Summer reading program kicks off at Albert Lea Public Library

 

By Kylie Brown

Albert Lea Public Library’s summer reading program kicked off on Monday. This year’s theme is “Build a Better World.”

Each week, at 10:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, there will be a storytime. On Wednesdays the 10:30 a.m. slot will be filled with the Art Zone, with Music and Movement classes on Thursdays. There will be a nighttime reading at 6 p.m. Thursdays.

There will also be Book Pal’s Book Club meetings. The fifth- and- sixth- grade book club will meet at 2 p.m. on Mondays through July 10. The third- and- fourth- grade book club will meet on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. through July 12.

Science Blast will be at 2 p.m. every Tuesday except July 11. It will be replaced with Lego Time.

There will be different events this year including the Hanson family, R.A.D. Zoo, magician Jim Jayes, Greg Skillestad Magic Show, bingo and The Zoo Man.

“I think a highlight will be the Hanson family,” said Patricia Greibrok, children services librarian. “They are one of my favorite performances.”

Reading in the summer is vital for children, she said. It is important for the brain, and it enhances reading skills.

“I think most people know that if you don’t use you lose,” Greibrok said. “I think everyone is in agreement that reading is important.”

Greibrok said Tuesday was a busy day at the library with a group of more than 40 children from The Children’s Center there in the morning for an early storytime, followed by the regularly scheduled storytime and then Lego Time later in the day.