Oceans of Possibilities!

Our Summer Reading Program will begin Saturday, June 11 and continue through Saturday, August 27.

Children and teens are invited to read and listen to books, earn prizes, and participate in events this summer.  

TNT (Teen and Tween) events for 6th - 12th graders include game nights, book club, art projects, volunteer opportunities, and more.

See more information and register in the Summer Reading tab on this page (here).

TNT Events

 Our TNT (Teen & Tween) events for 6th - 12th graders for the next few weeks are:

Virtual: MiLibraryQuest - online scavenger hunt

Thursday, July 22 at 1:00 on Zoom

You'll work together to locate unusual animal descriptions on libraries' websites, identify the animals using an online Field Guide, and enter to win a prize!

Register here and we'll send you the Zoom link

If you prefer to complete the Quest on your own, you can participate independently at mi.gov/MiLibraryQuest. Or participate with the group and on your own.  The more animals you find and identify, the more entries you'll have in the prize drawing.  

Virtual: TNT Game Night

Thursday, July 29 at 6:30 on Zoom
and the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.

We are partnering with other libraries in Michigan for Game Night. We meet on Zoom and play on Board Game Arena.  We are currently playing Solo (like UNO), Coup, Incan Gold, Fluxx, Sushi Go, Just Desserts, and Battle Sheep. We also add games based on the group's suggestions, so if you have an idea, let us know!

Please register here and we'll send you the Zoom link.  

In person:  Painted Cactus Gardens

Tuesday, August 10 at 1:00 in Wilson Park

You'll paint rocks to look like cacti and decorate a plant pot to "plant" them in! We'll meet in the new pavilion in Wilson Park.  

Registration is required (so we'll have the right number of supplies for everyone).  Please register here.

Additional Events

Additional events will be scheduled throughout the summer.  We'll announce them closer to the time of the events.  Check back or register here and we'll send you emails when new events are scheduled. 

We hope to see you for one or all of our events!

MiLibraryQuest

MiLibraryQuest is a state-wide virtual Quest for teens.  6th through 12th graders may participate.  It begins on June 1 and ends on June 31. 

You can participate and enter on your own.  We will also have an event this summer to meet and participate in the Quest together.  You can have up to 8 entries, so you can do some alone and some with a group from our library.  

To participate in MiLibraryQuest:

1. Go to the MiLibraryQuest website here.  

2. Use the links to participating libraries (beginning on June 1) to visit libraries' websites.

3. Find the MiLibraryQuest logo (image of koalas and a book) and the animal description near the logo.

4. Use the field guide on the MiLibraryQuest website to identify the animal being described.

5. Enter the animal name by the name of the library where you found it on the entry form.

6. Identify and record 20 animals and you'll be entered in our prize drawing.

You can find up to 160 animals for a total of 8 entries if you find them all! 

See additional summer events here.  

Weekly Challenge 7

MI Library Quest (for 6th - 12th graders) continues from last week. Find clues on library websites, save the kingdom from the bronze dragon, and be entered to win prizes! Enter by July 30; winners will be announced on July 31. See details here.

Fairy Tale Fitness

Thank you, Huron Public Library, for allowing us to share your Fairy Tale Fitness activity!

Watch the video below to see fun Fairy Tale Fitness activities: roll like a carriage, climb up a beanstalk, and more! You can download the cards to print at home or request a copy to pick up from the library tomorrow afternoon. Choose a card, do the activity, and repeat!

See the video here:

Download and print the cards here. 
To request a copy of the cards to pick up from the library, fill out this form.

Weekly Challenge 6: MI Library Quest

6th through 12th graders are invited to participate in MI Library Quest. Search library websites for tools to save King Thaddeus Brockwright III's kingdom from the dreaded bronze dragon. Succeed and you'll be entered to win a gift card to a local business or bookstore of your choice.  

This is a state-wide quest.  Prizes are being awarded by each library, so someone (or a few someones) from our library will win a prize!

You can read King Thaddeus's plea for help below and then get started at mi.gov/MiLibraryQuest.  

I am King Thaddeus Brockwright the Third and I request your aid in ridding my kingdom of the dreaded bronze dragon. The destruction and devastation to our villages is horrendous, and we can’t hold out much longer. We know the dragon is strong so you will need to gather additional supplies for your journey. Luckily dragons are predictable and after a week of eating, it will take a full month of rest to digest its full stomach. This means you have exactly 30 days to retrieve your items and face the dragon before he is awake again at full strength.

