join us in the park for storytime and fun. Located at San Gabriel Park, Event Lawn Pavilion, 445 E. Morrow St.
July 8 | 10 a.m. Mad Science “Up, Up, and Away.” Special science show.
July 15 | 2 p.m. Summer Movie: Despicable Me 3
July 16 | 9:30 a.m.: Storytime Playdate. Join us in the park for storytime and fun. Located at San Gabriel Park, Event Lawn Pavilion, 445 East Morrow Street.
July 19 | 2 p.m. Storyteller Elizabeth Kahura with African Folktales.
July 22 | 10 a.m. Joe McDermott. Rockin’ songs and fun.
July 29 | 2 p.m. Summer Movie: Despicable Me 4
Tweens Ages 9-12
Events are ticketed-pick up tickets at the Children’s Room desk one hour before each event.
June 13 | 1 p.m.: Color Our World Art Share: create tiny works of art to share with homebound and mobility challenged folks who can’t get out into our community and see our public works of art.
June 27 | 1 p.m.: Summer Camp crafts: attend Camp GPL and make all the summer camp crafts such as keychains and friendship bracelets.
July 11 | 1 p.m.: Imagine Arts Academy: Legends and Lore. Make your mini-monster/creature card.
July 25 | 1 p.m.: Tie-Dye Bandana: join us for an end of summer tie-dye experiment. We’ll tie-dye bandanas and have the grooviest send off to the summer that’s ever been.
Teens Ages 12-18
All events are ticketed. Pick up tickets at the children’s desk one hour before each event.
June 6 | 1 p.m.: Movie: My Neighbor Totoro
June 13 | 3 p.m.: Color Our World Art Share: create tiny works of art to share with homebound and mobility challenged folks who can’t get out into our community and see our public works of art.
June 20 | 1 p.m.: Movie: Spirited Away
June 27 | 3 p.m.: Summer Camp Crafts: attend Camp GPL and make all the summer camp crafts such as keychains and friendship bracelets.
July 11 | 3 p.m.: Mini Figure Painting: paint a mini-figurine.
July 18 | 1 p.m.: Movie: Howl’s Moving Castle
July 25 | 3 p.m.: Tie-Dye Bandanas: craft your tie-dye masterpiece at this end of summer event.
Adults Ages 18+
June 4 | 6 p.m.: Yes, and…: Join Nick from the Palace Theatre for a fast-paced improv workshop.
June 18 | 6:30 p.m.: Write About Now: Discover the art of beautiful writing at Write About Now, a beginner-friendly modern calligraphy workshop taught by calligrapher Ember Sherman. Register in advance online.
July 23 | 6:30 p.m.: Tie-dye Bandanas and Trivia: Put your knowledge (and your tie-dye skills) to the test at our Tie-Dye & Trivia event.
For more information about library events, visit georgetowntexas.gov/library/events/ or call 512-930-3551.
This column was written by Ann Evans, who serves as the Adult Services Librarian at the Georgetown Public Library.