Kimball Area Public Library is challenging the community to open their minds by reading a good book. They will host their annual open house from 2-4 p.m. Monday, June 9. The event will kick off the summer reading program with an ice cream social at the library, located next to city hall. This year’s celebration will be extra special, explained librarian Carla Asfeld. “We want people to come in and see our new addition that we made – the new children’s section in the back.” Painted with a beautiful mural of an outdoor scene, the new addition is kid-friendly. It has a small table and chairs where children can sit and read books. There is also a special bench and a lamppost located in the back to create a park atmosphere. If the surrounding doesn’t help open up the imagination, children will be inspired by all of the books in the library, which is the emphasis of the summer reading program. “This year’s theme is ‘Explore Bright Ideas @ Your Library,’” Asfeld said. She explained that this is a program in which all Minnesota public libraries participate. “We really want to encourage kids to come into the library. We want them to learn that being comfortable in the library is a good thing.” Throughout the summer, area children, ages 3-12, can sign up for the reading program, which begins Monday, June 9 and concludes Saturday, August 9. To participate, children will read a certain number of books and receive a check-off for each one they complete. If reading a harder book, children can receive a check mark each time they read 30-minutes or more. Children will be rewarded for reading the specified time or amount of books. While children read, they are encouraged to explore, imagine and learn over the summer, Asfeld said. “This helps keep the children connected. They will be a little further ahead when they go back to school in the fall.” As part of the summer reading program, the library will host specific events. Their first event will be “Rabbit Tea Time” from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 for children ages 6-12. Throughout the session, children will be joined by Beatrix Potter’s famous character, Peter Rabbit. They will have tea and learn the correct tea etiquette. There will also be songs and trivia about the story. Finally, pupils will hear stories about Peter Rabbit and play with real bunnies. To participate in this event, children must be preregistered by Wednesday, June 11. For more information on how to be involved with the public library’s summer reading program, feel free to call the library at (320) 398-3915 or visit their web site at www.griver.org.
