Fort Dodge library to come alive with activity this summer
Full programs for children, teens and adults start Monday
- Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> These bookcases now hold the children's DVD collection at the Fort Dodge Public Library.
- Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> This setup offers some of the newest services available at the Fort Dodge Public Library. It is called a ScanEZ Station, and it can be used to make copies, send faxes, translate documents from foreign languages and enhance old photographs.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> What looks like a pretty standard table in the children's section of the Fort Dodge Public Library is actually an interactive device that comes to life with the touch of a hand. Once activated, it offers a variety of educational games and activities for children.
- Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> These bookcases now hold the children's DVD collection at the Fort Dodge Public Library.
- Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> This setup offers some of the newest services available at the Fort Dodge Public Library. It is called a ScanEZ Station, and it can be used to make copies, send faxes, translate documents from foreign languages and enhance old photographs.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea<br> What looks like a pretty standard table in the children's section of the Fort Dodge Public Library is actually an interactive device that comes to life with the touch of a hand. Once activated, it offers a variety of educational games and activities for children.
Trending
Anyone who thinks of libraries as dull, sleepy places should visit the Fort Dodge Public Library this summer.
A full slate of fun things for children, teens and adults to do is planned for this summer, bringing back a level of action at the library that hasn't been seen since the pandemic hit last year.
''We're really looking forward to having people come back in and enjoying all the things we have to offer,'' said Library Director Rita Schmidt.
In fact, thanks to technology, people won't even have to step into the building to find some good reading.
Schmidt said the library's website, www.fortdodgeiowa.org/library, offers lots of ways to access books and magazines.
With a library card and an electronic device, someone could sit on a beach and read materials offered through that website.
Meanwhile, the library by the City Square will have expanded hours beginning Monday.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesday.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays..
Starting on July 10, the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
All of the library's public computers will be available for use starting on Monday.
DVDs are once again available to be checked out.
The library's summer programs for all ages begin on Monday.
Adult and teen programs
Erika Earp, the adult and teen services librarian, has a full slate of activities planned.
There will be an adult summer reading program. Adult readers who turn in reading logs will be eligible for prize drawings, with the grand prize being a gift card from Studio Fusion in Fort Dodge.
There will be a similar reading log program for teens.
The reading log program for both adults and teens will begin Monday and run through Aug. 20. Earp said participants will log their reading in 30 minute increments, and then turn the logs in every time they reach four hours.
Other activities for teens include:
Answering trivia questions relating to colors, because the library's summer theme is Reading Colors Your World.
Guessing the title of a book based on its first line. The line will be posted at the library's reference desk.
An Instagram scavenger hunt in which teens will be asked to find things that are different colors, photograph them, post them to Instagram and tag the library.
Earp said there will be two free teen projects.
On June 12 participants will make tie-dye tote bags.
On July 10, they will paint flower pots.
While both projects are free, registration is required so that enough supplies can be ordered.
Also, each month this summer, a different craft kit will be available for free at the library's reference desk. One of the kits is a magnet in the shape of a tiny flower pot.
Children's activities
''We are very excited after last summer,'' saud Laurie Hotz, the children's librarian.
With RAGBRAI coming to Fort Dodge in July, the summer theme in the children's department is Ride Off With a Good Book – Reading Colors Your World.
Bicycles will be a common motif in the children's department. An image of a couple of dogs on a bike that Hotz calls the ''pedal pups'' will be turning up on a regular basis.
Hotz said it is very important for children to keep their reading skills up during the summer months. The library is offering ways to make that fun and easy to do.
Like the teens and the adults, the children will have reading logs.
Hotz said these logs are for children as young as 2. She said the children read of 20 minutes or have something read to them for 20 minutes, they will log it. Every time they reach four hours of reading, they will turn in the log to get a treat bag.
Also, this year, there will be family literacy logs. Hot said those combine reading with other things to do as a family. The other activities include looking at the stars and trying new fruits and vegetables..
Free summer activity bags will also be available in the children's department. The bags contain crafts, stickers and educational things like math problems.There will be a different bag available every week of the summer.
One traditional summer activity will be absent from the library this year. There will be no Story Time. It is still considered a little risky to have a lot of children close together for Story Time, so library leaders decided not to have it this summer.