This year’s summer reading program theme was Adventure Begins at Your Library. I want to take a moment to thank all of the parents, caregivers, children, and teens who participated this year. I would also like to thank the library staff. They did an excellent job helping to make the program happen throughout a very busy summer. We recorded 844 people in attendance at the 35 programs scheduled this summer. 1319 in-house scavenger hunts were completed, and 485 crafts were created during the eight weeks of the program. At the end of the eight-week program, finishers received a free book, a grand prize ticket, temporary tattoo, and the chance to vote for a new toy to play with in the library. It was wonderful watching our readers’ progress through the program. This year we challenged families to find landmarks around town for the Downtown Scavenger Hunt. The families that participated had so much fun.

We have a full schedule of programming for children and teens this fall. Storytime with Ms. Kathryn will be back starting Monday, September 9 at 10:30 a.m. and will meet every Monday at that time for the following seven weeks. Pajama Party Storytime will be offered on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. starting on September 11. The Friday Special Storytime will take place on Friday, September 27 at 10 a.m. This storytime features a themed craft or activity after storytime. All of the storytime programs are held in the children’s room and do not require registration to attend.

All of our summer programs will continue into the fall. Anime Club and Video Gaming Club are programs for students in sixth through twelfth grade who would like to get together to once a month. The first Video Gaming Club of the season will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. Anime Club will have its first program of the fall season on Tuesday, September 17 at 3:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. Creative Kids is a STEAM program for students in kindergarten and first grade and explores all kinds of science and arts. This program will be held once a month and begins on Thursday, September 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. Wacky Wonders is a STEAM program for students in second through fifth grade and also explores the sciences and arts. This program begins on Thursday, September 19 at 3:30 p.m. These programs require registration.

On Thursday, September 26 at 10 a.m. I will host a Sensory Playtime. The forty-five minute program will include a story, a song, a group activity, and playtime with sensory toys. Evening Sensory Playtime will follow the same format and begins on Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m.

Please ask at the children’s desk if there is something you’re looking for and can’t find right away; we’re here to help. Check out our monthly calendar of programming too. We offer a variety of activities for all ages, from story time to book club for teens. You can find more information and register for events at www.newulmlibrary.org on the Library Events page, or by calling the library at 507-359-8331.

The library is located at 17 N. Broadway and is open to the public Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. The library will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day.