Each of my villages has prepared and hidden items on their library website to help you along your journey; you will need to retrieve at least 23 of these items before you will be able to face the dragon. Collect your 23 items and log their names under the name of the village library where you collected them in the Dragon Eradication Inventory in order to proceed. Once the dragon is defeated, each province will be distributing awards randomly among the participating adventurers. 

Good luck, and come back victorious!

The Quest ends on July 30, 2020.

Weekly Challenge 3

The TNT challenge this week is to write a letter to someone or to write a text message conversation between two characters in a book you have read.

You can write a letter to anyone you know and send it to them - a family member, a friend, anyone you know!  You can send it as a physical letter or an email. See if they write back.

Or you can write a text message conversation between two character in a book you have read. What do you think they'd say to each other? If you'd like us to share your conversation, you can email it to us at youth@milanlibrary.org. As a thank you for participating, if you send us a conversation, you will get an entry in our Summer Reading prize drawing.

And, last week's Share Your Story challenge also continues through July 15.  See details here. 

Weekly Challenge 2: Share Your Story

This week’s challenge is to Share Your Story.

The past few months have been unusual for all of us. School buildings closed. Many businesses closed. We have done school and work from home.  Activities and events have been canceled. Being home all the time may have inspired you to get creative and find new things to do that you wouldn’t have usually done.

We invite you to share your story with us.  We will compile these stories into a book at the library. 

You can send us anything you'd like to share - photographs, drawings, writings - anything that shares your experience and daily life during the pandemic.

If you would like ideas, here are a few suggestions:

What did you do that you wouldn't have done on a "normal" day?
What did you not do that you would have done on a "normal" day?
What do you like or not like about being home instead of at school?
How are you keeping in touch with family and friends while you can't visit them in person?
Have you done something to help someone else?
Has someone done something to help you?
Have you missed an event during this time?
Did you celebrate a birthday in a different way?
What are you looking forward to doing after we return to "normal?"
What will you keep doing even after we return to "normal?"

The following two resources provide additional ideas – either for Share Your Story or just for yourself.

My Covid-19 Time Capsule
by Long Creations
Journal-type pages for children to document this time.

My Lockdown Diary
by Stephen McCarthy
Prompts for writing and drawing during this time of no school and social distancing.

You can send information to us for our Share Your Story book

• here - A Gmail account is required. You'll upload your submission directly on that page.
• Email us at youth@milanlibrary.org and then complete this form.
• Bring information to the library once we reopen.  We can scan your documents if you'd like to keep the originals.

As a thank you for participating, one person who shares their story will win a gift card to a Milan business. Since this challenge is a little bigger than our usual weekly challenges, we’ll give you some extra time and have the drawing on July 15. 

We hope you enjoy this challenge.  We look forward to seeing your stories!

Weekly Challenge: Week 1

Summer Reading Weekly Challenge

Week 1: Listen to a story from someone you know

You can watch the video announcing our Weekly Challenge below or on Facebook here.

In the video when I mentioned contacting someone, that should have been "call or *Facetime*" - not Facebook. 

If you have any questions, please leave us a comment here or email youth@milanlibrary.org.

We hope you enjoy this week's challenge!

Dinosaur Day with PaleoJoe

Dinosaur Day with PaleoJoe

Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 A.M.

  PaleoJoe (Joseph Kchodl) introduces animals, plants, and creatures that have been extinct for millions of years.  His
stories, fossils, and specimens bring the past to life. You’ll see a 3-foot baby T-Rex skeleton, a Velociraptor skull, and more.

This event will be held on Zoom. 

Registration: 
Please register here if you are ONLY attending the Dinosaur Day event.

If you would like to participate in any other aspects of our Summer Reading Program, you can register for those events AND Dinosaur Day in the following links:

TNT (6th - 12th grade) registration for Dinosaur Day AND other summer events

Children's registration for Dinosaur Day AND other summer events

Summer Reading Program 2020: Imagine Your Story

Our Summer Reading Program will begin on Monday, June 15 and continue through Saturday, August 28.  You are invited to read and listen to books, earn prizes, and participate in library events this summer.  Our events will be held virtually this year.

This summer will be different from previous years, but we are looking forward to encouraging reading and listening to books and to hosting fun events and projects.

Registration: Please register here.

Reading logs will be available here beginning on Monday, June 15.

Events for the first half of the summer are on the flyer below and can be opened as a pdf here.

