Grandmothers, toddlers and all ages in between were delighted by Lindsey Dank\u2019s didgeridoo performance Thursday at The Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza.
\nToes were tapping, hands were clapping and children were dancing to the sounds of this long, tubular musical instrument originally used by the Australian Aboriginal people.
\nDank, a performer with Didgeridoo Down Under, shares his message of diversity, kindness and respect with children through music and interactive fun.<\/p>\n
Dank\u2019s performance was just one of the many events area libraries are hosting this summer for children and adults. All the local public libraries are participating in this year\u2019s summer reading program with the statewide theme, \u201cLibraries Rock!\u201d
\n\u201cI love the variety of programs available for my children this summer,\u201d said Nevine Chancellor, of Oxford. \u201cWe are here all the time \u00ad\u2014 either here or at the Belvedere library.\u201d
\nIn addition to The Villages and Sumter County, libraries in Lake County also have plans to rock children\u2019s summers.
\nEach library has its own program with incentives to encourage children to continue reading between school years.
\nTHE VILLAGES AND SUMTER COUNTY
\nThe Sumter County Library System has planned a variety of programs this summer for children at libraries in The Villages, Lake Panasoffkee, Bushnell and Webster.
\nChildren can attend a variety of free events during the next several weeks. Programs offered include building a hologram projector, a magic show with Cesar Domico, an hour of JiggleMan\u2019s zany comedy and learning to make a square bubble.
\nPrograms will include music, geology and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) themes, said Mary GaNun, programming and outreach coordinator for the Sumter County Library System.
\nPrograms began June 5 and will continue through July 24. Several of the activities require pre-registration online or at the libraries.
\nChancellor said she home-schools her children, ages 9, 6 and 3, and visits the libraries regularly as part of their curriculum.
\n\u201cThere is always something going on,\u201d Chancellor said. \u201cSo far this summer, we have watched Jiggleman and the Fritzy Brothers One-Man Circus, and we\u2019ll keep coming back.\u201d
\nAnother fun summer activity is the reading program for children and adults.
\nFor each book a child reads, he or she will receive a backpack charm.
\nThey also can play bingo and fill their cards by reading different genres of books and learning to use the kid-friendly library programs. For each filled bingo card, they receive a ticket for a drawing for a gift basket at the end of the reading program.
\nThe adult game has the same concept but different layers of participation.
\nFor each completed game, each child or adult participant will receive a ticket for a chance drawing for an age-appropriate basket donated by The Friends of The Villages Library.
\n\u201cThe Friends sponsored the reading program for adults and children, the gift baskets and the performers at Pinellas and Belvedere libraries,\u201d GaNun said.
\nLADY LAKE
\nAll 15 public libraries with the Lake County Library System are participating in this year\u2019s summer reading program, including those closest to The Villages in Lady Lake and Fruitland Park.
\nThe Lady Lake Library started its summer programs earlier this month, and it already is experiencing large crowds of local children and families eager to have fun and learn this summer.
\nThroughout the summer, children can pick up a reading log and participate in the six-week reading program, where they read one book per week, log it and receive a reward every Thursday.
\nThe library will host an end-of-summer party July 26.
\n\u201cReading should be fun, and we try to keep children excited about it,\u201d said Nicole LeFrancois, youth services coordinator.
\nChristy Leonard, of Lady Lake, has brought her two home-schooled daughters to the library for the past three years, and she appreciates the summer reading programs available to them.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s giving them a love for the library,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a good building block for them.\u201d
\nIn addition to the reading program, the library also hosts various programs throughout the week.
\nChildren ages 7-12 can participate in hands-on activities at 10:30 a.m. for Makerspace Mondays, while preschoolers can explore sensory stations with Little Explorers from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday.
\nStory Time takes place at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday for preschoolers, and a special guest will make an appearance each week during the summer.
\nGuests include local business owners, as well as the town\u2019s fire and police departments.
\nOn June 13, for example, the library hosted its second annual Truck Rodeo and welcomed the town\u2019s public works department to show its trucks to local children.
\nLibrary staff also read a truck-related story to the children.
\nRomayne Jones, of Lady Lake, held her 2-year-old grandson, Tyler Thompson, as he pointed to the trucks while wearing his own plastic hard hat.
\nJones brought Tyler to the library for the first truck rodeo last year, and she said it is important for the library to continue to host fun programs for the children.
\n\u201cThere aren\u2019t a lot of kid activities in this area. It\u2019s great how many organized activities the library has for children,\u201d she said.
\nThroughout the summer, the library also will host events with performers to keep the children entertained.
