BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Bucyrus Public Library is inviting community members of all ages to dive into summer with a packed schedule of reading programs and engaging activities. Barbara Scott, Children’s Service Manager, and Kolter Kiess, Youth Services Manager, highlighted the diverse offerings designed to keep learning and fun alive throughout the warmer months.
The annual summer reading program, sponsored significantly by the Friends of the Bucyrus Public Library and supported by a grant from the State Library of Ohio, runs from June 2 to July 12. This year’s theme, “Color Our World,” ties into various “process art” initiatives across all library departments.
For the youngest readers, the “preschool program” encourages children who haven’t finished kindergarten to read 10 books per week for six weeks. Participants earn a crock bracelet and charms, culminating in a McDonald’s Happy Meal certificate.
Kids in kindergarten through sixth grade can participate in a bingo card challenge, completing reading and other activities like walks or park visits. Finishing a bingo card earns a bracelet, charms, and entry into a drawing for 29 prizes, including toys, Legos, and games. Additionally, all K-6 sign-ups receive a popsicle stick to decorate for a community “popsicle stick quilt” to be assembled at summer’s end.
Special programs for children include a June 11 performance by Stevens Puppets featuring hand-carved marionettes in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Cole Potts from the Crawford Park District will present a program on camouflage, and Rocky River author Julie Ditchburn Patton will discuss her book, “Bigfoot is a Jerk,” later in June.
The library is also hosting unique “process art” painting programs at the library on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. Activities throughout June and July include painting with bubbles, straws, feathers, spray bottles, pool noodles, and squirt guns. The series culminates in a black light squishy art session. These programs are sponsored by Echo Trend Thrift Store.
Kolter Kiess detailed the “Level Up” program for teens in grades 6-12, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) initiative. Teens can earn prizes like a video projector, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and a mini-fridge by reading books or completing STEAM activities. These activities include learning to create ringtones with Logic Pro X, phone wallpapers with Photoshop, and stickers with Procreate. The library also offers free paper microscopes for at-home exploration.
The “Level Up” program has received substantial support from various sponsors, including the Community Foundation, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, the John Q. Shunk Association, the Friends of Bucyrus Public Library, the Ohio Afterschool Network, and the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, totaling an investment close to $100,000. The makerspace offers diverse opportunities, from 3D design to playing electric guitars and VR experiences.
Adults aged 18 and older can also participate in their own summer reading program from June 2 to July 12, tracking reading, attending programs, and completing weekly challenges for a chance to win grand prizes, including gift memberships, art supplies, and a 2000-piece Lego “Starry Night” kit. The adult program features a different free craft every week and over 20 programs, including workshops on cartoon creation with Earl Music, music in nature with Lisa Rainsong, and a book reading by Mansfield author Nick Reese Gardner.
Library staff emphasized that the Bucyrus Public Library offers more than just books, with a wide array of programs and resources for all ages.
For more information or to sign up for programs, visit the circulation desk, call the library, or visit bucyruslibrary.org. Updates and program details are also available on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages.