Summer Reading Program 2025 for Colby Community Library

The Colby Community Library (CCL) staff is encouraging area youth and their families to enjoy the 2025 summer reading program, which combines art and animal adventures. Over 550 students and educators visited the library for preview days. Everyone is welcome to pick up a program brochure and calendar filled with the events and activities the CCL has planned for the summer.

Registration will be from Tuesday, May 27 through Saturday, June 7 at the CCL for the “Color Your World: On Safari” reading program for ages 3-12 and “Read on the Wild Side” for teens. Registration must be in person in order to pick up a bag filled with program items. To be eligible for prizes, all records, self-portraits, activity booklets, and teen reviews are due back to the CCL by Monday, July 21 at 5 p.m. No late entries will be accepted.

Reading Record Program We invite children ages 3-12 to join the Reading Record Program. Keep track of pages read or listened to on a reading record folder and be eligible for a prize choice from the “Jungle of Prizes” at the Finale on Thursday, July 24 at 10 a.m. in the CCL outdoor amphitheater.

A minimum of 500 pages must be read or listened to and recorded to be in the prize drawings. Books need to be checked out from the Colby Community Library to be used for the reading record program. Please read at your appropriate level. You may begin checking out and reading books when you register.

Who’s Ready to Explore? Design a “self-portrait” for our wall mural. Receive an animal print frame and draw yourself. Return it to the CCL to earn a chance, in a random drawing, for an “Exploring” prize at the finale.

Lego Safari Guessing Game Youth, ages 3-12, registered for the reading program are encouraged to view the Lego safari guessing game. Fill out one guess per day when you are at the library to guess the total number of individual pieces in the Lego safari case.

“IT” Activity Booklet Families will have fun with the “IT” activity booklet included in the registration bags. A prize bag will be awarded at the finale to children who successfully complete a minimum of 30 activities.

Take & Make Crafts of the Week For the eight weeks of the program, visit the CCL’s Take & Make giant palette to pick up a free craft bag for at-home crafting fun.

Adventures Await The Children’s RCU community room contains a “Jungle of Prizes” to be earned by reading this summer. The children’s hut is stocked with colorful games and activities. Stick together mosaic posters and jigsaw puzzles will also be foimd around the library.

Entertainment The CCL’s outdoor amphitheater is the place to be for entertainment during the month of June. (Shows will be moved to the Community Room in case of rain). Shows are free for all ages and open to the public.

• Tuesday, June 10: Mischief & Magic “Magic” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.)

• Thursday, June 12: Creature Teacher “Reptiles” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.)

• Tuesday, June 17: Tom Pease “Music” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.)

• Thursday, June 19: REGI Night Moves “Owls” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.) Note: Show is in the Community Room for the safety of the owls.

• Tuesday, June 24: Mischief & Magic “Animal Menagerie” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.)

• Thursday, June 26: Dan Kirk “The Juggler with the Yellow Shoes” (2 shows at 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.) Christmas in July In gratitude for all the community and business support for our programs, patrons of all ages are encouraged to give back to the community. Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 3, during open hours, stop in the RCU Community Room for “Christmas in July” to create holiday decorations for area nursing home and assisted living residents. Let’s Build Join the CCL staff and others on Tuesday, July 8 or Thursday, July 10 from 2-6 p.m. for an hour of creative Lego challenges.

Artfari Join us for Artfari craft sessions on Tuesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 17. Two local artists will lead you through a different individual art project each day. Deanna Roth will help young artists create paper sculptures on Tuesday. During the Thursday session, Jill Fortin will assist youth with faux stained glass projects. Stop in for an hour between 2-6 p.m. to create one-of-a-kind art pieces to take home with you. Artfari is open to all youth ages 3-19.

Teen Program A teen summer reading program is available for ages 13-19 with the theme “Read on the Wild Side.” In-person teen registration is May 27 - June 7 at the library. Entries to the drawings are simple: check out a book at the CCL, read it, and fill in a short review. All reviews are due by Monday, July 21 at 5 p.m.

Summer Hours Beginning May 31 through August 30, open hours for the summer will include Saturday mornings. The CCL will be open: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m, Tuesday and Thursday noon-7 p.m, and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon.

Director Vicky Calmes concluded, “The Colby Community Library has been transformed into a safari/jungle through the help of many volunteers. Stop in to see all the areas encouraging reading and learning this summer. The CCL staff is looking forward to supplying great books, movies, magazines, and CDs to Colby and surrounding community youth. As always, library cards are free. Please contact the library if you have questions by calling 715-223-2000 or visit us at 505 W. Spence Street for answers. Don’t forget to check out the CCL’s website and Facebook pages for more information.”

Jungle of Prizes - St. Mary Catholic School’s 1st and 2nd grade classes visited the library to learn about the Summer Reading Program. submitted photo