Schools out for summer @ your library®

CHICAGO- With the majority of schools having closed their doors for the summer break, libraries are reminding children and teens that education and summer fun go hand in hand @ your library.

In addition to summer reading programs like Make a splash @ your library and READ and Make waves @ your library, libraries across the county are planning activities to keep students and their minds engaged over summer break.

In celebration of the end of the school year, the James Kennedy Public Library of Dyersville, Iowa, hosted Music and Gaming @ your library. Participants were encouraged to try several of the libraries video games for the Wii, including "Music," "Boogie Superstar" or "Just Dance" at the library.

As part of its Live @ your library performing arts series, the Gaston County Public Library of Gastonia, N.C., will host both the Mountain Marionettes puppet company and  the Bright Star Touring Theatre of Asheville. Both shows are free to children in kindergarten through grade five.

The Canton (N.Y.) Free Library of promotes its summer programming for teens with Teen events @ your library. Weekly events include the library’s anime club and a multi-media program called Booked and Wired, which includes gaming, movies and a fan-fic writers’ workshop. The library is also promoting a retro game night where teens can play systems like GameCube, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.

The Campaign for America’s Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible by ALA’s Library Champions, corporations and foundations.