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Library Announces August News, Events

Bellingham Public Library

This year our summer reading theme is “Libraries Rock.” We will be offering programs and reading incentives through August 23.

Read & Bead—This summer, you can build a necklace starting with a chain that the library will provide and fill it with beads you earn. Here’s how it works: (1) Get various beads by reading, attending programs, and completing various tasks; (2) add beads to your chain all summer long; (3) wear your chain and be awesome.

Summer Reading School Assignments—The library has purchased numerous copies of books that are on the Bellingham and BVT reading lists. We recommend reserving your copy early as they are limited and are often checked out by midsummer.

Special Summer Programs in August— Thank you to Middlesex Savings Bank for their sponsorship of four of our August special performances: Princess Sing-Along, Eyes on Owls, Rainforest Reptiles, and Malik the Magic Guy.

•       Musical Movie Monday Sing Along—Mondays at 2 pm, for families. Please register.

•      Ravenous Readers—Monday, August 20, 12 p.m., for kids entering grades 1-3. Please register.

·      Krafty Kids—Wednesdays, August 1, 15 and 22, 2:30 p.m.; best for kids entering grade 1 and up. Please register.

·      Big Ryan’s Tall Tales—Friday, August 3, 10:30 am, for families. Our favorite funny storyteller Big Ryan is back. He will use his puppets, storytelling ability, and sense of humor to enthrall audience members. Please register.

·      A Passion for Birds—Tuesday, August 7, 6:30 pm, for families (best with kids ages 5 and up). A Passion for Birds, presented by Henry Lappen, uses masks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the avian world. Participants learn how animals adapt to their environment, and why they look and act the way they do. More details can be found at http://henrylappen.com/bird_show. This program was funded by the Bellingham Cultural Council. Please register.

·      Buster the Teaching Bus—Wednesday, August 8, 10:30 a.m., for families. Buster loves to teach preschoolers and early-elementary students and campers about traffic safety. Buster will visit for approximately 30 minutes and leave education materials behind. Buster is presented by AAA Northeast. Please register.

·      Princess Sing-Along — Wednesday, August 8, 6:30 pm, for families. Meet and greet three different princesses tonight from Pretty as a Princess. In attendance will be Rapunzel, Cinderella and Belle. Listen to their stories and then get your photos taken with them. Please register.

·      What’s That Line—Thursday, August 9, 4:30 pm. Do you love to sing? Who knows, you might not even be singing the right words. We are going to play some famous songs from kids’ movies and stop them in the middle. We’ll see if you can figure out what the next line is. Bring family or friends for your team or join a team there. Please register.

·      Eyes on Owls—Tuesday, August 14, 2:30 pm, for families. Everyone loves owls. Join teacher/ naturalist Marcia Wilson and author/photographer/ naturalist Mark Wilson in sharing their passion for owls. Please register.

·      Family Feud—Wednesday, August 15, 6:30 pm, for families. Families go against families to see who knows the answers to the kid-friendly questions. Please register.

·      Music Video Makers—Thursday, August 16 and 23, 1:30 pm, for kids ages 7 and up. Work alone or with friends to create music videos. Day one of this two-day program will be spent preparing and practicing for your music video; day two will be spent performing while we videotape it. Please register.

·      Library Sleepover—Friday, August 17, 7:30 pm, for families. Have you ever said to yourself, “I wish I could sleep at the library like the librarians do?” Well, this is your chance. This sleepover will include movies, crafts, games, and lights out at midnight. (Each family must include an adult who is staying over as well.) The sleepover will begin at 7:30 pm, and end at 7:30 am. Please register.

·      Rainforest Reptiles—Monday, August 20, 6:30pm, for families. This dynamic RRS program is the most popular, with alligators, turtles and snakes from the neotropical rainforest to the subtropical rainforest of the world. If you have never experienced a Rainforest Reptile Shows program, this is the one for you. Please register.

