Submitted by Sarah Brubaker
Check out these highlights from some of the unique offerings patrons enjoyed systemwide June 5–11, 2025.
Where's Loanie Week 1: #15 Trammel Fire Station (6/6)
24 kids, 18 adults
“We had a great time ‘hiding’ the bookmobile at the fire station. Patrons ages 5 to 85 got to solve the riddles to find Loanie, then hang out with us and the firefighters. We had a fire truck craft, bean bag toss, clothes relay, and of course, our bonus button! Patrons also got to go into the fire station and have a tour of the fire trucks. It was a fantastic kickoff to our biggest summer series!” - Hosted by Brooke West and Katie LeDuc
“We had a great time ‘hiding’ the bookmobile at the fire station. Patrons ages 5 to 85 got to solve the riddles to find Loanie, then hang out with us and the firefighters. We had a fire truck craft, bean bag toss, clothes relay, and of course, our bonus button! Patrons also got to go into the fire station and have a tour of the fire trucks. It was a fantastic kickoff to our biggest summer series!” - Hosted by Brooke West and Katie LeDuc
Pop Up Chess at Denmark Library (6/6)
30 children, 17 adults
“We had a full crowd of 30 chess enthusiasts today. Vishruth and Adrith did a great job presenting. They did more of an introduction today, showing the kids the basics of how the individual pieces work. They were very welcoming and warm with the children, encouraging them as they learned new skills. They used effective crowd control techniques to get the group to quiet down after they were practicing and talking to their partner. The parents in the audience were very impressed and complimentary of the boys, as well as appreciative of the program. Vishruth's father was there and we discussed how the program went. He and I both had some suggestions for the boys to make things even better at the next class. Not only is this a great program for our patrons, but it is also a learning and development opportunity for the boys, which I love.” - hosted by Amy Szvetecz
“We had a full crowd of 30 chess enthusiasts today. Vishruth and Adrith did a great job presenting. They did more of an introduction today, showing the kids the basics of how the individual pieces work. They were very welcoming and warm with the children, encouraging them as they learned new skills. They used effective crowd control techniques to get the group to quiet down after they were practicing and talking to their partner. The parents in the audience were very impressed and complimentary of the boys, as well as appreciative of the program. Vishruth's father was there and we discussed how the program went. He and I both had some suggestions for the boys to make things even better at the next class. Not only is this a great program for our patrons, but it is also a learning and development opportunity for the boys, which I love.” - hosted by Amy Szvetecz
Watercolor Workshop at Post Road Library (6/7)
15 adults
“We had a wonderful watercolor workshop today lead by Rohini from Annata Arts. Fifteen patrons were instructed on how to paint a landscape design. The patrons who attended made beautiful landscape paintings, and everyone I spoke to said she was a wonderful instructor and that they really enjoyed the workshop. We had to turn away twelve or thirteen patrons who wanted to attend, so having a second session would have been nice (although not necessarily possible due to cost).” - hosted by Melissa Reed
15 adults
“We had a wonderful watercolor workshop today lead by Rohini from Annata Arts. Fifteen patrons were instructed on how to paint a landscape design. The patrons who attended made beautiful landscape paintings, and everyone I spoke to said she was a wonderful instructor and that they really enjoyed the workshop. We had to turn away twelve or thirteen patrons who wanted to attend, so having a second session would have been nice (although not necessarily possible due to cost).” - hosted by Melissa Reed
Foil Figure Sculptures at Post Road Library (6/9)
16 teens
“Lara presented an awesome craft for the teens where they created a person out of aluminum foil and sculpted them into a person doing any action of their choosing. Some teens were skeptical that they could make a nice painting and sculpture, but I have to say, I was impressed with them all. Lara's examples were all doing a sporting activity, but our teens crafted people in space, people playing video games, a person shopping at the mall, people at the beach, and so much more. Lara gave instructions that were easy to follow, and many teens said they were going to make another at home. It was a great night of crafting, laughs, and creativity.” - hosted by LoraGrace Paolazzi
