June 2nd -  July 28th

This year’s summer reading program is Color Our World!

Children keep track of their reading minutes and earn great prizes as they finish benchmarks based on their age.  Kids also earn raffle tickets as they read for fabulous grand prizes. Reading logs and directions will be available starting Monday, June 2nd.

Adults can win prizes from their own summer reading program which runs at the same time.

A Summer Reading Special Event!
Friday, June 13th, 10AM
All Ages Welcome, No Registration Required
Location:  This event will take place in the basement of the Beecher Community Hall, 673 Penfield St.

Enjoy stories, activities, games, and crafts!
Call to register.

Beecher Bookworm Buddies
Thursdays & Fridays, 10AM
Runs through May 30th

Summer Story Times in the Park
Location:  The Bandstand at Firemen’s Park
Thursday mornings, 10AM
June 5th -July 31st (No storytimes on June 26th & July 3rd)

Wednesday, June 11th & July 9th, 4PM
The June book will be available May 12th

It’s a graphic/hybrid novel book club for kids!  The first book for June 11th will be Dog Man:  Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey.  Kids will discuss the book and enjoy fun activities related to the story.

Ages 6+
Tuesday, May 20th, 4PM
Register by Friday, May 16th

Make a wiggly cup that scribbles!

Tuesday, May 27th, 6:30PM
Wednesday, May 28th 6:30PM
Ages 18+, $5.00
Register by Thursday, May 22nd

Create a patriotic wreath with red, white, and blue fabric scraps and wooden stars!

Ages 6+
Tuesday, June 3rd, 4PM
Register by Friday, May 30th

Make green and pink Wicked-themed slime and bracelets!

Thursday, June 12th 7:00 PM
Ages 16+, Register by Monday, June 9th.
Refreshments will be served.

It is the yearly Oz celebration day when all the inhabitants of Munchkinland gather together to celebrate the magical kingdom.  However this year a shadow has been cast across the peaceful celebrations. The wise and wonderful Wizard of Oz has had an accident during his hot air balloon demonstration, and it looks like it was...murder!

Patrons are welcome to come as non-speaking audience members, but we will need 4 male and 4 female players (aged 18+ ) for the evening.  All lines for the players are scripted and provided on the night of the program. No advance preparation is needed. Character descriptions are available at registration and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. 

(Anyone aged 16+ is welcome to come as an audience member, but the 8 players must be aged 18+.)

Ages 6+
Tuesday, June 17th, 4PM
Wednesday, June 18th 6PM
Register by Friday, June 13th

Create a custom squishy using paper, tape, and cotton!

Tuesday, June 24th, 6:30PM
Ages 18+,  Register by Friday, June 20th
Refreshments will be served.

Need some “new-to-you” puzzles?  Come to our Puzzle Swap!  For every puzzle you bring, you can take home a “new” puzzle.  Also join other puzzle enthusiasts to work on the library’s puzzles. 

Puzzles for the swap should be gently used, have all the pieces, and be 300—1,000 pieces.  Bring your puzzles the night of the event.

Thursday, June 26th 7PM
Presented by Greg and Melissa Ohlendorf
Refreshments will be served.

Experience a journey to Rapa Nui with the mysterious Moai, explore the “Last Continent of Antarctica” teeming with penguins, seals and whales, and discover the well preserved temples and ancient structures of Machu Picchu. 

The amazing landscapes, ecosystems, and ancient civilizations of South America and the vast, icy wonders of Antarctica are beyond description!

Tuesday, July 8th, 6:30PM
Register by Thursday, July 3rd

Children will enjoy a story time with their stuffed animal.  Stuffed animals will spend the night at the Library, and children will receive photos of the animals’ adventures the next day!

Ages 6+
Tuesday, July 15th,  4PM & 6PM
Wednesday, July 16th, 4PM
Register by Friday, July 11th

Make a tie-dye pillow case to celebrate the summer!

Wednesday, July 16th, 6:30PM
Ages 18+, FREE
Register by Wednesday, July 9th

Tie dye a t-shirt to celebrate the summer!  The t-shirt will be provided—have your t-shirt size ready when calling to register.

Ages 6+
Tuesday, July 29th, 4PM
Register by Friday, July 25th

Have fun with Pokémon games and crafts!

