As temperatures in the Valley reach triple digits this month, the local public libraries are a perfect place to cool down and have fun. The Turlock, Denair and Keyes Libraries are offering a number of free programs this July, ranging from activities for small children to adventurous discussions for adults.
The fun will begin at the Turlock Library with Turlock Teens Talk Books at 3 p.m. on Saturday. This program provides teens with the opportunity to discuss their favorite books and find new book recommendations.
The library’s weekly Creative Writing Club for teens will be held at 11 a.m. on Mondays. Teens ages 13 to 18 will have the opportunity to write fiction, poetry and more in a creatively safe environment. Teens will explore different types of literature while collaborating with peers who share a similar passion for writing.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Works: Tangrams will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Following a reading of “Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes” by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, children will explore different shapes and play with tangrams, recreating designs and patterns on preprinted paper. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children four and under must have direct parental supervision.
The Turlock Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Participants will discuss “Leaving Family Behind” by Jerome Peterson. For more information, please contact the Turlock Library Reference Desk at 664-8100.
Ages eight and up can visit the library to make personalized buttons at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Crafters can bring in pictures, draw their own design or use the library’s pre-printed images to make their buttons.
A Teddy Bear Sleepover will be held at 4 p.m. on July 11. Children are invited to bring their teddy bears to the library for a story, after which the teddy bears are invited to spend the night at the library. Teddy Bears will be ready to be picked up the following morning.
Community members are invited to participate in the Sherlock Holmes Book Discussion Challenge at 6:30 p.m. on July 11, 18 and 25. Participants will discuss three of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short stories. On July 11, the group will discuss “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle,” and on July 18 “The Red-Headed League” will be discussed. The final discussion on July 25 will focus on “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” This program is recommended for ages 18 and older, and advance registration is required. Please call Diane at 664-8100 for more information and to learn how to acquire a copy of the stories.
Children can explore color and create art with a Golf Ball Painting craft at 4 p.m. on July 12, where they will use golf balls as paintbrushes. Participants under the age of four must have direct parental supervision.
Magic Dan will perform two free shows at the library at 3 and 4 p.m. on July 13. Children and their families are invited to enjoy this free magic show.
The Turlock Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. on July 13. The Teen Advisory Board offers teens the opportunity to earn community service credit while sharing their ideas on teen library programs and books. For more information, please call 664-8100.
Children and families can visit the Turlock Library at 10 a.m. on July 14 for a special appearance by the Turlock Police Department. A Lieutenant from the Turlock Police Department will read a story and talk to children and their families about safety. The Turlock Police K-9 unit will also be on hand to introduce their newest member of the police family. A regular Preschool Story Time will be held inside the library at 11 a.m. All ages are welcome; however, children under the age of four must have direct parental supervision.
All ages are invited to a Harry Potter Party at 4 p.m. on July 19. Harry Potter crafts and games will be available. Children under the age of four must have direct parental supervision.
Teens can make marble magnets at 4 p.m. on July 20. Stickers and LEGO images will be available for use in designing the magnets. This program is recommended for ages eight and up.
Children are invited to build and play with LEGOs at 4 p.m. on July 26. Children under the age of four are welcome to participate, however, they must have direct parental supervision.
The library will offer a Paper Airplane Craft at 4 p.m. on July 27. Participants can test their paper airplane making skills, and books on paper airplanes will be on display and available for use during the program.
The Creative Writing Club for Teens, Golf Ball Painting, the Harry Potter Party and LEGO Day are sponsored by the Friends of the Turlock Library. The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. in Turlock. For more information on Turlock Library programs, please contact the Turlock Library Branch Supervisor, Diane Bartlett, at 664-8100.
The Denair Library will also join in on the July fun, offering a wide variety of activities beginning with a unique room decoration for adults at the library at 3 p.m. on July 9. Participants will design and create decorative light switch covers using provided craft supplies. Crafters can choose to paint or decoupage their light switch covers. Individuals are welcome to bring their own images to use; however, the library will also supply images for the craft.
The “Superhero Gadgets” program will take place at 3 p.m. on July 14. Tweens and teens can visit the library to make catapults and pom shooters.
Children can build their own skyscrapers out of marshmallows at 3 p.m. on July 15. This program will encourage participants to engage their imaginations while building basic engineering skills. Teens and tweens can also visit the library for a Button and Magnet Craft at 3 p.m. on July 21. Crafters can make decorative glass marble magnets or use the library’s button maker to design a unique pin, and finished products may be taken home.
In keeping with the Summer Reading theme of “Every Hero Has a Story,” children visiting the Denair Library will have the opportunity to make a craft that celebrates an everyday hero at 3 p.m. on July 22. Children will use craft materials to make their own firefighter. This craft is sponsored by the Friends of the Denair Library.
Teens are invited to learn how to incorporate science into a craft at 3 p.m. on July 28 where they will make a paper box that lights up from the inside by creating a simple circuit with copper tape. Children can learn how to organize their sticker collections by creating their own sticker books at 3 p.m. on July 29. Stickers placed in this sticker book will be easy to remove and use. This craft is sponsored by the Friends of the Denair Library.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Road in Denair. For more information, please contact the Denair Library at 634-1283.
