The Summer Reading Program will kick off Wednesday, May 31, with an Ice Cream Sundae party and officials said they are “excited” for this year’s theme, “All Together Now.”
Community members will be all together for the Ice Cream Kickoff Party from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the concession stand near the pavilions behind the Rabun County Public Library. Community members will be able to register for the summer reading program and get some ice cream. Also, visit with community sponsors Family Connections; Family Resource Center; Ferst Foundation; Rabun County Health Department; Rabun County Headstart; Food Bank of Northeast Georgia; and South State Bank.
The summer reading program is open to all ages.
“All programming at the library is free and open to the public,” said Dyana Costello Banks, branch manager and librarian.
Registration for the Summer Reading Program begins Tuesday, May 30, and community members can sign up by calling the library at 706-782-3731, registering in person, or register on the Beanstack application. The Rabun County Public Library is located at 73 Jo Dotson Circle, Clayton.
This year, all youth participants ages birth to 17 will log minutes read as opposed to books read.
“This will make it more equitable for those who would like to participate,” Banks said of the reasoning.
Kim Cannon with Children’s Services said this will allow those reluctant to read or those with reading difficulty better opportunity to participate in the Summer Reading Program.
Progress can be recorded on paper provided by the library or through the Beanstack application.
Participants who earn four hours of reading time will be entered into a random drawing for prizes. Prizes will be drawn weekly and students’ names will remain in the drawing each week.
When kids reach 10 hours of reading time, they will receive coupons for treats from local fast food establishments.
Prize drawings will continue each week until the final program on July 20.
Cannon said students will be given bookmarks for progress and adults ages 18 and older participating will fill out a Bingo card to be entered to win prizes.
Anyone choosing to log reading time on paper should bring the sheet into the library when 10 hours have been reached.
This year, students are creating a mural that represents the theme “All Together Now.”
“The plan is that the mural will be changed based on the theme of the year,” Banks said. “We hope to make it a community event each time.”
Other programming during the summer
Free lunch will be served for ages 2-18 Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the gazebo at the back entrance to the library. Meals are provided by Family Connection of Rabun County.
There will be adult matinees at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7; Wednesday, June 21; Wednesday, July 5 and Wednesday, July 19. Family movies will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 24 and Saturday, July 22. Stop by the library or call to get movie titles for the summer adult and family movies! Snacks are provided by Friends of the Library. Visit https://www.rabuncountylibrary.org/ for more information about the Summer Reading Program and information on programming.
Summer events
Community members do not have to be registered for the Summer Reading Program to attend summer events.
-June 6 at 11 a.m.: Rabun County Fire Services at the pavilions behind the Rabun County Civic Center.
-June 7 at 10:30 a.m.: Ester Lipscomb Pottery. Kids will create pottery that will become part of a scavenger hunt on July 19 at the library. Slabs of clay and texture tools will be used to create unique art.
-June 8 at 1 p.m.: Smithgall Woods Snakes Alive at the pavilions.
-June 13 at 11 a.m.: “Kindness Rocks” Rock Painting for all ages in the library Community Room.
-June 13 at 11:30 a.m.: Kickoff event for Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Food Service Program for Kids. There will be free lunch and activities.
-June 14 at 10:30 a.m.: Smokey Bear will be in the library Community Room.
-June 15 at 1 p.m.: Tweens and Teens Friendship Jewelry Extravaganza at the book shop.
-June 20 at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and noon: Star Lab and Mobile Planetarium inside the library.
-June 21 at 10:30 a.m.: Blue Ridge Activity and Tumbling (BRAT) bus will be at the pavilions. There will also be a movie matinee at 1:30 p.m.
-June 22 at 11 a.m.: All ages are invited to Chess Club in the Community Room.
-June 27 at 11 a.m.: Pets, Pets, Pets.. most any kind! At the pavilions.
-June 28 at 10:30 a.m.: Clayton Police Department will be at the pavilions behind the library and will also read a story to children.
-June 29 at 11 a.m.: Family Yoga for all ages at the pavilions.
-July 4: Closed for Independence Day
-July 5 at 10:30 a.m.: Patriotic storytime at the pavilions and an adult movie matinee at 1:30 p.m.
-July 6 at 11 a.m.: Bilingual storytime-Animal sounds around the world- in the Children’s Room.
-July 11 at 1 p.m.: Seed Library in the Community Room
-July 12 at 10:30 a.m.: Baleena the Whale. Walk inside the body of a whale inside the library!
-July 13 at 11 a.m.: Bee Kind to Bees in the Community Room.
-July 18 at 11 a.m.: All ages can make bath fizzies.
-July 19 at 10:30 a.m.: Under 18-pottery hunt and there will be a movie matinee at 1:30 p.m.
-July 20 at 11 a.m.: Wildlife Wonders Zoo to You will be at the pavilions for the Summer Finale.