By KATHLEEN WILSON
Summer is in full swing, and at the public library that means our buildings are filled to the brim with summer readers. There are already more than 1,300 children and more than 500 teens signed up for the library’s summer reading program at the Port Orchard branch alone.
After signing up to read for ten hours, the kids track their reading and return to the library with their completed reading trackers to select a free prize book provided by the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library and a free ticket to the Kitsap County Fair while supplies last.
The library has a calendar full of summer programs at all our branches to go along with the reading program, be sure to check out activities ranging from the super popular computer game Minecraft, which can be played via the KRL’s new Minecraft server, to the Carter Family Marionettes, appearing at Port Orchard on July 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Many thanks to the South Kitsap School District for continuing to provide free sack lunches to anyone under age 18 at our Wednesday programs at the waterfront gazebo, over 200 lunches have been given out each week.
Visit www.krl.org for a complete schedule.
By now you probably know you can download e-books and audio books from the library’s website onto your e-reader, tablet or computer but you might not know you can also download digital magazines onto those same devices. If you’re traveling this summer, you’ll definitely want to check out some of KRL’s downloadable magazines.
Download entire digital copies of more than 100 magazines onto your computer or favorite mobile device via KRL’s subscription to Zinio. Whether you’re preparing for a seven-hour plane trip or a trip to the orthodontist’s waiting room, you can be prepared to ward off summer boredom with KRL’s great selection of digital magazines accessible from the KRL website with your library card.
You may have heard the Port Orchard branch will be closing Aug. 30 through Oct. 21 for some much needed interior renovations, and I’ll have more details about our closure next month.
Right now we’re in our last stages of fundraising for this project and a generous donor has offered to match all donations, up to a total of $1,500. We’re calling this July fundraiser “get more bang for your buck” as every donation will be doubled and will go directly to help purchase items for our refreshed interior.
Renovations will include all new carpeting, new comfortable seating areas and a new unified service point for circulation and reference.
I hope to see you soon at the library picking up a beach read, a camping guide or an audio book for your next road trip.
