BURRILLVILLE – There will be ice cream and stargazing, dance parties, geology lessons, concerts, and the chance to win gift cards and other prizes all summer long just by reading books.
The Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library is always a busy place, but they’ve raised the bar even higher through the hot summer months in 2018, offering an impressive lineup of programs and events for every age group.
“We offer programs from birth until senior,” noted Library Director Beth Ullucci. “We have all kinds of stuff that goes with the theme, which is ‘Libraries Rock’ this year.”
The library’s annual season kickoff celebrating the last day of school will be held on Wednesday, June 20. Guests are invited to drop in for “Alpacas and Ice Pops,” from 4-6 p.m. and meet some special visitors from Many Feet Farm. It is the 3rd consecutive year the alpacas visit the facility at Stillwater Mill center.
It will be the library’s first big summer event in 2018, and there are plenty more to come.
Jesse Smith Library offers programming geared to all ages, and will be taking signups for three versions of the summer reading program over the next several weeks.
For kids, signups take place in the children’s department on the second floor, and there, participants will receive prizes every week that they get their log stamped starting Monday, June 25. The library will hand out one prize per child, per week through August 18.
Other events for kids throughout the summer include toddler dance parties, kids’ yoga, a pet rock class, and a “huge” magic show on Wednesday, Aug. 8, according to Ullicci.
For teens, the summer reading program comes with an activity log that includes more than just reading. That program runs from June 16 to August 17 and every week they visit, teen participants will be entered into the weekly raffle for $10 gift card to the Taco Shop. Those who complete the program by taking part in five activities will get free book coupon for $5 overdue late fees, and one entry into the grand prize raffle for $40 Amazon gift card.
Prizes for all of the summer programs have been provided by Friends of the Jesse Smith Library.
Teens will also enjoy musical trivia, a “sponge bomb” fight, a community service project making “get well” cards to send to local hospitals, cupcake wars, rock painting, a paint party, an “escape room” event and the ever popular “exploding watermelons.”
But most even more summer events and programs are geared for adults.
The adult reading program begins on June 17 and runs through August 16. Adults who stop in will be entered into a weekly raffle for a $10 Dunkin Donuts gift card, and those who read four books will receive a surprise, and a raffle entry for a grand prize of $40 to Amazon.
Events for adults include Meditation for Brain Health with Doctor Post; rock painting; a seminar on fly tying put on by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; Rhody Rocks: Tales of Rhode Island Geology; a class making marbled scarfs; a visit form Andrea Perron to discuss her book House of Darkness, House of Light; True Tales from 100 years of Rhode Island’s Music History; Henna classes; and a “rockhounding” program where they find and collect minerals. They’ll also make terrariums, and join teens for the special “escape room” event.
The library’s summer lineup also includes the Riverwalk Times Concert series, with nine concerts held on Saturday nights, starting at 6 p.m.
The season will end for all three groups with the “Skyscrapers Star Gazing Party” on Friday, Aug 17 at 8 p.m.
“We always stay busy,” said Ullicci,”but this summer we really have a lot going on.”
