The Great Whites are Coming!

News, Information, and Fun Things to Do

from the

Middleborough Public Library

Library Lines

July 14, 2021

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Presents "Awareness Inspires Conservation"

We hope all ages will join us on Zoom for a fun, educational, fact-filled presentation by the Cape Cod-based Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) on Mon., July 19 at 6:30 p.m. They'll talk about White Shark research projects they're conducting and funding. Learn how that research is impacting both conservation and public safety efforts, and test your knowledge of white sharks.

Registration is required to receive the Zoom log-in. Email Reference and Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox or call the Library at 508/946-2470.

This program is part of our 2021 Summer Reading Programs, "Tails & Tales," and adults who attend will earn another chance to win one of our fabulous prizes.

Help Us Beat Our Summer Reading Community Goal of 250,000 Minutes

Summer Reading is underway! Sign up anytime between now and August 26 to join in the fun and possibly win some very cool prizes. Kids, teens, and adults who log reading time are helping us to reach our community reading goal of 250,000 minutes this summer.

As part of The First Lady of the Commonwealth & Blades Summer Reading Challenge, libraries who meet their community reading goals are entered into a drawing for a chance to win Boston Bruins prizes, including game experiences, signed pucks, signed sticks, and signed jerseys. If we win, we raffle off the prize to our readers.

Find out more details about our summer reading programs in this newsletter, on our website, by calling 508/946-2470, or by visiting our Facebook page.

The challenge is a collaboration between the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), the First Lady of the Commonwealth Lauren Baker, and the Boston Bruins. The Statewide Summer Library program is made possible with support from the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Adults -- Record Your Activities and

Qualify to Win Great Prizes!

We're approaching the end of our fourth week of summer reading and hope that you've had a chance to try some of the in-library or at-home activities in the Adult Summer Reading Program.

The more you participate, the more chances you'll earn to win one of five $50 Amazon gift cards or a pair of tickets to a whale watching tour with Captain John Boats out of Plymouth.

Go to midlib.org or download the Beanstack Tracker mobile app to get started. And be sure to mark your calendar for our July 19 program on White Sharks (see above). You'll earn another chance for a prize if you join us on Zoom.

Summer Reading is On!

Did you know your child can complete their Middleborough Public School summer reading by doing the Library's program?

Students going into Nichols Middle School have a goal to log 12 hours over the summer months. All other grades are invited to read and/or listen to stories as much as they can.

At the end of summer you can print your child's log right from Beanstack to turn into school in the fall. If you're participating offline, we can enter the information and print one for you.

Haven't signed up yet? There's still time! The Children's Summer Reading Program runs until August 26. Click here for more information .

Looking for a screen-free summer? Stop by the Library to pick up a paper BINGO sheet and reading log. You can enter the information online yourself after your child completes it or send it in to the Library and we'll do it for you.

Tails & Tales is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, CSLP and supported by the National Women's Hockey League team Boston Pride and by the generosity of the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library.

Tiny Tots at the Park on Wednesdays

Join Miss Amanda TODAY! and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. through July 28 for a story, songs and rhymes that build early literacy skills. Tiny Tots at the Park is geared towards babies and kids up to three years old, and their caregiver(s). Siblings are always welcome.

Please bring a blanket or seat. This program will meet outdoors at the park near Pierce Playground just down the street from the Library. Social distancing is encouraged.

In the case of inclement weather, Tiny Tots will move online using Zoom.

To sign up for program updates and the inclement weather list for the Zoom link, please call the Library at 508/946-2470.

Tomorrow!

Head to Tail

Ages 5-8 and 9-12

Why do animals have different tails?

Kids are encouraged to sign up for this interactive program brought to you by the Plymouth County Extension 4-H on Thurs., July 15. Ages 5-8 meet from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and ages 9-12 will meet from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Middleborough Historical Association green space at 18 Jackson St.

Hear a story, talk about animal adaptations and then create a super animal using everything you've learned.

Call the Library at 508/946-2470 to register.

Storytime on the Farm at Soule Homestead

Do you have a farm-loving little one? Join Miss Amanda and the staff at Soule Homestead (46 Soule St. in Middleboro) for a preschool-aged Storytime on the Farm on Mon., July 19 and July 26 at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a great book and then meet a different farm animal up close each week. Best for children ages 3-6 and their caregiver(s). Siblings are always welcome.

This is a working farm and we'll be outdoors so please dress accordingly. Space is limited and this program may be weather-dependent. Social distancing is encouraged. Call the Library at 508/946-2470 or stop by to sign up.

Family Game Night on the Town Hall Lawn

Bring your family and join Miss Amanda on the lawn of the Town Hall at 10 Nickerson Ave. for Outdoor Family Game Night, Tues., July 20, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (In the case of inclement weather this program will be cancelled.)

