Westside Reader June 16

WR June 16_Layout 1 5/29/16 12:25 PM Page 11
June 2016 THE Reader • 11
reading fun for everyone
Summer with the Santa
Clarita Libraries
By Jim Walker
Staff Writer
Your Santa Clarita Public Libraries, located
in Old Town Newhall, Valencia
and Canyon Country, will be the focal
points of numerous educational and entertaining
activities this summer — and there is
something for every age group. These activities
feature reading and the promotion of it,
for the most part, but some are just good fun.
Read for the Win
One of the highlights of the library’s summer
schedule will be the Summer Reading
2016, Read for the Win program, which runs
from June 13 to July 30. The Read for the Win
program, presented in partnership with the
Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library, encourages
residents of all ages to celebrate
sports and achievement with a variety of
summer programming, including speciallythemed
storytimes, sport-themed DIY crafts,
dance and fitness classes, gaming and comic
book-themed workshops, family-friendly
events, musical performances and more.
After registering online on the Summer
Reading website or at one of the library
branches, participants can set missions to
read books or complete gaming challenges.
Participants will use the Summer Reading
website to track their progress online or to
share book reviews. Each registered player
will be able to earn “digital badges” and win
prizes and rewards. Stacy Schlesinger, the
Santa Clarita Library public relations and
marketing coordinator, noted that adult participants
can play the Summer Bingo game
for opportunities to qualify for prizes and
special drawings. And she said that all information
about the Read for the Win program
can be found at SCVSummerReading.com,
starting June 13.
“The Santa Clarita Public Library team has
been hard at work on Summer Reading 2016,
Read for the Win, and we can’t wait to share
it with the community,” she said.
ademic year. We are very pleased to offer storytimes
during the summertime as well,”
Schlesinger said. “Beginning the week of June
13 and continuing through the week of July
25, the library will hold a full complement of
storytimes: Baby and Toddler, Just 2s and 3s,
School Readiness, and Bilingual as well as
special Dance Party events and Tinkerlabs for
2-5 year olds. A complete list of days and
times at each of our branches can be found
on the Santa Clarita Public Library online calendar
at SantaClaritaLibrary.com.”
There will also be special activity programs
for grades K-6. And, among other events,
teens will be able to participate in Fandom
Jeopardy, a Developmental Lab and movie
showings. Family Events will be hosted on
Fridays in July, such as G and PG movies,
chess games, board games, Bingo and puzzles.
Shows
“Each year, we invite the community to at-
The Old Town Newhall Library
Beginning the week of June 13 and continuing through the week of July 25, the library will hold a full complement
of storytimes: Baby and Toddler, Just 2s and 3s, School Readiness, and Bilingual as well as special Dance
Party events and Tinkerlabs for 2-5 year olds.
tend free events showcasing some very exciting
performers, Schlesinger said. “This
summer we are thrilled to bring back library
favorites, Abbit the Average (magic show),
Wacko (magic show) and Swazzle (puppet
show). All three of these professional shows
are absolutely free to the public. Be sure to
visit the online calendar at SCVSummer-
Reading.com for dates, times and locations.”
Birthday Celebration
Schlesinger noted that, “Since July 1, 2011,
the three library branches, Canyon Country
Jo Anne Darcy Library, Old Town Newhall Library,
and Valencia Library, have been providing
visitors with free innovative resources
and educational programming; constantly
enhancing services to address the growing
needs of the community. The Santa Clarita
Public Library celebrates five years of service
and stories beginning June 1 and will conclude
with free birthday party events to be
held at all three library branches on July 1.
Free activities will be hosted at each library
branch to celebrate the milestone. For more
information about the Library’s five year celebration,
visit facebook.com/SCPLTurns5.” R
For more information on the library’s summer
programs check out the online Seasons
booklet (pages 9-12) at Seasons or visit SantaClaritaLibrary.com.
You can also contact
Stacy Schlesinger at sschesinger@santaclarita
library.com.
Five Book Challenge
If the Read for the Win program isn’t
enough to motivate you, know that the libraries
will be participating in the Five Book
Summer Challenge. This is a statewide initiative
that challenges readers of all ages to commit
to reading five books during the summer.
Schlesinger said studies have shown that
reading just five books can help prevent summer
learning loss for children and teens.
The program concludes with a Field Day
Finale to celebrate reading accomplishments.
“This year, our Field Day Finale is going to
knock it out of the park — Newhall Park!”
Schlesinger added. “Our talented and creative
library staff has been busy organizing a day
filled with good, old-fashioned fun in the
park. In addition to sports-theme activities
and craft booths, attendees will enjoy a musical
performance by Twinkle Time. Twinkle
and Friends make learning fun by fusing education,
language and arts with music.”
Programs by Age Group
“The Santa Clarita Public Library offers storytimes
for children of all ages during the ac-