We have tentative events planned for the entire summer, but will evaluate if we should make any changes before publicizing the end-of-summer schedule.

Questions: If you have any questions, please let us know here.  We look forward to seeing you (virtually!) this summer.

Updates will be posted here.

See our TNT events in the image below or 

click here for a pdf of the flyer.

Summer Reading Prize Packets

Everyone who completes the 3rd goal (30 days or 15 hours) on our reading logs will receive a prize packet.

The prize packets contain:
a certificate for a free book from the library's book sale
a certificate for free ice cream from McDonald's
a certificate for 2 free games of bowling at Bel-Mark Lanes
a certificate for a free game at Zap Zone
a coupon for a free ride or snack item at Saline Community Fair (if you respond to the email about the fair coupons)

If you turn in your 3rd reading log ticket by Tuesday, August 13, your prize packet will be available to pick up on Friday, August 16 - or any time after that.

If you turn in your 3rd reading log ticket after August 13 and by the end of the program on Saturday, August 31, your prize packet will be available to pick up on Friday, September 6 - or any time after that.

On Friday, August 16, we'll have the following in the meeting room:

• prize packets 
• space-themed craft projects remaining from our summer events and board games - Stop by to create and/or play!
• space-themed props for you to pose with and take photos

Everyone is welcome on Friday - even if you don't have a prize packet, yet. Stop by to create a project, play a game, and/or take a picture - and then keep reading/listening!

Summer Reading Program

Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is A Universe of Stories.  Everyone is invited to read, earn prizes, and attend events at the library this summer.

Our TNT (Teen & Tween) Summer Reading Program is for all 6th through 12th graders.

See information about our children's Summer Reading Program (toddlers - 5th grade) here.

See our TNT flier here.  

Registration
Register online here.
Or register on paper at the library beginning on Thursday, June 13.

Read
Thursday, June 13 is the first day to pick up a reading log and start recording your reading and/or listening.  You can choose to count the number of days you read (you choose how much to read each day) or the amount of time you spend reading. 

Saturday, August 31 is the last day to submit your reading/listening time and receive prizes for reading/listening throughout the summer. 

TNT Tuesdays
TNT Tuesdays will be held throughout the summer. We'll paint the windows of the library, play board games, and more. 

Tuesday, June 18: Paint the Windows
Choose 1:00 or 3:00 P.M.
We'll paint the windows with our Summer Reading theme.

Tuesday, July 2: Game Day
1:00 - 6th - 8th grade
3:00 - 9th - 12th grade
Come play board games, card games, cup stacking, and more.

Tuesday, July 16: Minute to Win It Challenges
1:00 - 6th - 8th grade
3:00 - 9th - 12th grade
Test your skills at a variety of timed challenges. 

Tuesday, July 30: Your Choice: Edible Creations
1:00 - 6th - 8th grade
3:00 - 9th - 12th grade
We'll create and eat sweet treats. Please let us know about any food allergies if you plan to attend.

Tuesday, August 13: Your Choice: Escape Room Board Game
This activity works best with a group of 6 or fewer.
Choose 1:00 or 2:30.  We'll add an additional session if more people are interested.

If you haven't voted for your choices, you can vote here.

Update: We've chosen the activities for this summer, but we will continue TNT activities this fall, so you can still vote for what you'd like to do for those events.

Events for all ages

Friday, June 21: Apollo Adventure by Michigan Science Center

Ten hands-on, space-themed science activities will be available between 9:30 and 12:30.  We recommend allowing an hour or longer to move through the activities at your own pace. You may arrive at any time during the event. This event is best for preschoolers through middle schoolers; all ages are welcome.  It will be held in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center).

Thursday, July 18: Touch a Truck 
Our annual Touch a Truck event will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. during July's Third Thursday. You'll see a variety of community vehicles, meet the people who drive and work with them, and learn about their jobs and their importance in our community.  

***UPDATE*** This event has moved to a new location. It will be held in Milan Middle School's parking lot. Thank you, Milan Area Schools, for providing us with this location.

We are hosting this event with Milan Parks and Recreation during Milan Main Street's Third Thursday.
See a list of participants and vehicles here.  

Friday, August 9: The Supernatural Intergalactical Summer Reading MAGIC Spectacular by Jeff Wawrzaszek of A2 Magic 
This magic show will include several space-themed illusions. This event will be held at 10:30 A.M. in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center) and is for all ages (children and teens).

