The Summer Reading Program Kick-off Party is BACK! Stop by on Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. until noon for games, snacks, and raffles, plus the ever-popular Guess How Many (candies in a jar). During the party, families can sign up children (ages baby through incoming 12th grade) for the Summer Reading Program.
Youth Services Librarian Deanna Evans says, “I am super excited about the Oceans of Possibilities theme this year, as it relates so well to Sanibel.” If you can’t attend the Kickoff Party, you can register for Summer Reading online with Beanstack at www.sanlib.org/children, starting on May 28.
Over the past decade, children have read “for others” during the Sanibel Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. The great thing about the program is participants earned books for their personal collection, and for patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Since its inception in 2012, readers have helped to contribute more than 12,000 books to the hospital. New books are needed every year because books are given to young patients to take home. This summer as in year’s past, babies through sixth grade will earn books (and more). Teens can earn volunteer time when they read a book and write a book review, thus gaining the ever-needed service hours. The Reading for Others program runs from May 28 through August 6, 2022.
In-person programs for elementary-aged programs are planned for Tuesday afternoons, with Storytimes for younger children on Wednesday mornings this summer. Family-friendly feature films will be shown in the Library on Friday afternoons. Some school-aged program presenters include Sanibel Sea School Mobile Unit, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, a mammal program with live bats, Master Storyteller Windell Campell, C.R.O.W., reptiles from Adam’s Animal Adventures, and more.
Teens and ’tweens (grades sixth to 12) can look forward to Thursday evening programs including an escape room, different craft programs, VR, and competitive cupcake decorating. The “CSI Sanibel” program in July invites teens to solve a fictional crime with the help of a real-life forensic analyst. Read the full summer schedule online at the Library’s calendar at www.sanlib.org.
For those who are traveling this summer, the Library’s eShelf offers a great selection of eBooks and audiobooks (in several languages) for readers of all ages.
The Sanibel Public Library Foundation, along with the Joan Hunt Cory Children’s Fund, underwrites the annual summer reading program. The Children’s Fund was established in 2008 to honor longtime library volunteer and supporter Joan Hunt Cory. Margaret Mohundro, Library Executive Director says, “The Summer Reading Program has grown to become more popular every year. We are especially appreciative to the Library Foundation, and the Joan Hunt Cory Children’s Fund,” she adds, “I think the program highlights the generous spirit of the islands.”
Sanibel Public Library offers in-person programs including tech help and children’s programs. The Library’s public online calendar has the most up-to-date information about programs for all ages.
Sanibel Public Library cards are available to all residents of Sanibel and Lee County, Florida, at no charge. You must present your valid driver’s license (or similar government ID) to staff, showing your current Lee County address. Visitor cards are available for a $10 fee and are good for one year.