Ages 6+
Tuesday, August 5th, 4PM
Wednesday, August 6th, 6PM
Register by Friday, August 1st

Experiment with abstract scrape painting techniques and make your own cat scrape painting on a canvas.

Put your creativity on display at the Library!  Patrons of all ages and artistic abilities can pick up a 4x4 inch canvas and paint supplies to create their own masterpiece to display at the Library!  Our tiny art show will run April 24th - May 15th.  Supplies are limited.

Important Dates:
April 7th -  April 23rd Canvas and art supplies are available for pick up on a first come first serve basis.  Supplies are limited.
April 23rd:  Return finished art by this date.
April 24th -  May 15th:  Art is on display at the Library!
May 16th - 24th: Artists can pick up their canvases. 

The SWAN Libraries + app is available for iOS and Android devices. If you used the old SWAN Libraries app, you can delete it after logging in to the new app.

(Note: The new app is named the same as the old app, just with a “+” at the end.)

We are once again hosting a pumpkin decorating contest for kids!  Decorate a pumpkin based on a book or book character.

Winners will be chosen from 0-preschool, K-5th grade, and 6-12th grade.  For each group, first prize will a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble, with small prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.

October 21st—27th: Pumpkins will be on display for patrons to enjoy.  They can be picked up the 27th and 28th. Left over pumpkins will be disposed of.

Congrats to Our Winners!
Everyone did a fantastic job of decorating their pumpkins, and judging was extremely difficult!

0-PreK
1st:  Liam L. (Spot)
2nd:  Lainey N. (Sesame Street)
3rd:  Andi R. (The Grinch)

K-5
1st:  Aubrey L. (Pigeon)
2nd:  Addison B. (Turtle)
3rd: Violeta R. (Coco)

6-12th
1st:  Zoey M. (Where the Red Fern Grows)
2nd:  Jaxon E. (Holes)
3rd:  Aaralyn M. (If You Give a Mouse A Cookie)

Here is how judging worked:  All pumpins were assigned a number, so children were anonymous.  Four staff members served as judges.  For each age group, the judges collectively pulled 5 top pumpkins.  The judges then privately ranked the 5 pumpkins from 1 for the best down to 5, and the scores were tallied.  The pumpkins with the lowest total scores won. 

From Mid-May through July, the Library will be the temporary home of a tadpole.  Visit the Library to watch its progress as it grows into a frog!

During the first month, we’ll also be taking name suggestions for our new friend.  Look for updates posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Thursday/Friday Morning (10AM)
Enjoy stories, activities, games, and crafts!

Congratulations to everyone who entered pumpkins into our pumpkin decorating contest!  Everyone did a wonderful job, and both adults and children have enjoyed looking at the pumpkins on display.  Don't forget to pick up your pumpkins on Friday 10/28 or Saturday 10/29.  Anything left over will be disposed of.

The winners for the contest are:
Birth - PreK:  1st Place:  Ruby Bivian, 2nd Place:  Davina Hood, 3rd Place:  Ellie Walker
K-5th Grade:  1st Place:  Zoey Manning, 2nd Place: Gabino Bivian, 3rd Place:  Emily Ryan
6th-12th Grade: 1st Place:  Madison Gibson, 2nd Place: Delila Magana, 3rd Place: Marios Killis

Hoopla Digital is now available for Beecher Community Library card holders!

Ebooks, music, audiobooks, comics, TV shows, and movies for all ages are available for checkout and can be enjoyed on all smart devices.

Patrons may check out a set number of items per month.  Best of all, checkouts are immediate…no waiting for holds to be filled!

Visit hoopladigital.com or download the app.

The Library offers free ebooks and audiobooks through Media on Demand.  To get started, download the Libby (by Overdrive) app on apple and android tablets and smartphones, or for basic ereaders or other devices, click here for further assistance.  Books are available for adults, kids, and teens. 

Books are also available in foreign languages, such as Spanish. 

Need help?  Call (708-946-9090) or visit the Library.  

Tumblebooks is a digital collection of animated, talking picture books for children, whether they are learning to read or are already reading! To access TumbleBooks, click here and enter your Beecher Community Library card number.