A summer of fun and learning at the library

Summer is here, and the Wantagh Public Library wants to help residents of all ages have fun and learn a few things while doing so.

The Wantagh Public Library hosts a number of summer reading events, intended for kids, teens, and adults. For kids, the age is baby to fifth grade, for teens it is sixth grade to age 18, and for adults, 18 and up. A number of activities go along with these reading programs.

“We have a bunch of programs coming up,” Carly Cucci, children’s librarian, said. “For teens, we have tie-dye beach towels coming up, we have make your own seashell frames, lots of fun things.”

The Wantagh Public Library participates in the statewide READSquared for its summer reading program, making registration for all ages very easy online. In addition to just reading, children are treated to yoga classes and story times from the Department of Environmental Conservation with animals being shown. Other planned events could include a petting zoo, which was done last year.

The kickoff event for their summer reading program was on June 30, and included a puppet show to get the kids excited.

For adults who partake in the reading programs, there are Bingo nights and art classes, as well as adult book discussions. For the whole family, they host outdoor movies and concerts, mainly from tribute bands. These concerts largely take place on “Music Mondays,” in the library parking lot, with admission being free.

The goal of the adult programs is simple - to keep adults reading. The goal of the children and teen’s program is a bit more complicated – it aims to reduce the “summer slide,” a phenomenon that occurs every summer where students are known to forget much of what they learned in the school year if they don’t practice learning. All programs have one common goal, though, and that is good, clean, summer fun.