Summer Reading 2023 begins Tuesday, May 30, and wraps up Saturday, July 15.

Along the way, kids, teens, and adults will have opportunities to pursue their reading goals, win prizes, and see guest entertainers!

Registration opens May 30 at mesacountylibraries.org and at all library locations.

Join Mesa County Libraries, Out West Books, and Kensington Books for an evening with bestselling author Marc Cameron discussing his Alaska-set U.S. Marshal mystery, "Breakneck", and his Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan thrillers.

Books will be available for sale by Out West Books for signing.

A Teen Self-Care Fair highlighting free and low-cost options to support the physical and mental well-being of teens is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Mesa County Libraries Central Library, 443 N. 6th St. in downtown Grand Junction. Admission to the fair is free.

A variety of activities such as inflatable jousting, art, a musical instrument petting zoo, and the chance to visit with therapy dogs will be available to teens 12-18 at no charge. The fair will highlight traditional mental health services such as therapy, as well as activities that connect teens with their communities. 

Join us as a Colorado Legal Services lawyer discusses tenant’s rights, including repairs to rental properties, security deposit returns, late fees, and the eviction process.

Palisade artist Nancy Lewis will lead us in exploring art creation in a simple, fun, and understandable way. Discover or rediscover the playful inner artist within yourself.

This class is recommended for all levels of artists from beginners to professionals. Let yourself loosen up and give yourself permission to be childlike and joyful in the pursuit of your art!

Jim Spehar, who "grew up in Grand Junction when Main Street was straight and there wasn't a four-lane highway in all of Mesa County" will give a presentation for the Mesa County Historical Society following his decades-long journey from being born in the old St. Mary's Hospital to being a sometimes cranky observer on the Sentinel's editorial page.

Celebrate with us as we get ready for Summer Reading in a bicycle-themed, family-friendly pedal party. There will be fun, games, and other activities for families with children of all ages!

Learn the basics of designing and using a spreadsheet with Microsoft Excel in this hands-on class. During the class, attendees will create a spreadsheet which will include some formatting and basic formulas.

All Mesa County Libraries locations will be closed Saturday, May 27, through Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

In addition, please note that the Central Library will shift to its summer operating schedule, which means the library will be closed Sundays until after Labor Day.

During the holiday, patrons can visit the library’s website to place holds, renew materials, and use eResources such as Mango Languages, LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda), the OverDrive/Libby Digital Library, Hoopla, and Kanopy.

Don’t forget: Summer Reading starts Tuesday, May 30, so plan to sign up online or visit your nearest library location for more information!

A complete list of library locations and hours is available here.

Construction of the new Mesa County Libraries Clifton Branch continues on schedule. While there may not be much new to see from the outside, crews have been busy transforming the inside of the 17,800-square-foot building, located at 3270 D 1/2 Road next to Rocky Mountain Elementary School.

Current plans call for the current Clifton Branch to close permanently Aug. 14 for the move to the new location. Moving into the new building will take a little more than two weeks, and we are hopeful that the new library will be open to the public the week of Aug. 28, just a few weeks after District 51 schools return from summer break.

Ceramic artist Hannah Martin is the new Mesa County Libraries Artist in Residence through Aug. 7. Hannah began working with clay in 2014 and earned her BFA from Colorado Mesa University in 2019. Her work is about how we explore nostalgia and language through the lens of pop culture and whimsy.

Kids and families can play with clay and learn the technique of making a pinch pot at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, in the Central Library Children’s Area.

Hannah’s Meet & Greets will be every Tuesday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the 970West Studio, 502 Ouray Ave. The public is welcome to drop in anytime during these hours to chat with Hannah about ceramics, art, or pop culture.

For more information and additional programs click here.

The upcoming temporary art display at the Central Library has been created by artists participating in the library’s Artist in Residence program. By the end of 2023, MCL will have hosted 22 local artists in our Artist in Residence program, which aims to support the endeavors of our local artists who connect and engage the community with a variety of arts. The artwork will be on display from May 12 through July 6 in the Central Library’s east hallway.

Join us Friday, May 19, at the Fruita Branch to find out the winners of our recent Eye Love Fruita Art Show!

Awards will start (after regular library hours) at 6 p.m. May 19, and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will be announced.

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

1 p.m. Friday, June 2

Central Library Community Room

5:30 - 7 p.m. Every Second Thursday of the Month

Rotating Breweries

10 a.m. Tuesday, June 6

Clifton Branch

Central Library

Contact Mesa County Libraries at 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org