By JEN BOUTIN

BCPL

Summer vacation is finally here and with it comes the start of the Summer Reading Program. The Boyle County Public Library has a robust line-up of exciting (and educational) summer events for library patrons of all ages.

The fun begins Monday, when the library hosts the annual Summer Reading Kick-Off Party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids will be able to play on inflatables and enjoy a snack. The party is also the first day people can pick up Summer Reading bags, which contain a reading log, a $10 fines voucher and local business coupons.

Summer reading is for kids, teens and adults, so all ages are welcome and encouraged to stop by and grab a summer reading bag.

The theme for this year’s program is “A Universe of Stories.” This theme was chosen because July 20 is the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Space-themed activities, virtual field trips, a sci-fi film series, a murder mystery and a writing workshop are included in the list of special events. Participants in summer reading can earn up to five free books, as well as earn a chance to win one of the grand prizes.

Special Summer Reading performances include The Mark Wood Fun Show, Inter-County Reptiles and Amphibians, Mr. Molecule, Lafferty Pike: Instrument Petting Zoo, and the Living Arts and Science Center’s Mobile Planetarium, all of which require free tickets that may be picked up 30 minutes before the start of each program on the day of the event.

The library will also host Honey Hill Farm Petting Zoo and Liberty Nature Center, which do not require tickets to attend.  In addition to these special events, children will be able to take part in the Summer Science Club, the Kid’s Book Club, Baby Lapsit, KidStir and Yoga for Kids.

Separate offerings for tweens (ages 9-13) include craft and STEM activities, a book club, an astronaut obstacle training course and “Trip to Mars,” a special, free ticketed, event hosted by Hummel Planetarium. Teens have many activities as well, including Alien Target Practice, a book club, and a Stranger Things-inspired Escape Room. Teens and tweens can also try to run an actual space program in the Kerbal Space Race.

Not leaving anyone out, the library is also offering two craft programs for adults, plus a sci-fi writing workshop for ages 16 and up where budding authors will write a speculative fiction short story and learn how to self-publish.

Murder mysteries and movies are always popular, so the library will be offering these as well. At the murder mystery, guests ages 13 and up will take on the role of detectives to solve a crime. The movie series will feature sci-fi films, including an original trilogy movie marathon set in a time long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

To round out the summer events, the library will also offer many all-ages activities, including Deep Sky Object Viewing, a War of the Worlds listening party, a moon viewing and an indoor drive-in where movie goers can decorate a cardboard box as a space shuttle then watch an animated film from the comfort of their own shuttle while snacking on popcorn.

In addition to these in-house programs, the Bookmobile will visit multiple locations throughout the community this summer in an effort to reach those who are unable to visit the Library. Each week, the outreach team will travel to offer free books and fun activities off-site, as well as provide books for the children to borrow.

This summer’s outreach locations are: Imperial Mobile Home Park, Salvation Army Day Camp, Forkland Community Center, Junction City Elementary School, Toliver Elementary School, Patrician Place, Shaker Point Apartments, Long Run Apartments, Bate-Wood Homes, Elmtree Apartments (Perryville) and Perryville Baptist Church. The bookmobile will also make an appearance at Main Street Live in June and July. More information about the summer reading program is available on the library’s website and in the calendar of events, which can be picked up in the library.

For more information, visit boylepublib.org.