Summer Fun for Everyone at the Rapid City Public Library

By Stephanie Bents, Youth Librarian

Spend your summer drawing, writing, painting, dancing, and of course, reading! People of all ages can get creative this summer with the Rapid City Public Library’s summer reading program – Be Creative @ Your Library. Special programs will be happening all summer long at both library locations, Downtown and North Rapid (inside General Beadle Elementary) , that are free and open to the public and help you to develop your own creativity.

Saturday, June 6 is the official start of the summer reading program when kids can pick up their reading logs and get started completing their 25, 50, and 75 day reading requirements to win prizes throughout the summer. The kick-off day party will be held at both the Downtown library from 10 a.m. to noon and at the North location (in General Beadle) from 1:30-3 p.m. with a variety of crafts, performers and activities. Young artists can draw with Lori Harrington and enjoy card trick performances with Josh Balt (www.joshbalt.com). Curious George will greet the participants, and other performers will be on site.

Then join us on Friday, June 26 for a magic show with Cody Landstrom at both our library locations (10:15 a.m. Downtown, 2 p.m. General Beadle). Cody is known for his special tricks, such as the “Knot That Jumps”, and for his expert lassoing, amazing juggling, stunning mind reading and much more. For those who want hands-on experience with the magic tricks, Cody will be teaching workshops to a limited number of participants before the performances (9 a.m. RCPL-Downtown, 1 p.m. RCPL-North in General Beadle). Be sure to register early to reserve a spot. Cody’s magic is featured on his website, www.codylandstrom.com.

On July 8, puppeteer Markie Scholz will entertain the kids with her special show, The Quest for the Junkyard Dragon. Watch as Sharn, an ordinary girl, is cast out by a wicked Queen into a hostile forest filled with screaming Meemies, witches, trolls and other bizarre creatures. In order to throw off the Queen's curse, Sharn must find Skavang, the Junkyard Dragon. Only he can solve her problems and help Sharn return to her kingdom and home. This show was written by Scholz just for the summer reading program. Performances will be held 10 a.m. at the RCPL-Downtown and 1 p.m. at the RCPL-North in General Beadle. Check out Scholz’s website for details on this show and others.

In August, enjoy the Termesphere art exhibit from the South Dakota State Library’s Hands on Partnership (H.O.P.) program at the downtown Library. Termespheres are created by artist Dick Termes’ unique method of painting on spheres and creating optical illusions from ordinary landscapes and scenes. On August 5, Termes will teach a workshop at the Downtown Library at 10 a.m. and North Library – General Beadle at 1 PM. Participating students will create twenty-five different polyhedron models and learn spatial thinking and the connection between art and geometry. Space is limited for this free workshop so please make your reservation early. To learn more about Dick Termes, check out his website, www.termespheres.com

Enjoy Rapid City together with your family by participating in the library’s Family Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Entry forms can be picked up at both library locations beginning June 6. Scavenger hunts questions will take you and your family to different public spaces in the downtown area and other area places. Families successfully completing the scavenger hunt will receive a prize and be entered in a contest for a grand prize at the end of the summer.

For teens, read three books from June 6 through August 20 and you could win gift cards, MP3 players or flash drives. Participate by submitting the titles, authors, and a brief synopsis of the books read to the library’s My Space page www.myspace.com/rcpl_teens. Adults can participate in a similar reading program by submitting a short book review or comment on either the RCPL Facebook or RCPL LibraryThing accounts, both accessible from our website.

Finally, tots and their families are invited to our weekly and monthly story time activities at both our library locations. Weekly story times will be offered at RCPL-North in General Beadle beginning in mid-June and throughout the summer. Please see the library’s monthly newsletter for a complete summer story time schedule, including the dates of special craft and family story times. For more information about story times, our summer reading programs and other special events this summer, please call 394-4171 or go to the library’s website, www.rapidcitylibrary.org.