\nThey can wind down at the end of the week with Family Movie Fridays, where a free movie is played at 2:30 p.m.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something for everybody, every day,\u201d LeFrancois said. \u201cWe want to make sure the library stays a part of everyone\u2019s life.\u201d
\nFor information about summer programs in Lady Lake, call the library at 352-753-2957.
\nFRUITLAND PARK
\nThe Fruitland Park Library has a jam-packed summer of programs for local children to enjoy.
\nThe library offers Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, free movies at 1 p.m. Fridays and various programs throughout the summer.
\nA Mario Kart Tournament for ages 5 and older will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, and a craft to make duct tape zipper pouches will take place for ages 7-12 at 3:30 p.m. June 27. Both events require registration.
\nDuring July, children can participate in other crafts, including guitar-decorating and string-art programs.
\nThe library also is in full swing with its summer reading program.
\n\u201cSummer reading programs vary from library to library, but our one main goal is to keep the kids reading during the summer,\u201d said Jo-Ann Glendinning, the library director.
\nChildren ages 5-12 and teens ages 13-18 have until June 29 to sign up for the summer reading program, where they have to read a minimum of 10 books and turn in their reading logs by July 23.
\nIf they meet their goal, they will get invited to a pizza party at 11:30 a.m. July 27 and receive prizes.
\nAdults 19 and older have until Aug. 17 to read a minimum of 10 books and turn in their reading logs. Prizes will be awarded Aug. 20.
\n\u201cEveryone works so hard during the school year, so this is a way for them to have a little fun and not worry about school or work,\u201d Glendinning said. \u201cIf we can keep children reading by making it fun for them, then we\u2019ve accomplished our goal.\u201d
\nFor information about summer programs in Fruitland Park, call the library at 352-360-6561. For information about summer programs in Lake County, visit\u00a0mylakelibrary.org.
\nRelated Links: Read the story on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Grandmothers, toddlers and all ages in between were delighted by Lindsey Dank\u2019s didgeridoo performance Thursday at The Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza. Toes were tapping, hands were clapping and children were dancing to the sounds of this long, tubular musical instrument originally used by the Australian Aboriginal people. Dank, a performer with Didgeridoo Down […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"reading_room_type":[36],"class_list":["post-1026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-library-news","reading_room_type-news"],"acf":{"display_category":true,"display_date":true,"display_social_icons":true,"display_author":false,"link_to_original_post":"","video_url":"","background_image":false,"main_content":[{"type":"image","block_text":"","image":1308,"form_title":"","form_emebed":""},{"type":"text","block_text":"
Grandmothers, toddlers and all ages in between were delighted by Lindsey Dank\u2019s didgeridoo performance Thursday at The Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza.<\/p>\n
Toes were tapping, hands were clapping and children were dancing to the sounds of this long, tubular musical instrument originally used by the Australian Aboriginal people.<\/p>\n
Dank, a performer with Didgeridoo Down Under, shares his message of diversity, kindness and respect with children through music and interactive fun.<\/p>\n
Dank\u2019s performance was just one of the many events area libraries are hosting this summer for children and adults. All the local public libraries are participating in this year\u2019s summer reading program with the statewide theme, \u201cLibraries Rock!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the variety of programs available for my children this summer,\u201d said Nevine Chancellor, of Oxford. \u201cWe are here all the time \u00ad\u2014 either here or at the Belvedere library.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to The Villages and Sumter County, libraries in Lake County also have plans to rock children\u2019s summers.<\/p>\n
Each library has its own program with incentives to encourage children to continue reading between school years.<\/p>\n
THE VILLAGES AND SUMTER COUNTY<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sumter County Library System has planned a variety of programs this summer for children at libraries in The Villages, Lake Panasoffkee, Bushnell and Webster.<\/p>\n Children can attend a variety of free events during the next several weeks. Programs offered include building a hologram projector, a magic show with Cesar Domico, an hour of JiggleMan\u2019s zany comedy and learning to make a square bubble.<\/p>\n Programs will include music, geology and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) themes, said Mary GaNun, programming and outreach coordinator for the Sumter County Library System.<\/p>\n Programs began June 5 and will continue through July 24. Several of the activities require pre-registration online or at the libraries.<\/p>\n Chancellor said she home-schools her children, ages 9, 6 and 3, and visits the libraries regularly as part of their curriculum.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is always something going on,\u201d Chancellor said. \u201cSo far this summer, we have watched Jiggleman and the Fritzy Brothers One-Man Circus, and we\u2019ll keep coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n Another fun summer activity is the reading program for children and adults.<\/p>\n For each book a child reads, he or she will receive a backpack charm.