ROCHELLE — The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library kicked off its Summer Reading program on Wednesday. The theme this year is Level Up at Your Library. The library has hosted a summer reading program for over 50 years to offer area kids a place to go and activities while they’re on summer break from school. You do not need a library card to participate in summer reading programs.

Wednesday saw a Reading Dragons Kick-Off Party for all ages. Attendees learned about the library's Summer Reading Dragons program while doing fun dragon-themed activities. Kids learned how to play the card game, and took home a starter deck of cards and a deck box to keep them organized. Children earn dragon cards by reading books and can use them to play against their friends.

“It's free and the kids are loving collecting the dragon cards,” Library Outreach Clerk Ashley Capes said. “They read for 30-minute intervals and bring a tracker back and they can collect all kinds of cards. We have had a pleasantly-surprising large turnout, which is good. I think the kids had a little break of school and they're ready to get into some free activities here at the library. The theme this year is all about games, gaming, video games, board games, coding and robotics. We have a lot of fun game-themed programs coming up and a lot of non game-themed programs coming up like art classes, theater classes, and gardening class. We're kind of running the whole gamut of what we have to offer here free of charge with no library card needed.”

Capes said children continuing to read in the summer is important so they don’t lose reading comprehension before the fall semester starts. Parents reading to small children can also help with that and the library also has audiobooks available. 

Seeing the library full on Wednesday was enjoyable for Capes, who thanked the community for its faithful support of the library, which tries to offer something for every age and interest group.

“It's great to see overwhelming support for the things we do here,” Capes said. “Summer reading has changed as kids and parents' interests have over the years. Kids are busier than ever during the school years and the summers. We're really grateful that the families still take time out to visit the library. Summer reading is always a lot of work for our staff, but it's always a lot of fun. Some of our older kids that have gone through our summer reading programs are now back to help and volunteer and I love seeing that.”

Capes spoke about the importance of a fun, safe environment for children and families to visit during the summer that’s free of charge and educational. The library recently unveiled its new sensory tools it purchased with a grant from the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, which were a hit with kids on Wednesday.

We also have some other sensory and reading toys coming out later in the summer,” Capes said. “We’re again offering our Book Bucks program where kids can win prizes by reading. The Reading Dragons kick off was exciting for me. I've been working for the past six months on getting this program ready and I was just excited to share it with the kids and the families. We even have parents wanting to do Reading Dragons for themselves. Anything that will get kids and people to read more is a great idea.”

Programs

Summer Reading programs for all ages include Coloring Club every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m., Gamer Thursdays the first Thursday of every month from 4-6 p.m., Outdoor Movie Nights on June 13 and July 11, and Library Lego Club the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. The library will have Outdoor Games with the Park District on June 16 at 10 a.m.

There will be a Youth Talent Show on June 26 from 5-7 p.m. open to all youth up to age 18.

Youth and family programs include Story time on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:15 a.m. for young readers up to age seven accompanied by a caregiver. The 4-C Play and Learn Group will meet the first and third Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m. for kids birth-five.

For tweens, the library will host a Pokemon Fan Club on the second and fourth Monday of June and July from 11 a.m. to noon. The Rochelle Green Thumbs 4-H Club will meet to learn about vegetables and gardening on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. March-August for ages 8-18 years. Elementary and middle school kids can learn to Put on a Play in 90 minutes on June 16 1-2:30 p.m. (advance registration required). 

A Star Weaving Ornaments event will take place July 14 at 10:30 a.m. for ages eight and up (advance registration required). There will be a Musical Theatre Dance event on June 18 from 10-11 a.m. The free class requires advance registration and is aimed towards participants in first through fifth grades.

Activities for teens include Art & Chill on the second and fourth Tuesdays of June, July and August from 4-5 p.m. A Teen Trivia Night will be held on July 16 at 5 p.m. There will be prizes for first and second place and teams can be signed up by emailing ashleyc@flaggrochellepubliclibrary.org. The Summer Thrill Teen Book Club will meet on June 26 and July 31 to discuss titles for each month. The designated books for the club are now available at the library.

Teens can perform a Play in 90 Minutes on July 14 from 1-2:30 p.m. The library will also host its first Theatre Camp from July 7-12 from 1-4 p.m. each day for kids in grades 6-12.

The camp is free and participants get a week of singing, dancing and acting culminating in a final performance. Contact the library to sign up.

The library will also have summer reading programs for adults. Home Grown Healthy is a 10-week free program on Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. starting June 3. Participants can learn to grow a garden and try new foods made with garden produce. The library will host an Adult Art Workshop on June 25 at 6 p.m. on flower hammering. Advance registration required. Another workshop will be held on July 29 at 6 p.m. on Designing with Denim (advance registration required). Adult Morning Book Club will meet the last Wednesday of each month at 10:15 a.m.

The library will host an End of Summer Reading Foam Party at noon on Aug. 1. To sign up for any program or if you have questions, you can call the library at 815-562-3431 or email ashleyc@flaggrochellepubliclibrary.org