Volunteer opportunities
TNT volunteer opportunities include helping with programs for younger children, preparing craft materials, and other projects in the library. If you are interested in volunteering and are also participating in our TNT Summer Reading Program, you can sign up to volunteer when you register. If you are ONLY volunteering (and not participating in our TNT Summer Reading Program), please sign up here.  

Questions
If you have any questions about our Summer Reading Program, please ask us at the library or online here.

Summer Reading t-shirts
The Friends of the Library are selling t-shirts with the summer theme, A Universe of Stories. See more information here.

Summer Reading T-shirts

The Friends of the Library are selling t-shirts with our Summer Reading Theme: A Universe of Stories.

Pre-order here by April 30.  Only the orders are due now; you'll pay when you pick up your t-shirt(s) in June.

Questions? Ask them here.

Navy

$10 – children’s (2T – large)
$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Black – Blue letters

$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Black – Yellow/Gold letters

$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Navy – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

  

Purple – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

Sapphire – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

Summer Reading Program

Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is Libraries Rock!

You are invited to read and/or listen to books, earn prizes, and attend programs at the library this summer. 

READ

Pick up a reading log from the library to keep track of your reading and listening.

• Read books, ebooks, or magazines.

• Read to yourself or to someone else.

• Listen to audiobooks.

• Listen to someone else reading to you.

You may choose to count how many hours you read or how many days you read.

Earn prizes as you reach reading goals throughout the summer. 

Wednesday, June 13 is the first day to pick up reading logs and begin reading and/or listening to audiobooks or to someone read to you.

REGISTRATION 

Registration is requested for our events.  You may register online here beginning on June 4.  We will also have paper registration forms available at the library beginning on June 13.

EVENTS for all ages 

Dinosaurs Rock! 
Dinosaur Day with Paleo Joe

Friday, June 22 at 10:30 A.M.

in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center)

Paleo Joe introduces plants, animals, and creatures that are extinct. You'll learn about dinosaurs and see real fossils.

Science Rocks! 
by Michigan Science Center

Friday, August 10 at 10:30 A.M.

in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center)

What is sound? Why do objects make sounds? Why do we beat a drum but pluck a guitar? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this interactive program.

Additional EVENTS 

TNT Tuesdays will be held throughout the summer.  See our TNT Summer Events page here for more information.

VOLUNTEERING 

Volunteer opportunities are available for 6th through 12th graders throughout the summer at the library.

Opportunities to volunteer include helping during programs for younger children, assisting with the kickoff and closing events, preparing for programs, and other projects at the library.

If you are interested in volunteering and are registering for the Summer Reading Program, you can sign up to volunteer on your registration for SRP. If you are only volunteering, please sign up here. After signing up in either place, you will receive more information.

If you have any questions, please ask Jennifer at the library or ask them here.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions, you may ask at them here or at the library.

Summer Reading Program

Monday, June 5

Online registration begins here.

Wednesday, June 14

Pick up reading logs and begin reading and/or listening to audiobooks.

Friday, June 16

10:30 A.M.

Build a Better Magic Show

by Jeff Wawrzaszek 

in the Senior and Community Activity Center 

Friday, August 11

10:30 A.M.

Animal Architects

by Howell Nature Center

in the Senior and Community Activity Center

Volunteer opportunities and additional programs will be held throughout the summer:  Game Days, Books and Bites, Paint the Windows, and more!

The complete summer schedule will be posted here and brochures will be available at the end of May.

If you have any questions, please submit them here.  

Prize Packets

Each teen/tween who has submitted the 2nd ticket on our reading log (for reading for 10 hours or 20 days) will receive a prize packet containing certificates for a free book, pizza, CheezyBread, bowling, and more.  If you have turned in your 2nd ticket, please ask for your prize packet at the circulation desk.

Thank you to the following for donating prizes:

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Bel-Mark Lanes

Clonlara School

Collins Center

Friends of Milan Public Library

Hungry Howie's Pizza

Kohl's

Marco's Pizza 

Milan Dairy Barn

Splash Universe

The Morning Owl

Zap Zone Fun Center

Thank you also to the City of Milan for the use of the Wilson Park Pavilion and the Senior and Community Activity Center for our programs and to our patrons who donated to youth programming and funded Crazy Craig's Juggling Show and Lego bricks for Game Days.

Activity Logs

We have Activity Logs to provide you with suggestions for reading-related activities through the end of the summer.  Read with someone, read somewhere you don't usually read, read a different type of book than you usually read, try something (origami, drawing, sign language, etc.) from a book, exercise your mind (with a puzzle, word search, etc.), or exercise your body (play a sport, ride your bicycle, etc.) 