16 teens
“Lara presented an awesome craft for the teens where they created a person out of aluminum foil and sculpted them into a person doing any action of their choosing. Some teens were skeptical that they could make a nice painting and sculpture, but I have to say, I was impressed with them all. Lara's examples were all doing a sporting activity, but our teens crafted people in space, people playing video games, a person shopping at the mall, people at the beach, and so much more. Lara gave instructions that were easy to follow, and many teens said they were going to make another at home. It was a great night of crafting, laughs, and creativity.” - hosted by LoraGrace Paolazzi
Library Comic Convention at the Sharon Forks Library (6/5)
17 teens
Our teen patrons really enjoyed our library comic con! We started with a drawing workshop from Comic Book artist Kyle from Galactic Quest comics, which they all really enjoyed. After, they got their official attendee badges and lanyards and enjoyed a Dungeons and Dragons table with a demonstration from real players, tabletop games, and talking to a cosplayer guest who helped judge our cosplay contest! We had multiple teens dress up and the winner was dressed as a fairy with purple hair. We finished the mini con by streaming the first episode of the anime, One Piece. A lot of teens enjoyed the program and asked for more Dungeons and Dragons programs in the future!
17 teens
Our teen patrons really enjoyed our library comic con! We started with a drawing workshop from Comic Book artist Kyle from Galactic Quest comics, which they all really enjoyed. After, they got their official attendee badges and lanyards and enjoyed a Dungeons and Dragons table with a demonstration from real players, tabletop games, and talking to a cosplayer guest who helped judge our cosplay contest! We had multiple teens dress up and the winner was dressed as a fairy with purple hair. We finished the mini con by streaming the first episode of the anime, One Piece. A lot of teens enjoyed the program and asked for more Dungeons and Dragons programs in the future!
Science Meets Art at the Sharon Forks Library (6/6)
92 children, 50 adults
“Children participated with a lot of enthusiasm, and their caregivers were very happy to see the kids productively involved. Patrons gave compliments about how much they loved and appreciated what we do for the kids. The activity stations were:
1. Gravity Art: Children dropped dollops of paint in a row and tilted it vertically so gravity could do the rest of the work.
2. Shadow drawing: We used puppets and a flashlight to see the shadows and draw the outline of the shadow image of various animals.
3. Balloon Art: Balloons with marbles tied inside were dipped in paint and the kids used the design side of the balloon as a stamp to print on the canvas.
4. Xylograph: The children used wooden pattern blocks and paint; through this activity, children experienced how force and pressure can be used to make art.
5. Sphero Art: The kids had fun moving the robotic sphero ball using the ipad and understood how even robotics can help with making abstract art.” - hosted by Anu Murari
92 children, 50 adults
“Children participated with a lot of enthusiasm, and their caregivers were very happy to see the kids productively involved. Patrons gave compliments about how much they loved and appreciated what we do for the kids. The activity stations were:
1. Gravity Art: Children dropped dollops of paint in a row and tilted it vertically so gravity could do the rest of the work.
2. Shadow drawing: We used puppets and a flashlight to see the shadows and draw the outline of the shadow image of various animals.
3. Balloon Art: Balloons with marbles tied inside were dipped in paint and the kids used the design side of the balloon as a stamp to print on the canvas.
4. Xylograph: The children used wooden pattern blocks and paint; through this activity, children experienced how force and pressure can be used to make art.
5. Sphero Art: The kids had fun moving the robotic sphero ball using the ipad and understood how even robotics can help with making abstract art.” - hosted by Anu Murari
I'm glad the watercolor workshop at PR went so well! If anyone was disappointed to miss it, please let interested patrons know that Rohini is also presenting a watercolor workshop at CU on Saturday, July 19, 11:00 am-12:30 pm.
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