By Pam McCuen, Haley Neil, and Joanne Lee
Wayland Post Contributors
The Wayland Public Library begins its summer reading program on June 16. The library staff is offering three programs catering to different age groups — children, teens and adults. The program provides reading incentives and activities.
Children
This summer the theme is “play,” with a special focus on games and puzzles. When kids sign up, they’ll receive their very own Summer Reading Program lanyard. They can then track their reading online or on paper logs. If they show a children’s librarian their reading progress, they can earn buttons to decorate their lanyard. They’ll also have the chance to win fun prizes.
To kick off the Summer Reading Program, the library staff will host a magic show by Scott Martell on Wednesday, June 18. Other programming highlights include: the Dinosaurs Rock Fossil Adventure show, Animals of the Rainforest with Joy from Joys of Nature, a family concert with Rolie Polie Guacamole, the Toe Jam Puppet Band Show, a Giant Nail Salon, Chess Club, an Outdoor Weaving Extravaganza, Character Bingo, Irish Dancing, Minecraft crafts, and a life-size Chutes and Ladders game.
Teens
Teen/tween program highlights include Escape from the Terrible Thicket Escape Room, a DnD one shot, two Switch tournaments, an after-hours hide n’ seek, and a paint-along. Teens can track their reading online or on paper bingo sheets for the chance to win weekly raffle prizes. All participants are invited to an ice cream social on Thursday, August 14.
Adults
There will also be a Summer Reading Program just for adults. Pick up a bingo board at the library starting on June 16. If you complete a bingo square by reading a book, you’ll receive a ticket entry. If you complete a straight line of five squares on the bingo board and show it to a staff member, you’ll receive five additional tickets. Each week, there will be a ticket drawing for one winner to receive a $10 gift card to a local business. At the end of the program, there will be a grand ticket drawing for one lucky winner to receive a $50 gift card. The more bingo lines a reader completes throughout the summer, the higher the chance of winning a grand prize gift card.
The library is also offering a lineup of programs for adults. Events include puzzle swaps, trivia night, tabletop role-playing games, puzzle race, and more. In addition, there will be an end-of-summer reading Lawn Games & Ice Cream Celebration on Friday, August 15 at 2 p.m.
The Massachusetts Statewide Summer Reading Program is funded by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Additional funding for Wayland’s Summer Reading Program came from the Friends of the Wayland Free Public Library, the Wayland Cultural Council, and the Arthur Ashley Williams Foundation.
