By Valerie Denton
Drayton Branch Supervisor
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Participation in this year’s TD Summer Reading Club has us over the moon!
If you haven’t visited your local Wellington County Library yet this summer, there’s still plenty of time. The last day to earn and submit your ballots toward our grand prize draws is Aug. 24.
Each branch will be drawing for two different LEGO sets, a family game night basket, and another fantastic gift basket just for kids.
Ballots can be submitted online at wellington.ca/SummerReading, or in person at your local branch.
You might have already encountered your local library staff at events around town this summer. We love to be involved with festivals, fairs, markets, and more in our communities.
Watch for library staff on Aug. 10 at the Harriston Street Party. The amazing Miss T the Bubble Queen will be performing her unique Bubbleology show on the front lawn of the Harriston branch at 10:30am. Also on Aug. 10, join Drayton branch staff at the Drayton Fair from 11am to 4pm for an interactive library display.
If you’re looking for activities to keep the kids busy until school starts, you’ll find every kind of programme under the sun at your local library. Looking for ideas you can do at home? Check out one of these great books to keep them learning, creating, and exploring this summer:
– The LEGO Ideas Book by Hannah Dolan;
– Backyard Adventure by Amanda Thomsen;
– Amazing Night Sky Atlas by Nancy Dickmann
– Be a Nature Explorer! by Peter Wohlleben;
– Playful Wonders by Katie Still; or
– Easy Paper Crafts for Kids by Catherine Woram.
ARTHUR BRANCH
( 519.848.3999)
Summer STEM Activities: Bottle Rocket (Tweens)
Build your own mini bottle rocket using supplies that can be found in your house. The library will supply the materials, you supply the imagination.
Thursday, Aug. 8, 2 to 3pm
Craft and Create: Paper Flowers (Adult)
Use provided supplies to create your own paper flower bouquet. Please register.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 1 to 2pm
CLIFFORD BRANCH
(519.327.8328)
Craft and Create: Book-Themed Bouquets (Teens/Adults)
Join us at the Clifford Branch as we take the traditional flower bouquet and give it a bookish makeover. For this programme we will be making fantastical and imaginative book bouquets using different types of recycled materials and textured paper. Please register.
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 6 to 7pm
At the Movies: Marvel Movie Marathon (All Ages)
Join us for back-to-back showings of Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home. Bring a blanket and we’ll provide the popcorn! Running time: 133 minutes each; rated G. Please register.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 10:15am to 2:55pm
DRAYTON BRANCH
(519.638.3788)
Summer Crafty Creations: Starry, Starry Night (All Ages)
Drop-in and get crafty with our library staff. Create a beautiful starry creation using chalk, pastels, and more!
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Summer Games: Nintendo Switch Challenge (School Age)
Drop in any Wednesday afternoon in August for a different Nintendo Switch challenge. What game will it be? You’ll have to stop by to find out!
Wednesdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2 to 3:30 pm
HARRISTON BRANCH
(519.338.2396)
Summer Crafty Creations: Space Aliens! (Ages 5+)
Come and make your own version of a space alien. Please register.
Tuesday, August 13, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Summer Adventures: Cosmic Whirligig (Ages 5+)
Blast into the end of Summer with a cosmic craft creation! Please register.
Monday, Aug. 19, 10:30 to 11:30am
MOUNT FOREST BRANCH (519.323.4541)
Summer Special Guest: Craig Douglas the Comic Juggler (All Ages)
Join us for a high energy and family friendly show from Craig Douglas the Comic Juggler! Please register.
Thursday, Aug. 15, 2 to 2:45 pm
Summer Games: Space-Themed Tic-Tac-Toe (Families, Kids, Tweens)
Join us at the library and create your own travel game of space tic-tac-toe. Choose some space-y items for X’s and O’s to put a fun new spin on a timeless game! Please register.
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2 to 3pm
PALMERSTON BRANCH (519.343.2142)
Summer Crafty Creations: Create Your Own Planet (Ages 5-13)
Join us for some intergalactic hands-on fun! Design and create your very own planet! Please register.
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 10:30 to 11:30am
Summer Games: Escape Mars! (Ages 9-13)
Come play games that are out of this world. You are trapped on Mars and must work as a team to escape! Please register.
Monday, Aug. 12, 10:30 to 11:30am.
Register for these and other out of this world programmes at wellington.ca/LibraryCalendar.