Something For Everyone This Summer at the Libraries, Even Books
Avalon Free Public Library
The Avalon Free Public Library will be a community hub for culture, literature, and fun this summer. From symphony to Storytime and everything in between, the library will keep residents and visitors entertained and engaged. Here is a preview of a few of the exciting events and activities that you’ll find at the Avalon Library this summer.
Open House
The fun kicks off with the library’s 3rd Annual Open House & Story Book Bash on June 23 from 10am-1pm. “We will have kids’ activities, giveaways, program demonstrations, and light refreshments,” says Library Director Erin Brown. Additionally, library staff will provide a fun demonstration of online resources. And the Avalon Performing Arts Council art show will be going on at the adjoining school. “It’s really a chance for patrons who might be curious to stop by and get a sense of what’s going on at the library this summer,” Brown adds. “All in all, the open house is a fun day for families to come in and explore a community center.”
Summer Reading Program
To keep the whole family reading this summer, the library will offer a summer reading program for every age group. Yes, every single age group. “We’re doing it for all ages this year,” says Brown. “Adults, teens and kids, including babies, can participate.”
Additionally, summer reading is not limited to full-time or long-term summer residents. “It’s a pretty accessible program,” says Brown. “We frame it in a way that allows even weekly visitors to the island to participate, win some prizes, and have a good experience.”
To be a part of the summer reading program, you just need to sign up and start reading. While the open house tends to be a big day for people to sign up, patrons can begin registering as early as May 25. Then, just start reading. “Every week you read a book, you are eligible to get a small prize from the treasure chest,” explains Brown. “At the end of the summer, if you’ve logged all of those books, we’ll take the highest readers in a variety of age ranges and they will get an additional prize.”
Children’s Activities
The library has an ambitious calendar for kids this summer. “Starting Monday, June 25, through Friday, Aug. 31, we’ll be offering a kids’ program every weekday,” says Brown. The weeks will follow a structured schedule that makes it easy to participate and no advance registration is necessary.
“Monday Funday” events will begin at 10am. “We’ll have an assortment of special events, music performances, special crafts, and things like that every Monday,” explains Brown.
Tuesdays and Thursdays will feature Storytime, which will always be accompanied by a craft. In addition, the recreation department will also offer a mini-event on Tuesdays and Thursdays following Storytime. “It’s not a library thing, but of course we always invite people to hang around after Storytime for the recreation department’s events, which are almost like school assembly programs,” Brown says. “They have obstacle courses, tie-dye days, and things like ocean shows, where they’ll have an underwater petting zoo.”
Wednesdays will be Library LEGO Days at 10am. “You can drop in and have some structured or free LEGO fun,” says Brown. “We have found that kids really like to be creative, so rather than give them a challenge, we like to let them interact with each other and build together.”
Fridays will be Video Game Days and will kick off at 11am. Kids can come in and play the Nintendo Switch on the big screen.
Children’s events are great opportunities for all the kids in the family. “We will accept virtually all ages,” says Brown. “We try to be as free form as possible. We’ll see a 2-year-old at an event all the way to 12- and 13-year-olds, who are there because of younger siblings. We try to make it as accessible to all ages as possible. For example, on LEGO days, we’ll have DUPLOs there for the little ones. We’re really lucky that the community is thrilled that these events are happening and they’re all flexible and happy and it all works.”
Summer Author Series
One of the centerpieces for adult programming will be the Summer Author Series. “We’re kicking it off in July with a series of New York Times best-selling authors,” says Brown.
First up will be library favorites Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella, on July 11 at 7pm. Scottoline and Serritella will discuss their latest collection of essays, “I See Life Through Rose Colored Glasses.” While Scottoline is best known as a mystery writer, she is also a funny and prolific essayist. She and her daughter have an uncanny ability to elicit both laughter and tears from readers and always entertain and amuse live audiences with raucous tales and self-deprecating stories.
The next week, Erik Larson, the author of five national best-sellers, will appear on July 18 at 7pm. Larson, who writes historical nonfiction, is perhaps best known for his Edgar Award-winning book, “The Devil in the White City,” about the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and a series of murders that were committed in the city around the time.
The author series will wrap up on July 25 at 7pm with an appearance by mystery novelist J.A. Jance. The author of more than 50 novels, Jance writes at least three series that feature popular characters such as retired Seattle Police Det. J.P Beaumont, Arizona County Sheriff Joanna Brady, and former Los Angeles news anchor Ali Reynolds.
