PARIS — The Paris Public Library is offering a variety of programs and activities this summer for Oxford Hills youths.
Children in the community are encouraged to join the Paris Public Library’s summer reading challenge. Youths are asked to record the minutes they spend reading or are read to during the summer, in reading logs available at the library.
For the first eight hours they spend reading, they will earn a book bag. After reading for 16 hours, they may choose a free book. When they achieve 32 hours of reading, they will receive a $10 gift certificate.
The five readers who accumulate the most time reading during the summer will also be rewarded with $25 gift certificates.
All participants will receive a special prize if the total number of hours read by everyone in the program exceeds 1,500 hours.
The goal of the reading challenge is keep children’s reading skills sharp over the summer.
The library will also present a variety of programs for children during the summer, based on the environmental theme “Everyday is Earth and Make a Difference Day.”
An activity program for children ages 7 to 12 will be held at 1 p.m. Mondays when participants will share inspirational stories about children from around the world and make crafts from recycled materials. Among the books being read are “Beatrice’s Goat and the Water Gift” and the “Pig of the Pig.” Crafts planned include potholders, collages and gift boxes.
The 10 a.m. storytime on Thursdays will also feature stories and crafts about the world and the environment. For babies to age 7,, the program will have a weekly theme. By August, children will finish with an environmental diorama.
Fridays will feature guest speakers discussing different aspects of the environment and earth science. For children ages 9 to 13, the programs will start at 1 p.m. Among the topics will be the sun, rocks and minerals, botany, backyard birds and astronomy.
Most of the programs will conclude with a craft, such as making a solar cooker or pressed fern frames.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, the library will have a Family Pajama Storytime, where children are invited to bring their favorite blankets and stuffed animals and listen to bedtime stories. The library will host a sleepover from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
For more information, contact the Paris Public Library by calling 743-6994 or e-mailing paris.public.library@MSLN.net.

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