Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library! It’s almost time for our Summer Kick-Off on Friday, May 29, from 5-6:30 p.m. Come and play games on the lawn, try out our obstacle course, dig for fossils, and see live alpacas from Heartland Farms. Last but not least, get registered for our dino-themed summer reading program for all ages and reading formats. Track your minutes spent reading this June and July for the chance to win some fabulous prizes! The more you read, the better your chances are of bagging some spectacular summer swag.
Before we get to the kick-off, tonight (May 28) we have M.A.S.H. Trivia at Dry Lake. How much do you know about this classic TV show? Be at the brewery by 7 p.m. to find out. Study up, because free drinks and prizes are on the line!
If you can’t make it to the kick-off on Friday but still wish to sign up for our summer reading program, you can do this any time between the start of the program and the end (July 17 for children, July 31 for teens and adults). Just pop by the library and ask to register, and we will get you a bag based on your age group.
We want your submissions for our mini magazine, organized and presented by our own writing club! The theme for our second edition of this zine is “Adventure Is Out There!” Send us your works of writing, art, and photography that celebrate the highs and lows of the journey taken to reach a destination. Visit greatbendpl.info between May 29 and July 13 to get started.
This summer, delve into the past with our new History Book Club, led by Michael Adamyk. Copies of “One Giant Leap” by Charles Fishman are available for pickup at the Front Desk.
Registration for our upcoming Tabletop Teens adventures opens tomorrow. Looking for an afternoon of fun? Try one (or both) of our summer D&D one-shot sessions. These one-and-done fantasy adventures are open to beginners and veterans alike! Visit greatbendpl.info/teens to sign up. Any teens are welcome to come watch as part of the audience (no registration required).
On Monday, it’s a new month, so that means it’s time for a new Spice of the Month. These have been flying off the shelf, so make sure you come early if you want to secure a new spice and recipe.
Monday is also your first chance to reserve one of our sci-fi-themed teen and adult summer book bundles, TeenBookCrate (teens grades 6-12) and Ad Astra (adults 18+). These book crates are like book box subscriptions without the fees. Visit greatbendpl.info during the signup period (June 1-7) and fill out the Google Form to reserve your spot on the list.
Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. marks the return of Story Time. For those a bit too old for Story Time but not old enough to attend teen events, we also have Tween Scene at 10:30 a.m. For our first Tween Scene this summer, tweens going into grades 3-5 can sample our Tween Café event. Later that day at 3:30 p.m. it’s the teens’ turn for their Teen Café featuring one of our summer sponsors, Starbucks.
For our first Wonderful Wednesday, we are joined by Flint Hills Discovery Center with their program Can You Dig It? Discover Kansas archaeology as you hear the story of traditional home life on the ancient Central Plains and unearth replica artifacts.
On Thursday, we have a more relaxed day with our regular Genealogy Thursday at 11 a.m. For more local history, join us at 10:30 a.m. on Friday for the first installment of our Adult Show & Tell series. Dust off your heirlooms and dig out your trinkets. We can’t wait to hear everyone’s stories this summer, featuring a different theme each week. Note: Please do not bring in any living creatures. Staff will not be available to help move items.
If you want to see what else we are up to at the library, stop by and grab our seasonal newsletter so you can keep up to date on all the dino-tastic fun happening at the library this June through August. Find us on social media @greatbendpl and visit our website, greatbendpl.info. You can also message us on Facebook and Instagram, email us at gbcirc@gmail.com, or give us a call at 620-792-2409 with any questions about our programming or services.
Hannah Glass is the outreach manager at the Great Bend Public Library.