Pick up an Activity Log from the brochure rack in front of the reference desk.  Complete any 12 activities and return your form to the library by September 3 to receive a prize and enter the prize drawing.  

Summer Events at the Library

2016 Summer Reading Program

Our Summer Reading Program will begin on Thursday, June 16.  You are invited to read or listen to books, earn prizes, and attend programs throughout the summer. 

See our calendar of events here and the brochure here.
Register online here now.
Register in the library beginning on Wednesday, June 15.
Pick up reading logs from the library beginning on Wednesday, June 15.
Begin counting your reading on Thursday, June 16 (the first day of summer in Milan).
Any questions?  Ask them here. 

See our Summer Reading page for any updates throughout the summer.

Reading
You may choose to count the amount of time you read or the number of days you read and earn prizes for reaching reading goals throughout the summer.  See more information on the reading logs which will be available at the library beginning on June 15.

You may read any books, ebooks, magazines, and graphic novels.  You may also listen to audiobooks.  We have a variety of genres and a variety of formats to assist everyone with finding reading materials   they will enjoy.

Activity Logs
You may also choose to explore a variety of reading and library-related activities through an additional activity log and earn prizes for completing activities in this log.

Kickoff Event: Brain Games 
by Michigan Science Center
Friday, June 17 - 10:30 A.M.
Senior and Community Activity Center

for all ages
Put your brain to the test when we challenge you with puzzles and tasks! We’ll introduce you to the different ways your brain coordinates movement in various sports and fitness activities.

Additional events this summer:

TAG (Teen/Tween Advisory Group)

Game Day

Paint the Windows

Stuffed Animal Sitters

Get in the Game: Play!

Crazy Craig's Juggling Show

See the TNT brochure here for details.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer opportunities are available for 6^th through 12^th graders throughout the summer at the library.

Opportunities to volunteer include helping during programs for younger children, assisting with the kickoff and closing events, preparing for programs, and other projects at the library.

If you are interested in volunteering and are registering to read or participate in events this summer, check "yes" on the question asking if you would like to volunteer.

If you are not registering for any other events this summer, you may sign up to volunteer here. 

If you have any questions, ask them here or call or stop by the library and talk to Jennifer.

Get in the Game: Read!

Our TNT (Teens and Tweens/6th - 12th grade) Summer Reading Program theme this year is "Get in the Game: Read!" 

The Friends of the Library will sell t-shirts with the themes.  Orders are due by May 15 and will arrive in June.  We will notify you when they arrive.  Payment will be due when you pick up your order.  You may order online here or ask for an order form at the library.

The navy t-shirt with gray letters is available in adult sizes. Adult sizes small - XL are $8 each. Adult sizes XXL and 3XL are $10 each.

The blue t-shirt with orange letters s available in women's cut.

Women's sizes small - XL are $10 each.

Women's sizes XXL and 3XL are $12 each.

You may order online here or ask for an order form at the library.  Orders are due by May 15.

Summer Reading Program Prizes

Children and teens who read for at least 10 hours or 20 days and submitted the second tickets on their Summer Reading Program logs have earned a prize packet with additional prizes: a free pizza from Hungry Howie's, a free book from the Friends of the Library book sale, a free game at Zap Zone, free Cheezybread from Marco's Pizza (kindergarten and older), a stuffed animal donated by Kohl's, and more.  You may pick up your packet from the circulation desk any time this month.  We would like all packets to be picked up by the end of August.  

If your name was drawn in the prize drawing, you will have a note on your prize packet indicating what you won.  Prize drawing prizes included:
free passes to Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum donated by Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
free passes to Zap Zone donated by Zap Zone
books donated by Nicola's Books  
gift cards to Basil Boys donated by Basil Boys
an elephant purse donated by Collins Center
Disney Pixar Write and Erase Look and Find books donated by Kohl's
Disney Pixar Look and Find Family Fun Puzzle donated by Kohl's
book store gift cards donated by the Friends of the Library
"Every Hero Has a Story" tote bags and drawstring backpacks
 
Thank you to our community businesses who donated prizes:
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Basil Boys Pizza
Collins Center
Friends of Milan Public Library
Hungry Howie's
Kohl's
Marco's Pizza
Milan Dairy Barn
Nagle's Market
Nicola's Books
Zap Zone