Libraries draw out-of-this-world crowd over summer
SAXONBURG — Mitchell Miller, 7, took three steps forward and landed on the moon's Copernicus Crater.
“He loves space and robots, so it really worked out today,” said Mitchell's mother Amanda Miller of Sarver. “I think it's really engaging for the kids when the library is put together and the colors and subjects they have,”
Miller's son and her 2-year-old daughter were among several kindergarten-to-fifth-graders who shot for the moon during last week's Elementary Space Explorers session designed to teach children about space through experiments, challenges, science, technology, engineering and math projects, games, crafts and NASA activities at the South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St.
Butler County libraries drew crowds from out of this world to participate in the summer theme “Universe of Stories” that focused on the stars, sun, moon, rockets and all things related to space.
Children traveled to the moon and back as they learned about gravity by painting Gravity Art, traveled to different locations on the moon during Rove the Moon, a follow-directions-style activity and built a science, technology, engineering and math project called a Moon Lander to land their astronauts safely on the ground without them falling out of their capsule.
Literacy is the foundation of the program to keep the children engaged over the summer, said Michelle Lesniak, the library director.
“The goal is to get the kids reading, engaged in STEAM and STEM activities,” Lesniak said.
Prizes were offered for children, teens and tweens and adults who completed challenges ranging from summer reading to kindness bingo and activity booklets along with the chance to be entered into a raffle for multiple items at the end of the challenge, she said.
Between 37 to 50 children have showed up weekly for the programming, she said.
June and July are the busiest months of the year for libraries, said Leslie Pallotta, library director for the Cranberry Public Library, 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township.
The library's goal was to register 1,300 people with the library over the summer, she said.
Although school is out, libraries are in full swing.
Foot traffic to the library picks up during the summer because it becomes a source of books and programming for families when their children are out of school, Lesniak said.Independent tutors also use the space as their location, and families use the children's play area, a space that was renovated last year. Volunteers, adults and teens, also flock to the library to offer assistance.About 350 adults and children registered with the library last summer, which is a number the library has surpassed this summer, Lesniak said.Children's materials are the most checked-out item over the summer, she said. Movies are another popular item.More adults were involved in the programming this year in Saxonburg because Lesniak encouraged them to participate in the reading challenge with their children, she said.“That's the point of laying that literacy foundation that they be a role model,” she said.At the Cranberry library, the space theme brought fun for children and adults through a range of activities including Reuseapalooza, where children were given a space mission to create an item, including robots, aliens and the solar system, out of recyclable household items, Pallotta said.One new feature was a scavenger hunt involving the library's famous dog and Internet sensation named Archie, who is owned by an employee.The dog was photoshopped into a space suit, and the picture was hidden around the library for patrons to find, she said. Last week, the dog made an appearance at the library's space theme party, Pallotta said.Themes allow libraries to centralize programming, focus summer reading and build displays, she said. Other themes in the past included rock music, construction and water.Pallotta said summer is a fun time for the library.“It's a chance for kids, adults, teens across the board to read for the sheer joy of reading,” she said.For the South Butler library, summer is a time for families and bringing new patrons to the library.“Summer allows us to connect with families, and we see them throughout the year,” Lesniak said.Summer is the most thematic period for the library, Lesniak said.“We do that focus because it seems to draw in people,” she said. “It keeps them connected.”
Here are some of the benefits of summer reading programming for children:Children are motivated to read.Children develop positive attitudes about reading, books, and the library.Children maintain their reading skills during summer vacation.Children have access to experiences that further their sense of discovery.Children have access to experiences through which they can learn to work cooperatively.SOURCE: cslpreads.org
BUTLER AREA PUBLIC LIBRARYLittle Stars: Toddler Story TimeWHEN: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6Who Wants To Be An Engineer by Carnegie Science CenterWHEN: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7Alien Overlords: Tweens — Cosplay PartyWHEN: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 7Blazing Comets: Preschool Story Time — A is for AlphabetWHEN: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8Moon Walkers: Teens — Space JamWHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 8WHERE: 218 N. McKean StreetCRANBERRY PUBLIC LIBRARYWHAT: Intergalactic BingoWHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. TuesdayWHERE: 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 300, Cranberry TownshipNOTE: Registration is required.EVANS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARYWHAT: Outer Space StorytimeWHEN: 10:45 a.m. TuesdayWHAT: Space/Star Wars LEGO TournamentWHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. ThursdayWHERE: 204 S Jackson St, Evans CityREGISTER: Visit evanscitylibrary.orgMARS AREA PUBLIC LIBRARYA Universe of Stories for grades first through sixth. Stories featuring the solar system, from around the world, presented by storyteller Alan Irvine.WHEN: 1 p.m. WednesdayREGISTER: Visit or call the library: 724-625-9048WHAT: Summer Reading Program Finale and S.T.A.R. Magic ShowWHEN: 11 a.m. Aug. 30WHERE: 107 Grand Avenue, MarsStar Party at Adams Park with local amateur astronomer Larry McHenryWHEN: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7NOTE: Bring your own telescope or take a turn using a provided telescopesPROSPECT AREA PUBLIC LIBRARYWHAT: Destination Imagination puppet show presented by Gail Bowman. A potluck lunch will follow with various activities for children to enjoy.WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. WednesdayWHERE: Prospect Fire Hall, 373 Main St., ProspectZELIENOPLE AREA PUBLIC LIBRARYWHAT: Zelienople Library Presents Tom Nesbitt, historian and author of Zelienople, in the Images of America Series and will be speaking on “Zelienople, Along the Trail of History”.WHEN: 7 p.m. ThursdayWHERE: Scholl Conference Center at Lutheran Senior Life Passavant Community, 105 Burgess Drive, ZelienopleCOST: Five free tickets for SVSD high school students. Passavant residents admitted at no charge. Purchase tickets at the Library or Eventbrite.comSOUTH BUTLER COMMUNITY LIBRARYStories, rhymes and hands-on activity stations for toddlers (up to 3)WHEN: 10:30 a.m. TuesdaysStories, games, crafts and activity stations for preschool (ages 3 to 5)WHEN: 10:30 a.m. WednesdaysExplore space through experiments, challenges, STEM projects, games, crafts and NASA activities for elementary students (Grades K-5)WHEN: 10:30 a.m. ThursdaysStories, rhymes and hands-on activity stations for toddlers (up to 3)WHEN: 10:30 a.m. TuesdaysHarry Potter party and movies for tweens and teensWHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SaturdayCreate Sci-Fi memesWHEN: 6 p.m., Aug. 6Book talk about “The Martian Chronicles”WHEN: 7 p.m. TuesdayMission Accomplished Finale PartyWHEN: Aug. 10WHERE: 240 W. Main St., SaxonburgFOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 724-352-4810 or visit southbutlerlibrary.org
