Library Summer Youth Program Goes Full Steam Ahead

Mill Valley, Calif.—School’s almost out and the Mill Valley Public Library is gearing up for a lively summer filled with programming for youth of all ages. From summer reading programs, book clubs, and story times to musical performances, yoga, coding, and more for kids, the Library’s calendar is absolutely brimming with programs and events for every interest and age.

"Summer is such a fantastic time at the Library as there is so much going on each week for kids and their families,” said Senior Children’s Librarian Jessica Ryan. “We'll be offering a wide variety of programming this summer--plenty of fun programs to encourage reading; an amazing line-up of performances; and a whole series of hands-on workshops to get children and middle schoolers excited about science, technology, engineering, art, and math."

Something for Every Day of the Week
The Library’s monthly "Sunday Specials" series continues with exciting artists and entertainers offering fun for the whole family. This summer come watch musical numbers during the Throckmorton Theatre Youth Showcase (6/15), tap your toes to the pop stylings of the Corner Laughers (7/20), and take in the puppet wizardry of the Fratello Marionettes (8/10). Mondays are for "Stories and More," sensational stories and a little something extra: surprise snacks, cool art projects and special guest storytellers. Tuesdays are aimed at the "Little Sprouts," kindergarteners and younger. Little ones can join in for musical and dance activities, yoga, stories, and crafts. "Wednesdays on Stage" offer entertainment for all ages in the outdoor amphitheater of Old Mill Park. Step into the redwoods behind the Library for performances from magician Dan Chan (6/25) and the Amazing Bubble Man (7/2), among others, and get ready to sing and dance to the tunes of such groups as bluegrass duo Emily Bonn and Jody Richardson (7/9), and the captivating Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic (7/16). Thursdays are all for "STEAM-powered Fun!" (more about that below), and then the fun keeps going on Fridays with even more activities for all ages.

 Picking Up STEAM
Libraries are well known for their summer reading programs, and the Mill Valley Library has a fantastic one for kids this year (pick up a reading log starting June 23rd). But libraries today offer much more than just books. This summer the Library is introducing a full roster of STEAM programming aimed at getting kids excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. STEAM programming provides kids with hands-on projects that encourage them to use the STEAM disciplines to observe, question, explore, investigate, and create. Through programs on video game creation, coding, jewelry making, math patterns, fossils, and more, the Library aims to expose kids to a variety of STEAM disciplines that they may not have experienced already, such as computer science, physics, astronomy, and paleontology, among others. The Library’s STEAM programming is for children ranging from kindergarten (Magnetic Magic on 6/27, Fun with Fossils on 7/17 and Lizard Lady Reptiles 8/7) to middle school (Maker Air Force on 6/26, Jewelry Making on 7/24, and Create a Video Game in Scratch on 7/31), with many more programs in between.

Spark a Reaction
This summer the Library has also ramped up its offerings just for middle school students. Middle schoolers now have a summer reading programs all their own, just as children and high school students do. Through the “Spark a Reaction” summer reading program, middle school students are invited to keep track of what they read and then earn tickets for fantastic prizes. The more that students read, the more chances to win prizes like an iPad mini, tickets to a Giants game, iTunes gift cards, gift certificates, and more. Also new this summer is special programming on Thursday nights just for students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Sign up in advance for Maker Air Force and learn to build powered aerial vehicles, come play a game of Life-Size Clue (7/10), or chomp on some popcorn at our Movie Night and Raffle (8/7), among other activities.

For Young Adults
During the school year, high school students are used to being told what to read, so for the summer, the Library wants teens to read whatever interests them, and earn the chance to win prizes--like gift certificates to Sol Food, Grilly’s, and Book Passage, or an iPad mini--while doing so. The Choose Your Own Adventure summer reading program is on now and runs through a Final Adventure party on August 18th. Young Adult Librarian Katie MacBride has also been busy planning book clubs and a special series of slam poetry workshops just for high school students. In July, guest teacher and slam poet extraordinaire Billy Butler will take over the Library’s regular Wednesday night Creative Writing Workshop to teach the art of spoken word performance. Teens can also meet that month for book club sessions to discuss Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park and John Green’s Looking for Alaska. An August book club session will focus on the popular Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth.

Due to space limitations, advance sign-ups and restrictions apply to many events. For a full listing of events, programs, and registration requirements, see the attached flier or visit millvalleylibrary.net/kids. For more information about programming for children and middle school students, contact Senior Children’s Librarian Jessica Ryan at 415-389-4292, 4733 or at jryan@cityofmillvalley.org.

For a full listing of summer events for high school students, visit millvalleylibrary.net/youngadults. For additional information about programming for young adults, contact Young Adult Librarian Katie MacBride at 415-389-4292, ext. 4727 or kmacbride@cityofmillvalley.org.