Fun-filled July wraps up summer reading at Manchester District Library

submitted by Quintessa Gallinat, Manchester District Library

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

This year’s Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program is in full swing, and it’s not too late to register. There are events, activities, challenges, and prizes for all ages, so be sure to visit the library before July 21 to learn how you can get involved!

Manchester District Library CLOSED
Saturday, July 2, and Monday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday | regular hours resume Tuesday, July 5

Metal Detecting with The Manchester Metal Detectorists
Saturday, July 9 | 9:30am | Watkins Lake State Park
All metal detectorists are welcome to join our club meeting at Watkins State Park. We will meet in the parking lot for donuts at 9:30am then proceed to metal detect the trail past the flag. Please note that we are restricted from detecting in the parking lot and around the flag pole because it is a historical site. You are encouraged to bring water for the hike and bags to carry your finds.

Sea Glass Art
Tuesday, June 12 | 6:30pm | Teen Spot
Make art out of sea glass and seashells. Registration required; recommended for ages 11+.

NEW DAY! MDL Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, July 14 | 7pm | Village Council Chambers
The MDL Board of Trustees will now meet on the second Thursday of each month. The MDL Board 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.

Maker Night
Thursdays, July 14 & July 28 | 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.

Adult Book Club, Summer Edition
Wednesday, June 20 | 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.

Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Finale
Thursday, July 21 | 4:30pm | MDL Back Lawn
Hip, hip, hooray! Join us to celebrate summer reading with a foam tent, ice cream social, and a live animal show!

Under the Sea with the Sloan Museum
Saturday, July 23 | 11am | Village Room
How deep is the ocean? What does it look like under all that water? What types of living things make the ocean their home? Let’s explore what lies beneath the surface while building a model of ocean zones, investigating ocean floor features and marine habitats. Recommended for ages 4–12.

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, a themed story time and crafts session, recommended for pre-K–2nd grade meets Tuesdays at 11am

• July 12 — Science :: Learn and play with a beach in a box.

• July 19 — Ocean :: Listen to ocean stories and make your very own tactile Ocean in a Bag.

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

Super Sharks, themed crafts and adventures, meets weekly, Thursdays at 1pm, except July 7. Recommended for 3rd–5th grade.

• July 14 — Sharks :: Assist in creating a Manchester Library Shark.

• July 21 — Coral Reefs :: Learn what you can do to help save these vital ecosystems.

TINA (This Is Not A) Book Club: An open book discussion, crafts, and games. Meets weekly, Tuesdays at 4pm, except July 5. 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. Recommended for 5th–8th grade; registration required.

High School Book Club: A shared book discussion, meets monthly, 3rd Tuesdays at 6:30pm. Join Ms Stacia in the Teen Spot this summer to talk about each month’s book and eat snacks. Recommended for 9th–12th grade; registration required.

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.

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by Sara Swanson

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