Did you know that school-age kids who continue reading during summer break lose less academic achievement when they return to school in the fall than kids who do not?

The Anchorage Public Library can help with that. In addition, APL offers fun reading and learning opportunities for the entire family, or cradle-to-grave, as it were.

APL’s Summer Discovery program begins on Saturday, May 19 with Reading Rendezvous on the south lawn at Loussac Library (next to the fountain). It runs noon to 4pm with lots of booths and performers and activities for everyone. It’s a lovely way to kick off a summer of fun.

Also on Saturday, May 19, you can come to the Chugiak-Eagle River Library to register and get started on your Summer Discovery journey. We’ll tell you all about it in person.

Everyone in the family can register to participate in Summer Discovery, and all ages use the same log sheet with a variety of activities (including reading) to choose from. You can register at the APL booth at Reading Rendezvous, or at any APL location throughout the program. Summer Discovery ends on July 31, so if you’re traveling as soon as school gets out, you’ll still have time to participate.

If incentives are your thing, there are prizes for completing the log sheet. Everyone up to age 18 who finishes gets a free book to keep, plus they get an entry in the grand prize drawing. Prizes include a Kindle Fire as well as other donated items. For adults, finishers receive a canvas tote bag, and the grand prize is an iPad Mini.

Did I mention there’s a theme?

This year, it’s Libraries Rock! (Which, of course, they do.) We’re taking this in a couple of directions: we’ll do some music events, and probably some rock painting, but mostly we’ll just have fun.

Speaking of events, we always have a full calendar during the summer. Loussac Library will host its annual Live @ the Library concert series on Thursdays at noon. All performances will be out on the south lawn unless it rains. In that case, the music will move into the Wilda Marston Theatre. Kids will have events of their own, with an author, musicians, a magician, and LEGOs. Check out the schedules below for performers, dates, and times.

We have volunteer opportunities for teens during the summer.

It’s called our VolunTeen program, and we train teens ages 13-17 at all locations to register library patrons for Summer Discovery. We couldn’t do this big program without their help, and working with them is a joy. Initial orientation for VolunTeens at Chugiak-Eagle River Library is on Saturday, May 19 at 3pm in the program room, but we’re happy to train after that date if teens can’t make it.

All of this information will be available on the Anchorage Public Library webpage: http://www.anchoragelibrary.org. Come join us for fun and learning—you’ll be glad you did!

Live @ the Library Concert Series

Thursdays at noon @ Loussac

June 7: Emma Hill
June 14: SpeNerds
June 21: Taiko Drummers
June 28: The Fire
June 29: Highland Piping Competition
July 5: TBD
July 12: The Button Box Gang
July 19: Danger & Diva
July 26: Kat Moore
August 2: John Sterling Trio
August 9: TBD

Youth Summer Discovery Events run from June 5 to July 26

Muldoon Branch Tuesdays 11:30 am
Loussac Library Tuesdays 3:00 pm
Gerrish (Girdwood) Branch Wednesdays 2:30 pm
Chugiak-Eagle River Branch Thursdays 12:00 pm
Mountain View Branch Thursdays 4:30 pm    

June 5-7:            Nathan Hale—Battle of the Books author, graphic novels
June 12-14:      Crystalee Brown—Youth Zumba class
June 19-21:      Patty Shukla—YouTube musician
June 26-28:      Bricks 4 Kidz—LEGO building with gears and experiments
July 3-5:              Movies (titles vary by location)
July 10-12:        Don Russell—Magician
July 17-19:        Christina Wilson—Art class
July 24-26:        DJ Spencer Lee—Local DJ, founder/owner of Jams for Fams, dance party