Please watch the Library's Facebook page and website for weather updates.

Self Help Inc. CFCE Offers Head to Toe StoryWalk at Pierce Playground

On Tues., July 27, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., there will be a new StoryWalk for families with children of all ages, with pre-packaged bags geared for preschoolers. Families can begin with children utilizing the Peirce playground equipment if they choose to. When ready to start the walk at their designated times, families will sign in and begin their fun journey of combining a children's story with a walking route outdoors.

Please register for a designated time slot by emailing Carol Carver .

Miss Lori introduces our new additions: Brodie the Blue Macaw, Sheldon the Bleating Sheep, Genevieve the German Shepard Pup, Harley the Harbor Seal, Arlis the Alpaca, Rosie the Ringtail Cat, Reggie the Reindeer, and Bryson the English Bulldog Pup.

Our Puppets are Back with Their New Friends!

Our furry puppet friends have been washed, dried, and primped, and are ready again for you to take home.

We're rotating the collection so that we have time to clean each puppet after it's been checked out and returned to us.

You can take these guys home for up to two weeks, including one of our new additions -- several cute pups, an alpaca, a parrot, a reindeer, and more.

Reading with Miss Marilyn's Spaniels

Ms. Marilyn and her credentialed family therapy pets are running an outdoor session of their reading program at the Library on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Sign your child up for a 20-minute slot including a meet-and-greet and then reading time. Children can practice and improve their reading skills in a relaxed and non-judgmental atmosphere.

Call the Library at 508/946-2470 or stop by to sign up. Please register for only two sessions at first to allow others a chance to participate. When you register, let us know what book your child will be bringing to read. Ms. Marilyn will be getting a second copy to follow along and allow for maintaining physical distancing. If you would like us to help you choose, please ask.

This program will meet outside of the Children's room in the Nature Playspace area. In the case of inclement weather, the program will be cancelled.

Shrinky Dink Animal Craft Kit for Kids

Reserve a craft kit to make shrinky dink animals and a keychain. Supplies include a piece of shrinky dink paper, animal stencil, directions and more. This project is for kids ages 3 and up and requires an oven and grown-up supervision.

Supplies are limited. Call the library at 508-946-2470 to reserve yours today!

Miss Lori's Animal Fun Facts Fridays:

Forest Biome

Fri., July 16: This week, learn about animals that live in the tropical forests like sloths (whose bodies take 30 days to digest one leaf), toucans, and poison dart frogs.

Fri., July 23: Now it's time to take a look at all the animals in temperate forests. This includes skunks, cicadas, and woodpeckers. Did you ever wonder if they get headaches with all that knocking?

Your Pets (or Stuffies) Can Join in the Reading Fun, Too!

It's all about the animals during this year's summer reading program so of course we couldn't leave out your beloved pets and stuffed animals in all the fun.

In addition to earning virtual tickets and badges for logging your reading time, teens readers can also earn activity badges, one of them being the Pets Caught Reading badge. Take a picture of your pet, stuffed animal, or real-live animal (this could be tricky) reading your most recent book and email it to Teen Librarian Chris Dargelis. We'll post it anonymously in our Teen Area.

Click on the Badges tab under your Beanstack account to see all of the activities you can do to earn extra raffle tickets.

Summer Reading has just begun, so there's still plenty of time for tweens and teens in grades 6-12 to read what they want and complete activities for the chance to be a winner of one of nine Grand Prizes in the teen program running through August 26.

For more information, visit our Teen Summer Reading page.

Funding for this program was made possible by the generous support of Dairy Queen and the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Shell & Twine Bookmark Crafting Kit for Teens

Create this stylish beach-themed bookmark to help keep your place in all your summer reads. It also makes a great decoration!

Reserve a kit with all of the materials you'll need starting Thurs., July 15.

For youth ages 11-18. One kit per person, please. To reserve yours, please call the Library at 508/946-2470.

This program is made possible through the CARES Act funding to Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

News About Our Marvelous Museum Passes

We're pleased to once again offer passes for the Boston Harbor Islands (BHI) ferries.

There's nothing to pick up at the Library. When you book your tickets on the BHI website , enter the coupon/voucher code: bhnmiddle2021 and hit APPLY to get a buy-one, get-one-free discount for up to two tickets. This is good for Mondays-Fridays (except holidays) for Georges and Spectacle Islands.

Check the BHI website for current hours, ferry schedules and updated information. After Labor Day, the code will be valid Fridays-Sundays until Oct 10 for Spectacle Island only.

Thank you to Boston Harbor Now for this pass.

Reserve passes here

Massachusetts' weekly drawings for five $1 million prizes starts Mon., July 26.

If you're fully vaccinated for COVID-19, be sure to register for your chance to win . Kids, ages 12-17, also can enter to win one of five $300,000 scholarships.

Drawings run weekly through August 27.