Between the Stacks: 5/5/2021

May is traditionally the Library’s month to prepare for Summer Reading. We will have many of our regular programs but this is the transition for staff from regular programs to all of the wonderful things we have planned for teens, children, preschoolers, and adults. May calendars are out and available at the front desk.

Our Government 101 programs will conclude on Wednesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. with our own Mary the Mayor Janacaro-Hensleigh. She will be discussing the different responsibilities she carries as the mayor of Whitehall, as well as how she came to be involved in different areas of civic service. This has been a wonderful series of programs and I want to thank everyone who made them possible.

The last spring Art Camp and STEM Camp for the month will take place on May 6. Art Camp will meet at 2:30 p.m. The STEM class will be taste testing different foods to identify them by smell, touch, or taste but not sight. This is an experiment in using other senses to discover the world around them. STEM meets at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

This summer the Library will begin a paint by number group for adults and teens on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. This class is for those who like to paint but not necessarily draw. We are ordering the kits now and have limited the class to 15 people due to space. There is no cost to come join the class but painters do need to sign up and pick their project. There are wildlife scenes, outdoor panoramas, animals, night skies, and other projects to choose from.

The June and July calendars are filling up and there will be a variety of programming for everyone. This is a very busy time for the Library and we count on our volunteers to assist with the large influx of patrons. If you would like to join our volunteer team, please stop by the Library for an application. The application is let us know what different types of experiences, computer skills, programming expertise, and other information that will ensure that volunteers are using their abilities in the most productive way.

Patrons have also noticed several young people who are doing community service in the Library. These teens are very helpful in assisting us with book washing, cleaning, weeding, sweeping the sidewalks, and other duties. The Library is a great way for them to learn basic job skills while learning the many things available to them in an educational capacity.

New books are on the way so expect book reviews for the next couple of weeks in this column as our programming slows down for the month. Watch for your favorite authors coming soon!