by Kate Shunney
There’s no excuse for boredom this summer, with Hancock library’s “Library Rocks!” summer reading club underway.
Readers of all levels (from pre-reader to adult) can take up War Memorial Library’s challenge to read enough books to win prizes and be eligible for special awards at the end of the summer.
Rounding out the summer reading club are library-based activities and entertainment for kids, teens and adults.
Library branch manager Pamela Mann said there’s still plenty of time for families or individuals to register for the program and enter to win goodies.
For example, children ages 6 to 12 have until July 25 to earn 25 points (the mid-point goal) in order to be eligible to win tickets to see the Baltimore Orioles play.
Readers collect one point for reading a book or for reading for 15 minutes, and two points for attending a summer reading club event. All kids are entered to win prize packs at the end of the summer program.
Teens (ages 13 to 18) shoot to read a total of six books before August 16. After reading three, they’ll get a midpoint prize. If they read six, there’s a final prize and the teen is entered to win grand prize raffles of gift cards and more.
Families are encouraged to participate together. Each time a parent and child comes to one of the summer reading club events, they receive one ticket. Each ticket will be entered to win a family prize of a $40 Park n Dine gift certificate and gift card to Video Biz, said Mann.
Families can also try to complete the Passport to Reading challenge, in which they visit all the libraries in the Washington County Free Library System and find Sneaks the Cat, and identify what instrument the mascot is holding. There are eight libraries in the county system – in Boonsboro, Hancock, Keedysville, Smithsburg, Hagerstown, Williamsport, Clear Spring and Sharpsburg.
Science and music presentations are still ahead at Hancock’s War Memorial Library. The following free events are schedul
ed in Hancock:
Wednesday, July 11: Magic Show with Professor Sal Kraut, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, July 18: Music fun with “Dr. Fiddle” learning about the music of Appalachia and different musical instruments, 1 p.m.
Friday, July 20: Concert in Widmeyer Park with The Sweet Maple Singers, co-sponsored by the Hancock Arts Council, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25: Puppet show of “Rocky and Bookmobile,” 1 p.m.
Wednesday, August 8: Rockin’ Teen/Tween Box (ages 10 and up), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, August 14 – Friday, August 17: Science in the library program with Lego robotics, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Grades 3-5.
Saturday, August 16: Wrap-up party and family craft, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registration required.
More information is available by calling the library at 301-678-5300 or visiting the Washington County Free Library website.
Anyone wanting to sign up for the summer reading club just needs a Washington County Free Library card.
Hancock’s War Memorial library is located in Widmeyer Park and is open the following times:
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, 3:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
