We have a great summer planned for you at the Wilbraham Public Library!

Explore your wild side through our summer theme, "Wild Reads @ Your Library," and try something outside your normal zone. Talented local friends will help us: create henna body art, play theater improv games, learn salsa dancing, cook wild edibles, play Library Survivor, and more.

Enjoy books, videos and music from our collection or through Interlibrary Loan.

Get your punch card filled with 6 punches and receive a paperback book and an entry into our drawing for gift certificates and prizes.

Pick up your startup kit at the library on June 21 or any day thereafter. In it you will find a treat, punch card, and "thumbs-up/thumbs-down-book review-bookmarks." Sign your punch card and leave it in our card box. You’re ready to explore your "wild" side!

The Summer Reading Program is supported by the Wilbraham Friends of the Library, WMRLS, and the MBLC.

Sign up sheets for each program will be available at the YA table,
two weeks before each event.

Summer Reading Events

Tuesday June 24, 2-4 pm: Knitting and Crocheting Workshop (grades 9-12)
No experience required, but please bring your own needles and/or yarn if you have them.

Wednesday June 25, 3:30-5 pm: Henna Body Art (grades 6-8)
Body art with henna paste. It is safe and temporary and will fade in three weeks. Choose a design from our selection or create your own!

Wednesday July 2, 3:30-5 pm: No-Sew Bandana Crafts (grades 6-8)
Make a tote-bag to fill with wild summer memories or a pillow for those summer road trips.

Week of June 29–July 5: Online book discussion (grades 9-12)
Join the discussion to talk about whatever you're reading (now that school is out!). Instructions on how to participate are coming soon.

Wednesday July 9, 3-5 pm: Henna Body Art (grades 9-12)
Body art with henna paste. It is safe and temporary and will fade in three weeks. Choose a design from our selection or create your own!

Thursday July 10, 6:30-8 pm: Wild Edibles with Kathleen Delaney @ the YMCA (grades 6-8)
You will work with a fun chef to make and enjoy a Caribbean summer buffet. Sign up early, at the YA table, as there will be a limit for this program.

Tuesday July 15, 6-8 pm: Jewelry Making (grades 9-12)
Design your own bracelets, earrings, necklaces and more! Bring your own beads or choose from our selection.

Wednesday July 16, 7-8pm: Book Group (grades 6-8)
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life.

Friday July 25, 5:30-7:30 pm: Library Survivor (grades 6-8)
How hard can it be to survive in the library after closing hours? Well, you’ll need to use all your skills and team up with other teens, ‘cause they’ll be fishing and bugs and sand and you may have to make a raft. Really? Yes, really!

Friday July 25, 7-9 pm: Salsa Dancing (grades 9-12)
Come learn how to shake your hips and move your feet to a salsa beat! Please wear shoes with non-rubber soles if you can, otherwise you can dance in your socks.

Thursday July 31, 2-3:30 pm: Theater Improv Games @ the YMCA (grades 6-12)
If you want to be an actor or just have fun exploring your wild side, join Kathleen Delaney, former Broadway dancer, singer and actor. She will share her energy and expertise in some fun improv games.

Thursday July 31, 4 pm: Face Painting (face painters grades 6-12)
Use your skills and creativity to face paint our younger children after their Yoga Parade of Animals program.

Friday August 1, 8pm-midnight: Breaking Dawn Release Party (grades 9-12)
Celebrate the release of Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight series. A limited number of copies will be available at midnight—preorder with Kate now!

Wednesday August 6, 3-5 pm: Tear and Wear (grades 6-12)
Bring your creativity and your old jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, sneakers, skirts, or anything else you want to tear up, refashion, redecorate, and turn into something new!

Saturday August 9, 6-7 pm: Concert by Crown You Now (all ages)
Enjoy a concert by local teen duo Crown You Now. Pizza and drinks will be served.

Week of August 11-16: Online manga book discussion (grades 6-8)
Instructions on how to participate are coming soon.

Week of August 11-16: Online book discussion for Breaking Dawn (grades 9-12)
Instructions on how to participate are coming soon.

Ongoing Programs During the Summer

Every Monday, 3-5 pm: Anime/Manga club (ages 13+)

Every Thursday, 3:30-5 pm, June 26–Aug 21*: Gaming: Guitar Hero and Rock Band (grades 6-12)
*Sorry, no gaming on July 31