<\/p>\n They also can play bingo and fill their cards by reading different genres of books and learning to use the kid-friendly library programs. For each filled bingo card, they receive a ticket for a drawing for a gift basket at the end of the reading program.<\/p>\n The adult game has the same concept but different layers of participation.<\/p>\n For each completed game, each child or adult participant will receive a ticket for a chance drawing for an age-appropriate basket donated by The Friends of The Villages Library.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Friends sponsored the reading program for adults and children, the gift baskets and the performers at Pinellas and Belvedere libraries,\u201d GaNun said.<\/p>\n LADY LAKE<\/strong><\/p>\n All 15 public libraries with the Lake County Library System are participating in this year\u2019s summer reading program, including those closest to The Villages in Lady Lake and Fruitland Park.<\/p>\n The Lady Lake Library started its summer programs earlier this month, and it already is experiencing large crowds of local children and families eager to have fun and learn this summer.<\/p>\n Throughout the summer, children can pick up a reading log and participate in the six-week reading program, where they read one book per week, log it and receive a reward every Thursday.<\/p>\n The library will host an end-of-summer party July 26.<\/p>\n \u201cReading should be fun, and we try to keep children excited about it,\u201d said Nicole LeFrancois, youth services coordinator.<\/p>\n Christy Leonard, of Lady Lake, has brought her two home-schooled daughters to the library for the past three years, and she appreciates the summer reading programs available to them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s giving them a love for the library,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a good building block for them.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the reading program, the library also hosts various programs throughout the week.<\/p>\n Children ages 7-12 can participate in hands-on activities at 10:30 a.m. for Makerspace Mondays, while preschoolers can explore sensory stations with Little Explorers from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday.<\/p>\n Story Time takes place at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday for preschoolers, and a special guest will make an appearance each week during the summer.<\/p>\n Guests include local business owners, as well as the town\u2019s fire and police departments.<\/p>\n On June 13, for example, the library hosted its second annual Truck Rodeo and welcomed the town\u2019s public works department to show its trucks to local children.<\/p>\n Library staff also read a truck-related story to the children.<\/p>\n Romayne Jones, of Lady Lake, held her 2-year-old grandson, Tyler Thompson, as he pointed to the trucks while wearing his own plastic hard hat.<\/p>\n Jones brought Tyler to the library for the first truck rodeo last year, and she said it is important for the library to continue to host fun programs for the children.<\/p>\n \u201cThere aren\u2019t a lot of kid activities in this area. It\u2019s great how many organized activities the library has for children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Throughout the summer, the library also will host events with performers to keep the children entertained.<\/p>\n They can wind down at the end of the week with Family Movie Fridays, where a free movie is played at 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something for everybody, every day,\u201d LeFrancois said. \u201cWe want to make sure the library stays a part of everyone\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n For information about summer programs in Lady Lake, call the library at 352-753-2957.<\/p>\n FRUITLAND PARK<\/strong><\/p>\n The Fruitland Park Library has a jam-packed summer of programs for local children to enjoy.<\/p>\n The library offers Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, free movies at 1 p.m. Fridays and various programs throughout the summer.<\/p>\n A Mario Kart Tournament for ages 5 and older will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, and a craft to make duct tape zipper pouches will take place for ages 7-12 at 3:30 p.m. June 27. Both events require registration.<\/p>\n During July, children can participate in other crafts, including guitar-decorating and string-art programs.<\/p>\n The library also is in full swing with its summer reading program.<\/p>\n \u201cSummer reading programs vary from library to library, but our one main goal is to keep the kids reading during the summer,\u201d said Jo-Ann Glendinning, the library director.<\/p>\n Children ages 5-12 and teens ages 13-18 have until June 29 to sign up for the summer reading program, where they have to read a minimum of 10 books and turn in their reading logs by July 23.<\/p>\n If they meet their goal, they will get invited to a pizza party at 11:30 a.m. July 27 and receive prizes.<\/p>\n Adults 19 and older have until Aug. 17 to read a minimum of 10 books and turn in their reading logs. Prizes will be awarded Aug. 20.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone works so hard during the school year, so this is a way for them to have a little fun and not worry about school or work,\u201d Glendinning said. \u201cIf we can keep children reading by making it fun for them, then we\u2019ve accomplished our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n For information about summer programs in Fruitland Park, call the library at 352-360-6561. For information about summer programs in Lake County, visit\u00a0mylakelibrary.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n