“We’re thrilled to have such a wide range of authors this summer,” says Brown. “We know how much our patrons enjoy connecting with their favorite authors and it’s a great opportunity for us to have these events.”
Bay Atlantic Symphony
With three programs on the schedule, the Bay Atlantic Symphony has a little something for everyone this summer.
“Music and the Movies” will be the theme of its July 22 concert. “The concert will feature a variety of pieces of music that were mostly composed for film or classical pieces that were used within film. We’re really excited about it,” says Brown.
The symphony will return with a more traditional concert, “Mozart and Beethoven – The Classical Classics,” on Saturday, Aug. 18.
And for the first time ever, the Bay Atlantic Symphony will be doing a smaller-scale program for children. On July 9 at 10am, the symphony will perform “Peter and the Wolf” for the kids during the “Monday Funday” event.
History
Avalon’s rich history will come alive with a series of presentations by the experts from the Avalon History Center. Told in three parts, the programs will be held at the History Center, each starting at 6pm. The first event, on July 17, will cover the history of Avalon from the 19th century to 1939. The second event, on July 31, will cover 1939 to 1962. And the final event, on Aug. 14, will cover 1963 to the present.
Brown is excited about the scale and depth of these events. “It’s going to be really fun,” she says. “The history center has three presenters and they’re building these programs in-house using their vast resources.”
Not to mention …
In addition to all of these events and activities, the library has a vast selection of books, e-books and periodicals to keep the whole family reading all summer. Patrons can also borrow movies, videos, Blu-ray players and “Discovery Kits,” which are interactive learning kits to introduce new concepts and activities such as bridge, coloring for meditation, and even a murder mystery party pack. Also, the library hosts several groups on a weekly or monthly basis including an assortment of book clubs, a knitting group, an Italian culture group, and a Scrabble club.
For more information including a full schedule of events, registration requirements, hours, and contact information, call the library at 609-967-7155 or go to the Avalon Free Public Library website, www.avalonfreelibrary.org.
Stone Harbor Library
Stone Harbor Library
The Stone Harbor Library is celebrating a second season in its state-of-the-art facility with a full calendar of events and activities for the summer of 2018. From classes to get you moving, to programs that will make you pause and reflect, there will be a little bit of everything to keep the whole family entertained, educated and enlightened.
Exercise
Throughout the summer, you can escape the heat and get some exercise in the library’s large, light-filled exercise space. Yoga will be offered in three forms. “We’ve got yoga covered,” says Karen Johnson, director of adult programming for Cape May County Library system. Chair Yoga (Mondays at 3:30pm) is the gentlest form of yoga, designed to safely encourage movement. Yoga for Beginners (Tuesdays at 3pm) is a slightly more vigorous discipline but still suitable for those new to yoga or looking for a restorative workout. Finally, Pilates Yoga (Wednesdays at 9:30am) combines the best of yoga with the rigor and discipline of Pilates for a full-body workout. Additionally, the ever-popular Zumba Gold class will be offered every Saturday at 10am.
Memoirs
A cross between a book club and a memoir-writing class, the Memoir Workshop will meet on Thursdays at 1pm throughout the summer. Led by Jim Talone, an award-winning teacher with more than 45 years’ experience, the memoir workshop will include some instruction and a lot of sharing as participants learn how to craft their stories into a fascinating, personal memoir. “It’s a group of people meeting by the fireplace, sharing their memoirs and learning how to write memoirs,” says Johnson.
History
A cruel chapter in history will be examined in “The Nanking Massacre,” presented by Robert Holden, senior adjunct professor of history at Atlantic Cape Community College. Holden’s illuminating program will reveal the truth of the invasion of what was then the capital of the Republic of China by Japanese troops in the Second Sino-Japan War and what came afterwards.
Art
Popular instructor Julia Mills will be running a six-week course titled “Exploring Colors with Acrylic and/or Oils” on Mondays at 10am from June 25 to July 30.
Mills is a K-12 art teacher with a master’s degree in fine art, and a perennial favorite with library patrons. (The art classes always require advance registration and a materials list will be available online.)
