ONE FOR THE BOOKS

Summer library programs help boost reading and creativity

Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-born industrialist and philanthropist, funded many public libraries in the United States because he believed everyone should have access to books and literacy, not just the wealthy. He built 1,700 libraries across the nation before his death in 1919. In this digital age, we sometimes forget the vital role libraries play in our society, beyond just being a place to borrow books. Libraries are vibrant community hubs, offering programming and special events free of charge. 

‘Color Our World’
Summer is the perfect time to engage with your library. With schools out of session, libraries offer a plethora of fun and free programming for children and adults alike. Research shows that children who read for pleasure in the summer do better and forget less when they go back to school. And it’s not just in reading. Kids who don’t read over the summer can slide backward in all subject areas. This means the summer months and other breaks from school offer great opportunities for families and caregivers to encourage academic success. 

Once again, local libraries, including Roanoke and Bedford, have collaborated with the national nonprofit Collaborative Summer Library Program and the Library of Virginia to launch this year’s theme: “Color Our World.” The program is designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic expressions. 

Roanoke libraries
Amber Lowery, Assistant Director of Youth and Family Services, has planned summer programming showcasing local talent and institutions. “We really pride ourselves by using local Roanoke Valley artists, agencies and grassroots resources. Our programming allows people to feel proud of their community. I believe we are a gem. Roanoke loves its libraries.” 

They are collaborating with the Taubman Museum of Art and the Mo Willems “Opposites Attract” exhibit coming to Art Venture to provide hands-on experiences exploring color, shape and sculpture. They will also be partnering with Mill Mountain Theatre to engage with the musical “Rainbow Fish” and inspire original artwork. Other local headliners include Touch A Truck, Little Critters Petting Zoo, The Larsen Family Reptile Show, Science Heroes, Mill Mountain Zoo, We Throw Foam from Lynchburg and Circus Adventure from Floyd. A special Smash Brothers Tournament is set for July 17, during which competitors can win a gaming system or large gift card prizes donated by local businesses. To reach families, there will be evening programs including Father’s Day photography in June. 

Roanoke public libraries offer an invaluable community resource: Read & Feed. They provide lunch and a snack at all six branches twice a day all year round. Partnering with Feeding Southwest Virginia, they provided more than 56,000 meals in 2024. In the summer, they offer kids’ farmers markets where they can use play money to buy fresh produce with recipes. This will happen 10 times over the summer at all six branches.

Bedford libraries
For Cassandra Baldwin, Bedford Public Library’s Youth Programming Director, who serves six different branches, planning for the summer is one of the best parts of her job. “I get so excited when I present to the Board in the spring!” she says. 

Many of the programs and classes will cater toward art and creativity. Do Art Productions — a nonprofit whose mission is to “inspire creativity within everybody” — will be leading a comic book workshop. There will be a teen art night at the Bedford library and painting at the Forest and Moneta branches. Other popular programs that will be returning are The Larsen Family Reptile Show out of Waynesboro, Heritage Apiary’s Honey Bee Outreach out of Blue Ridge and Farmer Minor and his beloved pot-bellied pig Daisy hailing from Bristol, Connecticut. 

Children of all ages are invited to join a long-standing reading challenge where they will register, read books of choice and do outside activities. The age groups for this challenge are 0-5, 6-11 and 12-17 years old. Participants can earn badges and win raffle tickets to enter for the grand prizes from local community businesses and restaurants, such as Sonic and Golden Corral. The libraries use the Beanstack platform (beanstack.com) for tracking, but paper logs are still an option. 

A library card is your free ticket to all events this summer. It’s simple to get one: present a valid photo ID and proof of current address. Make a weekly trip to your local branch a priority to ensure a fun, educational and inspiring summer. ✦