The Haines Borough Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program, themed “Dig into Reading,” launches at 11 a.m. Friday, May 24, with a celebration including a puppet show, fairy tale play, a treasure hunt and sea shanties.
Children’s librarian Holly Davis is hoping youths will dress as pirates. “They can just come as they are and enjoy the show. I had one girl tell me pirates are too scary, so she’s coming as a princess. There may be at least one princess among 75 pirates.”
Held at the public library, the reading program runs through Aug. 9 and offers readers of all ages a chance to win prizes while digging into the library’s collection. The program is focused on readers to age 12 and rewards participants with treasures like “growing dinosaur eggs” and flashlights for “undercover” reading.
For readers who already have everything, a new prize this year is a certificate for a $5 donation to a hungry child. “What really makes a person happy is when you make someone else happy, so they’ll be doing that,” Davis said.
The summer program also offers activities for youths during the week, including “Detective Time,” “Gardener ’s Club,” “Nature Walker,” “Ukulele Jam,” “Fairy Tales” and “Spanish Fun.” Program schedules are available at the library.
The always popular “Read to a Dog” program, in which youths read to a dog trained to listen, will be held 3 p.m. Mondays. A past program revived this year is “Amateur Magician’s Club,” where youths learn magic tricks. It will be held at 4 p.m. Fridays.
Readers can register to participate at any time during the summer and visiting readers are welcome, as well, Davis said. Last year, 167 youths participated in the program.