Submitted by Timberland Regional Library
Timberland Regional Library’s Summer Library Program happening June 1-August 31 offers a summer of reading, exploring, creating and learning though activities, unique items for checkout, educational resources, and of course, books.
“Timberland Regional Library’s (TRL) Summer Library Program (SLP) is about more than reading, it’s about exploring nature and our imagination, creating crafts and new opportunities, and learning about new things and about ourselves, says Jessica Friberg, Timberland Regional Library district manager – youth and family services.
“We are excited to be part of summer plans for many local families through activities that can be enjoyed by all ages, as well as our wide and varied selection of print, digital and audio books,” Friberg shares. There will still be a variety of programs offered online through Zoom and Take-N-Make activity kits available for pickup at some locations.
Participating in the program is also a great educational tool for parents and their kids, Friberg says. “Participating in library activities and events over the summer is a fantastic way to help reduce summer learning loss in kids, a phenomenon that happens when the skills students learn during the school year are lost or forgotten over the summer,” she adds.
Activities that are a part of TRL’s Summer Library Program keep kids engaged in learning and keep their minds stimulated, Friberg says. “We are especially looking forward to another year of StoryTrails at locations across our five counties, and to start bringing back in-person programs for children, teens and adults,” she continues.
StoryTrails are one of the many activities offered by TRL that are active and encourage participants to experience nature in the surrounding parks and across Washington.
To take part in the Summer Library Program, library goers of all ages can visit any one of the 29 TRL locations in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties to receive a free book and an activity log.
Participants can track their TRL Summer Library Program activities on their paper log or digitally through the Timberland Library website or after downloading the Beanstack app.
Once 10 activities are completed, submit your digital log online or turn in your paper log and receive a certificate of completion and, while supplies last, a second free book.
Some of the activities that are part of the TRL Summer Reading Program include:
StoryTrails. Participants can walk a local trail and read a picture book as a fun and engaging way to combine a love of nature and a love of reading. Visit the TRL website for a list of locations and more information.
Take-’N-Make activity bags. These crafts, to be created at home, include supplies and directions and are available for a variety of ages at selected locations while supplies last.
Zoom Storytimes. Anyone, anywhere can join our expert story time providers and other families live on Zoom. Check out Family Storytime and Bilingual Time/La hora bilingüe to find story times in English and Spanish.
Library of Things. Patrons can check out and explore unique natural environments throughout Washington, test a product or take up a new hobby with items from TRL’s Library of Things collections.
Youth and Senior Connect Boxes. These tubs are filled with 55-70 books that are available for loan to community centers, health care agencies, before- and after-school programs, head start locations, preschools, daycare centers, day camps and youth groups.
Grab Bag. Patrons can share what they love to read, listen to or watch, and library staff will put together a library grab bag of personalized materials. A grab bag form is available online and grab bags can be created for all ages and reading levels.
Some locations will also have in-person programs available on site, a change from the past two years. In-person programming for TRL has been on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friberg adds that a variety of programs will continue to be offered online through Zoom.
Those interested in the Summer Library Program can visit the Timberland Regional Library website for a full list of summer activities for all ages. They also can download an activity log or the Beanstack app from below:
SLP Activity Log English Color
SLP Activity Log Spanish Color
SLP Activity Log English BW
SLP Activity Log Spanish BW
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