Not So Silent Film
In a creative collaboration between the Center for the Community Arts and the Cape May Film Society, the library will be hosting a very special screening of the highly influential silent horror film “Nosferatu” on July 2 at 5:30pm. “They’re going to bring in actors to do the voices and they’re going to bring in a cheesy piano, too,” Johnson says with a laugh. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Spiritually Speaking
After a blockbuster appearance at the library last summer, spiritual medium RoseMarie Rubinetti Cappiello will be back in July to share her unique talents. On July 19 at 6pm, she will present her popular “Speaking from the Spirit” program, in which she will discuss her personal journey to becoming a medium as well as her book, “Speaking from Spirit: Inspiring Stories and Messages from those Who Have Passed On.” She will also “make connections” for some members of the audience.
“People love RoseMarie,” Johnson says. “You can be skeptical and walk in and still enjoy it. If you’re a believer, you’re going to flip your lid over her. Last year, she was apparently amazing in pulling out information that was absolutely true for so many people – including one of our staff members.”
Children’s Programs
The centerpiece of children’s programming will once again be the summer reading program. This year’s theme will be “Libraries Rock!”, which can incorporate everything from music to archaeology and promotes the idea that libraries are as fun as they are educational.
The summer reading program combines reading incentives and prizes with fun, interactive weekly events at the branch. This summer events will be held at the Stone Harbor branch every Wednesday at 2pm from June 20 to Aug. 8 (with the exception of the July 4; that week’s event be held July 5). Events are free and open to the public. While children don’t need to be part of the summer reading program to participate in an event, only children who bring in a reading log are eligible to receive the weekly prize.
The summer fun kicks off the first week with a registration celebration event, where kids can come in and register for the summer reading club, set their reading goals, and enjoy crafts and activities. “We’re going to have a gigantic banner there for the kids to help decorate that we’re going to be hanging in front of the branch for the duration of the summer,” says Vicki Wright, head children’s librarian for the Cape May County Library system.
The next week, ScienceTellers will be at the library. “Joe Piccirillo from ScienceTellers is fantastic,” says Wright. “He’s going to be performing science experiments as he’s telling a story. He’s hilarious and has a lot of audience participation.”
Animals will be the focus when Steve Serwatka appears for a “New Jersey Nature” event. A prolific animal rescuer, Serwatka will be bringing in some of the animals that he has saved. Says Wright: “He’ll talk to the kids about each of the animals and their different characteristics. He lets the kids touch the animals if it’s safe. So, the kids won’t touch the alligator! But they are usually allowed to play with the turtles.”
The following week, Mr. Jon will bring a lively mix of music, dancing, and stories. A Parents’ Choice Award-winning musician, Mr. Jon sings and encourages families to get up and dance. “He’s a really great performer,” says Wright.
For a unique storytelling experience, Family Stages will present “The Jungle Book.” In their 45-minute presentation, two actors will act out the entire show. “They’re constantly changing costumes,” Wright explains. “It’s really fun and absolutely fantastic to watch.”
Another Parents Choice Award winner, Miss Nina, will be performing her music with the theme “Rap, Rock and Read.” “She is going to be singing, dancing, and reading stories. She’s an all-around performer,” says Wright.
Hampstead Stage Company returns to the library with a live performance of American folktales and songs. “They’re going to be performing a play about two men who meet up in the wilderness and they tell each other stories and sing songs to make the night go by faster until they can be on their way in the morning,” Wright explains.
Returning to the animal theme, Magician Steve Woyce will round out the summer performances with a show called “The Magic of Sharks.” “I’m really excited about this,” says Wright. “The kids are going to learn a lot about sharks while Steve does illusions and tricks to illustrate the magic of sharks.”
The summer reading program comes to an end with a grand-finale event on Aug. 15 at 10am at the Sea Isle City library. “We’re going to have an end-of-summer celebration carnival,” Wright says. “We’ll have a lot of activities and crafts, and Miss Mary, one of our librarians, will be doing an extra-large version of her dance party, among other fun performances.”
With all the fun and excitement, the focus on reading is never lost at the library.
“We do a summer reading club because there is such a thing as the summer slump,” says Wright. “Studies have shown that the students actually lose 30 percent of what they’ve learned during the school year over the summertime. Yet, we have seen that summer reading initiatives can actually increase students’ test scores. So, the summer reading program is a fantastic way to keep students’ brains active so that when they get back into the school they’re ready to go again. Also – we just love making sure that we keep reading as fun as possible!”
For more information about these programs, go the Cape May County Library website at cmclibrary.org.
