By JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
The Hays Public Library works year-round to ensure the community of Hays is kept busy with events, activities and projects. However, one season stands out from the rest.
During the summer, the HPL prepares hundreds of functions for the people of Hays.
This weekly series will highlight events at the library each week and feature one activity as the “Event of the Week.”
This week’s featured event is the Father’s Day celebration, “Father’s Day Storytime,” scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Children’s Activity Room at the library.
Amy Lucio, the early literacy coordinator for the library, is excited for the weekend event.
“I offer a storytime event once a month on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. to engage all families, but especially families that might not be able to make it to the storytime events on weekdays.”
Lucio said that while the target audience for storytime is children ages 3 to 8, younger and older children are more than welcome to attend with their families.
Lucio said this month she will feature stories about dads to celebrate Father’s Day and that Father’s Day storytime will become an annual event.
“The children will be able to enjoy interactive stories about dads, listen to music, share some donuts with their dads, engage in an art activity and take part in various board games,” she said.
The storytime is an opportunity for children to build early literacy skills through stories, music, movement and play. Lucio said storytimes benefit children and people within the Hays community.
“Children and their families develop friendships at HPL,” she said. “This special storytime for Father’s Day is an opportunity to honor father figures and show children that dads are an important part of their reading journey.”
As for the rest of the week, the events are as follows:
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
- 9 to 10 a.m. – Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Centennial Towers
- 10 to 11 a.m – Second Session of Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Paper Cup Phones @ Schmidt Gallery in HPL
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Blow Straw Painting @ Upper Level Commons Area in HPL
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Chess Club @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Video Games @ Trish Davies Activity Room in HPL
- 4 to 5 p.m. – All Together for Literacy @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Crafter’s Social Hour @ Schmidt Community Commons in HPL
Thursday, June 15, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Explorers: STREAM @ Schmidt Gallery in HPL
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Kansas Room Hoffee Hour @ Kansas Room in HPL
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Bookmobile @ Hays Senior Center
- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Bookmobile @ Ellis Estates in Hays
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Cards and Crackers @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Werewolf @ Trsih Davies Activity Room in HPL
- 3 to 4:30 p.m. – Hays Larks Ice Cream Social @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 5 to 7 p.m. – D&D @ Trish Davies Activity Room in HPL
- 6 to 7 p.m. – Cuisine Around the World @ Schmidt Community Commons
Friday, June 16, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Rainbow Stage near ARC Park
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Rainbow Stage near ARC Park
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Board Games: Happy Salmon @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Funky Friday: Pan Pipes @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 6 to 8:30 p.m. – Summer Art Walk @ Schmidt Gallery in HPL
Saturday, June 17, 2023
- 9 to 10 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Downtown Market
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Father’s Day Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room in HPL
- 11 a.m. to noon – World Language Club @ Schmidt Gallery in HPL
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Bookmobile @ Victoria City Park
For more information, visit https://hayslibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar for a short description and to keep up to date on any changes throughout the week.