More than books
There's a lot more to be found in the stacks of Butler County's libraries this summer than a stray reading program or two.
There are escape rooms, Lego leagues and tai chi classes to be explored.
And there are completely new stacks to explore at least during the summer months.
For instance, the Butler County Community College Library in the Heaton Family Learning Center is open to the public until the summer semester starts Aug. 5.
Nonstudent library cards are available for free, as are temporary log-ins for the library's computer work stations. However, parking passes are required and can be obtained at the campus police office in the Student Success Center or at the library itself.
Martin Miller, the BC3 dean of library services, said, “People are welcome to walk in and use the library anytime.” That would be during the library's summer hours, Miller added, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
The Zelienople Public Library, 227 S. High St., Zelienople, in addition to summer reading programs and book discussion groups, is offering a slate of summer activities, said Library Director Maggie Boylan.
They include “Family Fun Thursdays” starting at 2 p.m. every Thursday. June 28's topic is Rock and Roll.
The program for children ages 6-12 (children as young as 4 are welcome with an adult helper) will typically consist of a story or short video, a game or activity, and sometimes a craft. Most activities will fit the theme of music or geology.
And, Boylan said, there will be an Engineering Club meeting for those ages 9 to 13 twice a week.
“This will be where students can work on Steam and STEM building programs and challenges,” said Boylan.
This will be in addition to ongoing library activities such as tai chi and yoga classes, a Spanish conversation hour and chess club.
In addition, Boylan said, the library will be hosting a fundraiser Aug. 16 as part of its Zelienople Library Presents series featuring authors, historians, architects, artists and designers.
August's event will spotlight Stacy Innerst, an artist, children's illustrator, and arts educator.
Tickets available in person at the library or online at www.eventbrite.com/e/zelienople-library-presents-tickets-43630064698?aff=es2.
Library Director Caitlyn Boland of the Mars Community Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars, said the library is hosting a series of “Steam Saturdays” at the library for children from kindergarten through sixth grade and their parents.
Boland said the next Steam Saturday takes place at 10:30 a.m. June 30.
She said, “It's called 'Bubblemania,' and the kids are going to be learning the science behind the bubbles.”
“They will be making bubble snakes and life-size bubbles,” she said.
“The one on July 28 is called 'Roller Coaster Engineering,'” said Boland, who also recommended people check the library website, www.marsarealibrary.org, for availability or to register for an event.
She added there are many reading programs and other events for children at the Mars Library and registration is filling up spaces quickly. '
But, she added, adults should not be neglecting their own summer reading program.
“There are summer reading programs for all ages,” said Boland. “But we encourage adults to participate as well.”
“It sends a message across the board,” Boland said. “You can be a role model to younger readers by showing reading is something you can enjoy your entire life. ”
The Evans City Library, 204 S. Jackson St., Evans City, has its own garden to tend, literally.The staff is growing a vegetable garden this summer and will share the fruits of their labors with the community.People looking to get away from it all this summer should probably avoid the Cranberry Public Library, 2525 Rochester Road, on July 21.AnnMarie Lamperski, the children's librarian at Cranberry, said that's when “Our meeting room will be made into an escape room.”Registrations for this adult activity are required and can be made online at the library's Website, Lamperski said.Young Prospect Library patrons can look forward to some field trips this summer said Prospect Library Director Jill Hambley.On Tuesday, there's a field trip planned to Playthings Etc, she said, and on July 17 there will be a nature field trip to McConnells Mills tied to a geology theme.And on Aug. 1, the Prospect fire hall will host the library's “Wacky Science Magic Show” and picnic.Maybe the biggest summer event for one Butler County library will be happening at the end of July in Slippery Rock.Library Director Karen Pierce said the library is moving from its old location at 316 N. Main St. in Slippery Rock to its new digs at 465 N. Main St. at the end of July.Pierce said, “We will be having a weeklong open house at the beginning of August, so keep your eyes peeled for information on it.”The ducks at the Slippery Rock Community Library, 465 N. Main St., have a different kind of escape in mind.Patrons can “check out” a duck when they travel. They can send the library pictures of where the ducks wind up and the photos are posted on the library's website.The ducks come from patrons who donate them to the library. For example, Deer Duck came from Cheyenne, Wyo., and Space Shuttle duck came from Florida because local high school students were thinking of how to add to the library's quacker collection.Pierce said, “One of our ducks right now is on a tour of Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. It's one of the kids from the high school, she's on a trip with the German Club. She took a library duck with her.”And ducks notwithstanding, no library will sell you a hunting license, but many library patrons can pick up a dog license at the checkout desk.Boland at the Mars library said, “We do it as a service for the community. A lot of people don't want to do it online.“A small portion of the license fee, 50 cents or so, comes right off the top for the library,” she said, adding the 50 cents can add up seeing as how the library sells a couple of hundred dog licenses a year.
