JAY — Niles Memorial Library will hold two summer reading programs, one for the younger kids, primary and elementary school-age, and one for tweens, preteen 9 to 12 years old, and teens.

The library will offer “Objects in Motion” as the young people’s summer reading program. Four story and creating nights will be featured, as well as a kick-off program and a “We Did It” ending program. The program will start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, in Memorial Hall and end Monday, July 31, with the “We Did It” show and tell/party night.

The kick-off program will feature the Mad Science of Maine group presenting “Engineering a Better World.” The audience will explore several types of engineering appropriate for young people from around kindergarten through sixth grade.

Sign-up will be June 27 before the program, so children are encouraged to arrive early to enroll, then attend the program. Sign-up will remain open until Friday, July 7.

During the summer reading program children will read books or have them read to them, count the time, and earn stickers. Children will receive a reading log and a little more when they sign up. Stickers for a reading chart are earned for each hour they read.

Those residing out of town who want to participate will need to get a yearly family membership for $20.

A storytime and free activities will start Wednesday, July 5. There will be theme nights, and teamwork will be needed for the planned activities on some nights. They are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, “Engineering a Better World”; Wednesday, July 5, “Off to the Races”; Monday,  July 10, “It’s Plane to See”; Tuesday, July 18, “Let’s Hover and Rise”; Wednesday, July 26, “Can It Move?”;  and Monday, July 31, “We Did It” show and tell and party.

Tweens and Teens are invited to join the “Reading by Design!” program that will combine reading and design activities throughout the summer.

It will kick off with a reading challenge. For every book read, a book from the book sale inventory will be set aside so that a structure can be built over the summer using the books. The more read, the more that can be built.

The programs will take place primarily in the evolving Makerspace Center upstairs. A Makerspace is a place to learn, make, invent, create, collaborate, do arts and crafts and experiments. The space will take shape over the summer, as materials are received for it.

 Some of the items which will eventually be in the Makerspace are a 3D printer, Robotics kits, science kits, littleBits (circuitry kits), Makey-Makey, building sets, legos, coding bots.

The library is receiving funds to create a Makerspace Center from a Maine Public Library Fund grant. Starting in the fall, the space will be available to Teens in Tweens in RSU 73.

The summer will start with materials on hand and participants will also be reusing (or upcycling) items and doing activities such as constructing clothing from recycled items, book and magazine arts and crafts, constructing with cardboard, making paper circuits, and other activities to be determined. Most activities will not be completed in one night, but may be worked on throughout the summer until complete. The library will provide the materials.

The first program night will be at 6 p.m. Monday, June 26, when participants will create folded book art with old books.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 6, at 6 p.m.: Create book sculptures with old books.

Tuesday, July 11, at 6 p.m.: Create a bowl from old magazine pages.

Wednesday, July 19, at 6 p.m.: Make a paper circuit with paper, copper tape, LEDs, and a battery.

Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m.: Make a lamp with old books and a lamp kit.

Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m.: Construct with books and cardboard.

The following Thursdays at 2 p.m. may be used as open “create” days: June 29, July 13, July 20, and July 27. On those days, participants may continue working on projects started on other days or work on clothing made from recycled items that will be part of a “Recycled Runway Fashion Show” on the last day.

The books accumulated through reading over the summer and books from the book sale inventory will be used to create a structure. The more read, the larger the structure will be.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m., and Thursday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m.

FMI: 207-645-4062.

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