Summer Reading and much more at Manchester District Library

submitted by Manchester District Library

Manchester District Library (MDL) will offer a variety of events and activities for all ages during June, including the launch of the 2022 Summer Reading program.

Library staff have been hard at work creating programs and decorations that embrace this year’s Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program theme. There will be events, activities, challenges, and prizes for all ages, so be sure to visit the library on or after June 10 to learn how you can get involved!

MDL Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, June 2 | 7pm | Village Council Chambers
The MDL Board of Trustees is an all-volunteer governing body made up of two members from each of the library’s participating service areas: Manchester Village, Manchester Township, Bridgewater Township, and Freedom Township. Trustees create and oversee library policies, administer the budget, and set the strategic plan. Members of the public are welcome to attend the monthly meetings.

Book Donation Day (Friends of the Library)
Saturday, June 4 | 10am-12pm | Village Room
Come donate your gently-used books to the Friends of the Library Book Sale; proceeds benefit the library. Popular fiction and non-fiction books for all ages are welcome. We strongly recommended parking and entering the building from the back parking lot.

Detectorist Club
Wednesdays, June 8 & June 29 | 4pm | MDL
Join Ms Angela for an informational meeting of a new group that will meet twice a month during the summer and fall. Talk about Michigan metal detecting opportunities and rules, materials/tools required, and activities for the next meeting. MDL will have 5 metal detectors available for checkout. As the group forms, help plan outings to metal detect together during the season and share discoveries with the group. Recommended for ages 8-14.

Adult Book Club, Summer Edition
Wednesday, June 15 | 6pm | location TBD
Summertime is when the Adult Book Club meets to discuss what members are reading independently and collect suggestions for the upcoming season’s books. Weather-allowing, outdoor meetings may be planned, so location is TBD; final location will be posted to the MDL Event Calendar and on the MDL Facebook page the week of the meeting.

Maker Night
Thursdays, June 9 & June 23 | 6:30pm | Village Room
Makers in all mediums are invited to bring their latest project and get inspiration from other participants. This is a great opportunity for beginners to get help from experienced practitioners or for small groups to work together on creative interests. At this time, participants are requested to wear masks at these events to protect vulnerable members of our community.

Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Kickoff Party
Friday, June 10 | noon-2pm | Chi-Bro Park
Register for summer reading and get your registration goody bag. Stay for games, live music, and pictures with mermaids, plus a visit from the Musgrove and Company coffee cart. Outdoor events are subject to change due to weather conditions; check the MDL Facebook page for updates.

DIY Clay Earrings
Friday, June 17 | 2pm | Village Room
Learn with Julie of Lucie Lemons and go home with your very own pair of hand-crafted earrings. Registration required; recommended for ages 11+.

Yoga with Exhale Yoga
Thursday, June 23 | 1pm | Chi-Bro Park
Join Miss Anna from Exhale Yoga for an awesome outdoor yoga class. All you need is a mat and yourself! Recommended for ages 12+.

Ocean Bingo
Tuesday, June 28 | 7pm | MDL Teen Spot
Play bingo and win ocean themed prizes, including Swedish fish, goldfish, whales, pirate treasure, and more! Recommended for ages 11-18, but all are welcome.

RECURRING PROGRAMS

Regular Family Story Time is going on break for the summer. Check out special Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Programs below for options from preschool through high school. All programs are held at the Manchester District Library unless otherwise noted.

Ragin’ Rays
themed story time & crafts | Tuesdays at 11am | recommended for pre-K – 2nd grade

• June 14 – Art :: Create egg carton whales and dolphin bookmarks.
• June 21 – Active :: Learn yoga moves that match our stories.
• June 28 – Food :: Make your very own fish food at this special outdoor session at Chi-Bro Park.

Young Readers Book Club
open book discussion | weekly, Tuesdays at 2pm beginning June 7 | recommended for 2nd-4th grade | registration required
Pick one book to read each week and then share what you read with friends!

Super Sharks
themed crafts & adventures | weekly, Thursdays at 1pm | recommended for 3rd-5th grade

• June 16 – Recycled Art :: Be part of the solution to ocean pollution! Create something new and beautiful from materials that would normally be thrown away. The program is inspired by the work the nonprofit Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea.
• June 23 – Pond Exploration :: Ms Kate will lead an outdoor adventure to explore the nature train and pond at Chi-Bro Park. Be sure to dress appropriately for the great outdoors!
• June 30 – Fishing for Food :: Living on a peninsula, it is no surprise that fishing is a popular activity all year round. So, let’s do a bit of fishing in the library and make a yummy fishy snack too. (Don’t worry, we won’t use real fish!)

TINA (This Is Not A) Book Club
open book discussion, crafts, & games | weekly, Tuesdays at 4pm beginning June 28 | recommended for 5th-8th grade | registration required
TINA is not your average book club. Choose a new book to read each week from a genre picked at random, then come hang out, talk about your book, create a themed craft, and play trivia.

High School Book Club
shared book discussion | monthly, Tuesdays at 6:30 starting June 21 | recommended for 9th-12th grade | registration required
Join Ms Stacia in the Teen Spot this summer to talk about each month’s book and eat snacks. The June book selection will be available to pick up from the library June 7-14.

Outdoor events are subject to change due to weather conditions; check the MDL Facebook page for updates. No recurring Tuesday programs will be held on July 5, 2022.

Manchester District Library (MDL) is proud to serve the Village of Manchester, Manchester Township, Bridgewater Township, and Freedom Township. Village of Clinton and Clinton Township residents are also eligible for MDL library cards and welcome to use all MDL resources.

Manchester District Library hours are Monday-Wednesday 10am-8pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-6pm, and Saturday 10am-2pm. The most up-to-date hours and the latest news are always available on the MDL website.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.