Above: The Library is encouraging teens and tweens to get engaged in reading and activities this summer. (images of flyer banners)
The Southborough Library is promoting their Summer Reading program for teens and older children. Free programs encouraging tweens and teens to pop into the library throughout the summer kicked off this week — including one tonight.
This year’s Summer Reading theme is “Read, Renew Repeat!”, which is why several of the programs have an ecological slant.
In addition to weekly programs and special events geared towards them, readers Ages 11+ to fill out a “Summer Reading Bingo board”.
Some of the programs below are for ages 10+, but more are for ages 12+. (I will be posting about the Children’s Room programs for younger readers which does include events and activities that may appeal to some of the 10-11 year olds.)
The following programs are ones geared towards older kids and teens.
Special Events
Most of these require pre-registration. But the one that kicks things off this evening doesn’t!
Library Teen Bake Off
Today! – Tuesday, June 18th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Main Floor
Teens ages 12+ are invited to bring in a baked item to show off and share, earn a prize, take part in fun activities, and (best of all) enjoy what other bakers came up with.
Scrunch-Paint a Silk Scarf
Saturday, June 22nd, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Main Floor
This special workshop for ages 12+ requires pre-registration. Participants will be guided as they “tie-dye” silk scarves. (Be sure to wear an old shirt to protect your clothing.) Click here for details and to register.
Healthy Body Healthy Mind
Monday, June 24th, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Main Floor
This event for ages 12+ requires pre-registration. Participants should bring a yoga mat for this “fun workshop that combines movement and breath work with journaling and conversation”. Click here for details and to register.
Library Escape Room
Either Tuesday, July 23rd, 5:00 – 6:00 pm or Wednesday, July 24th, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Teen Room
These events for ages 10-18 require pre-registration. “Can you escape the Teen Room in time?? Team up with each other and find out!” Teens & tweens are invited to use their “sleuthing skills and get a great prize”. Click here for details and to register.
Buildwave for Teens
Wednesday, July 31st, 3:00 – 4:00 pm, Main Floor
This “building event that feels like a gameshow” for ages 12+ requires pre-registration. Participants build with waves of materials like Lego®, Plus-Plus®, and more. Each “wave” is “enhanced by a dynamic audiovisual experience”. Click here for details and to register.
TLT: Kindness Rocks
Thursday, August 15, 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Main Floor
Teens are invited to drop-in to join the “Teen Library Team”. They can get volunteer credit while helping to “make the world a happier place”. This month the group will decorate Kindness Rocks with Lily from OUTMetrowest. The rocks can be gifted to someone or left at the library to be shared in the community.
Note: The Library is also offering a weeklong Comics Journalism Workshop again this summer for grades 4-8, but that program quickly filled up.
Weekly Drop-in Programs
No registration or time commitment is required to join these weekly drop-in opportunities.
Youth Nature Club
Thursdays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, June 20th – August 15th (except for July 4th), Teen Room
Volunteers ages 10 -18 are invited to take part in nature themed activities, like helping with the library’s veggie garden..
(Contact Marianna Sorensen with any questions at msorensen@southboroughma.com.)
Teen Craft Club
Mondays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, yesterday – August 19th, Teen Room
Artists 10 and up can come make recycled art crafts. Projects will include recycled book hedgehogs, water bottle plant pots, clay cactuses and more!
Board Games
Fridays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, June 28th – August 16th, Main Floor
Starting next week, the Library invites tweens & teens ages 10+ to join Youth Services Librarian Marianna to learn and play a nature-themed board game.
Summer Reading Bingo
Readers ages 11+ can click here to sign up to be part of the summer reading program. Readers will be encouraged to fill out a Summer Reading Bingo board. Tweens & teens will be entered in a raffle to win prizes each time they complete a row or column on the board.
Younger readers will be invited to fill out reading logs (in the Children’s Room or online) and receive beads for every 15 minutes they read.
Updated (6/26/24 10:08 am): I initially listed the wrong date and time for the Kindness Rocks activity, which actually takes place on August 15th at 5:00 pm.
