June is here, and that means that our annual Summer Reading Program is about to kick into high gear, with hundreds of events, programs, camps and classes for kids and adults. Just like last year, all programs are virtual, so you can participate from the comfort of your own home. Learn to design a logo using Illustrator or a video game with Unity, with the help of our Melrose Center instructors. Join BizKids Club Online or explore the world using Google Earth. Learn to make loom bracelets, learn about the work of Temple Grandin or celebrity pets. And most importantly: Don’t forget to read!
One of the highlights of this year’s Summer Reading Program for kids is that we have so many amazing prizes to give away to those to participate in our reading challenge. Kids can sign up and log their reading in one of our reading trackers, then turn them in by July 31 for a chance to win bicycles, science kits, laptops and more. We are grateful to Window World of Central Florida for generously donating these prizes, which will be a fantastic incentive for kids to read and learn all summer long.
We’re also grateful to Duke Energy for awarding us a grant to help us reach more families in areas hardest hit by COVID-19 with information about our Summer Reading Program. Duke is helping us to enroll more children in our Summer Reading Program reading challenge from branches where enrollment was down in 2020 due to the pandemic. We’re so lucky to have the support of community partners like Duke and Window World to help us make our Summer Reading Program the biggest and best free program available to kids this summer!
As we point out every year, Summer Reading isn’t just for kids – adults can exercise their brains and expand their imaginations with us this summer, too, with reading challenges, virtual activities and classes. Earn badges by reading, writing book reviews and participating in virtual challenges. For each badge you earn, you’ll get a ticket for our end-of-summer prize drawing, where you can win gift certificates to local businesses like Foxtail Coffee, Miller’s Ale House and more.
June also marks Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. Celebrate Pride at the library with crafts and events that both celebrate our LGBTQ+ community and acknowledge the struggles they face every day. Learn about the history of Pride and find out more about our Pride events here.
Additionally The Friends of the Orange County Library System and The Center have partnered for a Pride Book Sale all month long. Proceeds from this sale benefit The Friends of the Orange County Library System.
