BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
In one final summer hooray for the Hays Public Library, the HPL will be celebrating the children that completed the summer reading challenge with an invitation to the End of Summer Reading Party at the Hays Aquatic Park on Saturday.
The Summer Reading Challenge was available throughout the summer for kids aged 0-18, split into three age groups: Early Literacy (0-5), Elementary (6-11), and Young Adult (12-18).
The pool party is by invitation only for those that have completed the challenge. Participants and their parents will receive free admission to the pool party.
HPL Learning Experience Coordinator, Sara Doyle, said there were specific requirements required to complete the challenge.
“To complete the challenge, participants have to earn 20 badges throughout the summer, through reading, writing reviews, and/or attending library programs,” Doyle said.
Doyle continues by discussing the logistics of how kids were able to track their progress of the challenge over the summer.
“Kids were able to track their reading in whatever manner suited them best, through Beanstack, our online Summer Challenge platform, or through paper reading logs,” she said. “They could also track their attendance at HPL programs and provide reviews for their favorite books online or in-person, for extra tickets towards the Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the summer. Completing these additional activities also helps participants complete the Summer Challenge.”
Doyle also reminds everyone that the challenge is not over.
“If you or your child haven’t yet completed the summer challenge, it’s not too late to wrap things up,” she said. “Youth participating on Beanstack or with paper logs have until the end of the day on Friday to turn in their reading and program attendance, as well as to enter their tickets into the grand prize drawings.”
Additionally, there is also an ongoing reading challenge for the adults. Participants can get a bookmark from the main desk (don’t forget to get your registration prize!) and complete 11 challenges, including things like Check out something to listen to and Visit the bookmobile.
Once those challenges are completed, you can return your bookmark to get entered into one of three grand prize drawings. Bookmarks are due by 8:00 pm on Monday, July 31.
In terms of current attendance for the pool party, Doyle explains that the numbers are rising every day.
“The Summer Challenge lasts until July 28, so we won’t have final numbers until July 29,” she said. “As of today, we have 88 that have completed the challenge, which is up 20 from last week. Invites for the pool party will begin going out this week.”
Doyle wants to thank Nex-Tech for sponsoring the hot dogs at the end-of-the-year summer party, and she wants to give a huge thank you shoutout to all of the staff at HPL.
“Summer is always a busy part of the year for us – we had over 3,900 people attend programs during the month of June – and they handled everything so well,” Doyle said.
The End of Summer Party will take place from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. on Saturday at the Hays Aquatic Park (weather permitting).
The rest of the week’s events are as follows:
Monday, July 24, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Massey Park
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Dancing Frankenworms @ Schmidt Gallery
- 1 to 2 p.m. – Readiness & Review, K-2 @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 4 p.m. – Movie Monday: Pitch Perfect @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2 to 4 p.m. – Movie Monday: The Jungle Book @ Children’s Activity Room
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Gentle Yoga @ Schmidt Gallery
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Fluffy Slime @ Schmidt Gallery
- 1 to 2 p.m. – Readiness & Review, 3-5 @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Life-Size Battleship @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 6 to 7 p.m. – Mosaic Art @ Schmidt Gallery
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
- 9 to 10 a.m. – Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Centennial Towers
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Popsicle Catapult @ Schmidt Gallery
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Friendship Slime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Video Games @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Crafter’s Social Hour @ Schmidt Community Commons
Thursday, July 27, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Explorers: STREAM @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Kansas Room Koffee Hour @ Kansas Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Cards and Crackers @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Escape Room @ Trish Davies Activity Room
Friday, July 28, 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: Codenames @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Funky Friday: Jelly Fish Windchimes @ Children’s Activity Room
Saturday, July 29, 2023
- 9 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Downtown Market
- 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. – End of Summer Party @ Hays Aquatic Park
For more information, visit https://hayslibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar for a short description of each event and to keep up to date on any changes throughout the week.