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It's an especially busy time of year at the Marshalltown Public Library. In addition to its own programs and events, the library plays host to several local youth groups who make the building a stop during their day.
"It's always busy here," said Youth Services Librarian Joa LaVille.
Over 1,200 youth are participating in this year's "Build a Better World" summer reading program, which is aimed at building and maintaining a child's literacy skills.
Participants earn points by stamping point logs when they stop by the library's youth services desk. Points are earned through reading books and magazines, having books read to them, and listening to audio books. Points must be spent by the time school starts on August 23.
"Kids are starting to trade-in their points for prizes, and it's fun to see what they're excited about getting," LaVille said.
In addition to the reading component of this program, participants can attend storytime and free activities and demonstrations.
On Thursday, July 13, Eastern Apicultural Society Master Beekeeper Andy Joseph will be on hand to provide two free programs entitled "Bees Build a Better World," whereby he will offer hands-on activities. School-aged youngsters may attend the 11 a.m. session, while the 2 p.m. program is geared toward adults. Live bees in an observation hive will be brought in, as well as equipment and gear used by the beekeeper.
A new summer activity this year is Juega y Aprende = Bilingual Storytime, hosted by Maria Lovin, Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. She shares stories, songs and fingerplays in Spanish and English. It's free to attend, open to all kids and their caregivers.
"Maria is doing a really good job with it. She has experience working with bilingual students," LaVille said. "We also have English-speaking children come to this because of parents wanting to expose their kids to Spanish."
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids ages 1-18 can stop by the library and enjoy a free lunch, as part of the Marshalltown School Food Service through the USDA summer lunch program.
"The lunch is served after our storytime. Parents have talked about how they really enjoy making a whole morning out of it with their kids," LaVille said. "Lunch @ the Library will run until Thursday, Aug. 10."
While kids are enjoying their free lunch in the large meeting room, they may also participate in the library's informal noontime activities. On Wednesday, July 12, kids can use stamps to make bookmarks, cards and pictures. On Wednesday, July 19, with the help of the CIAA, kids can create their own Olaf headbands and make snow, as a way to celebrate the characters in "Frozen." A free hardcover "Frozen" picture book will be given to each family, while supplies last. On Wednesday, July 26, kids can use the bingo on the back of the points logs to complete their "Build a Poem" Challenge by making a collage with several types of recycled papers.
To learn more about the "Build a Better World" reading program, contact LaVille at 641-754-5738, ext. 3.