Summer reading this summer at the Sweet Home Library is going to be about fun and games.
Literally.
The Library’s Summer Reading Program kicks off Friday, June 13, with, well, a Kids Game Day, at 1101 13th Ave. That event will be for children ages 6 and older.
But there’s more. A lot more.
At 7:30 p.m. Friday the library will host a showing of “Luca” and a craft at Sankey Park, 877 14th Ave.
The program officially kicks off June 21 at the Jim Bean Safety Fair, to be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sankey Park, launching into 10 weeks of activities, many of them game-related, that Programming Librarian Kira Mikutaitis said will follow a “Level Up” theme that, as the term may suggest to gamers, will be based around puzzles and games.
“It’s all about games,” Mikutaitis said, adding that some of the activities will involve Minecraft and Pokemon cards – “a variety of cool things that kids can get into.”
Of course, the main focus is reading and the library will provide paper trackers for kids to keep track of the time they spend with books, she said.
“Every 15 minutes they mark off on a sheet and when they to five, they get a prize. When they fill up their sheet, they’re eligible for a drawing for a grand prize.”
Last year’s grand prizes included Lego sets and Squishmallows (giant squishy pillows), just in case anyone is interested.
But it’s not just about reading.
“We have quite a few outside presenters this year,” Mikutaitis said.
The first will be a visit from Eugene’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History, which will present a “Power Play for the Planet” program at Sankey, which will involve playing games, solving puzzles and tackling wacky challenges as participants explore the environment, design solutions and imagine a brighter future, including activity tables with touchable specimens and hands-on activities.
Dragon Theater will present its puppet show “Arcade Universe” at 10 a.m. on June 20, featuring a hero on a quest through different levels of an arcade game to find his purpose in life.
On July 18 the Oregon Coast Aquarium will visit at Sankey Park at 10 a.m.
“This is their first year as an outside presenter,” Mikutaitis said. “They’re coming all the way from Newport. They’re bringing mostly hands-on things so kids can understand what ocean life feels like.”
Those are likely to include seal pelts (which are only legal for the museum to own), starfish and other hands-on interaction with sea life, she said.
For teens (ages 13-19), a classic horror themed movie night series will include “The Ring” on June 27, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” on July 25, and “Critters” on Aug. 22, all from 6 to 8 p.m. at the library.
There will also be an Intro to Dungeons and Dragons two-session activity on Aug. 9 and 16 at the library for ages 10 and up with a “library-themed campaign,” Mikulaitis said. “That should be super fun.”
Also on the program are “bread and butter” water fights (July 11 and Aug. 22), Make Your Own Board Game day (Aug. 8), a Field Day at Sankey Park on July 25, a Battle of the Books trivia challenge on Aug. 15 at Sankey, and a Community Read with author Lana Holden, a local teacher and author, at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 at the library.
Plus, in addition to “Luca” on Friday, Movies in the Park will include “The Goonies” on July 18 and “MINECRAFT: The Movie” on Aug. 15. Both start at 8 p.m. at Sankey Park.
Unless otherwise specified, Summer Reading Program events are open to all ages.
There’s more: Visit www.sweethomeor.gov/library to see the full schedule.