·      Malik the Magic Guy—Thursday, August 23, 6:30 pm, for families. If you like magic, you’ll love Malik the Magic Guy. Malik is here to finish off our summer reading program with a comedy magic show about reading, among other things. Please register. Financial Fitne$$ for Everyone: Setting and Meeting your 2018 Financial Goals. Throughout the year we hope to encourage all Bellingham families to set 2 new financial goals for 2018 and look to the library for resources to help you meet those goals. This year we will offer programs on a variety of financial topics, including budgeting, retirement and estate planning, saving for college, and more. This program is made possible by a federal Institute of Museum & Library Services grant through the Library Services & Technology Act; the grant is administered through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Financial Programs for Kids.

·      The Price Is Right—Tuesday, August 21, 2:30 pm, for kids entering grades 3-7. Just like the game show, we will be guessing prices of everyday items in order to win prizes. Please register.

·      Camp Millionaire—Two two-day sessions—Wednesday and Thursday, August 8 and 9, from 2 to 3:30 pm, and Monday and Tuesday, August 27 and 28, from 10:30 am to 12 pm. This program is best for kids ages 9 and up. Do you love money? Would you like to learn more about how to make money? Come play this interactive game, full of fun and excitement. It is a two-day activity and participants must be able to attend both days. Please register.

Coming in September.

·      Buying a Home — Monday, September 24, at 6:30 pm. Buying a home? Learn all about the process from a panel of experts. The panel includes a real estate agent, home inspector, bank mortgage originator, and closing attorney. Please register. After School Programs:

·      The After-School Program for Teens (grades 6-12) will resume in the Teen Room on Wednesday, August 29. This program runs every day, 2—5 pm.

·      The ASK Program for grades 4–7 will resume in the Children’s Program Room on Tuesday, September 4. This program runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2:30—4:45 pm.

·      Hours vary on early release days and there are no programs on days when there is no school. For full information about the library afterschool programs, visit https://bit.ly/2zyACMX.

Regular Events for Children

·      Book Babies Playgroup—Monday, August 20, and Wednesdays, August 8, 15 and 22, at 9:15 am, for ages 0-23 months.

·      Crayon Box Story Time—Monday, August 20, and Thursdays, August 9, 16 and 23, at 10:30 am; best for ages 2-5. Please register.

·      Ring-A-Ding—Tuesdays & Fridays, August 10—August 24, at 10:05 and 10:50 am, for ages 0-5. Drop in.

·      Magic School Bus—Wednesdays, August 15, and 22, at 10:30 am, for ages 4-8. Watch a Magic School Bus video and do a related experiment/ craft/activity. Please register.

·      Picnic Stories—Wednesdays, August 8— August 22, at 12:30 pm, on the Town Common, weather permitting.

·      Build It Up—Wednesdays, August 8—August 22, 4–5 pm. Build with bricks, Legos®, and Magnatiles®. Drop in.

·      Babygarten—Wednesdays, August 8 and 15, at 4:30 pm, and Thursdays, August 9 and 16, at 11:45 am, for pre-walking babies. Please register.

Events for Adults

·       Book Discussion Group—Monday, August 6, at 6:30 pm. New members welcome, drop in. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara will be discussed. Group meets on the first Monday of the month and is facilitated by Reference Librarian Cecily Christensen.

·      Friends of the Library—Monday, August 6, at 7 pm. New and prospective members are invited.

·      Coloring for Adults—Monday, August 13, 6–7:30 pm. Meet new people and color for stress relief. One coloring page per person will be provided, or you can bring your own. Colored pencils and markers are also provided. Drop in.

·      Writer’s Group—Monday, August 13, at 6:30 pm. Please register.

·      Book a Librarian—Wednesdays, 5 and 5:45pm. These sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. A library staff member will give undivided attention to patrons who want in-depth help with a wide variety of library services.

·      Library Board of Trustees Meeting—Thursday, August 9, at 7 p.m. Open to the public.

·      Bellingham Skein Artists Adult Knitting Group—Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m. Drop-in 

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