Harrisburg District Library: Summer Reading, Storytime, and More!

Program Overview

Harrisburg District Library offers a variety of programs for all ages with literacy being the unspoken goal around which everything that is planned.

Each week, there is a Story Time for families and children ages 3-5 (siblings are always welcome), that features read aloud stories, songs and rhymes, music and dance, and flannel board activities. The story times are age appropriate with many options to keep children interacting and learning as well as having fun. The children's librarian creates a welcoming environment for all families and models to parents and guardians useful ways to interact with books with their children at home. The children's librarian also creates and distributes a 'Picture Book Newsletter' throughout the year based on different early literacy practices (examples: phonological awareness, vocabulary, or print awareness). Each newsletter has different picture books with tips for adults to cultivate that early literacy practice with their child.

Each summer, HDL hosts a several weeks long Summer Reading Program. The age groups are babies, children, teens, and adults. The librarians strive to offer multiple programs for each age group that will entice all ages to keep visiting the library. Summer reading for children and teens helps in preventing summer slide and learning loss, can bring families together for activities and reading, and creates lifelong readers and library users. Each summer, readers of all ages are encouraged to read, learn, have fun, and participate.

HDL also offers two book clubs for adults. There is a "Crime Lovers' Book Club" hosted by a librarian in which participants choose a different author to read for each meeting. "Lit on the Rocks" adult book club is hosted by the library director with books of different genres chosen. Each book club meets and discusses monthly or bimonthly.

The children's librarian hosts a picture book club for children ages kindergarten through 3rd grade, with no requirement for children to read the book beforehand to attend. The group reads the book together, and discusses together, with activities to encourage further learning and growth.

The children's librarian runs an after school technology based club for middle and high school students. The club creates technology opportunities, but shows students that the library is a safe and welcoming space for them anytime, and encourages them to explore and learn.

Various programs are offered throughout the year that are literacy based for all ages, so there is always something to learn at Harrisburg District Library.

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