Library invites children, teens and adults to explore “One World, Many Stories” this summer

The seven branches of the Randolph County Public Library will offer over 150 storytimes, performances, movies, hands-on projects, author appearances and other special events now through early August for children, teens and adults as part of “One World, Many Stories,” the 2011 Summer Reading Program.

And all for free.

Originally intended to keep children reading while out of school, the Summer Reading Program has expanded to includes teens and adults. The theme for teens is “You Are Here,” and for adults it’s “Novel Destinations.”

Participants who sign up at any library and report the number of hours, pages or books they have read and will be eligible for reading rewards. Rewards and requirements vary from library to library; for complete details and schedules, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreading.html, call 318-6804 or call your local library.

“One World, Many Stories” kicks off with performances at each library of “Didgeridoo Down Under”, and Australian-themed, audience participation musical event, June 13-16. In July, magical storyteller Mark Daniel, a crowd-pleaser every year, returns.

Each library will host one or more weekly programs. The Asheboro library will hold five weekly storytimes – for school age children, families, toddlers, all ages and Spanish-speakers – along with two special events each Wednesday for school-age children.

The Archdale library also will host three weekly storytimes – for all ages, toddlers and twos-plus.

Movies will include Family Movie Fridays at the Asheboro library; Movie & Popcorn on Thursday afternoons at the Randleman library; and a Harry Potter film festival each Wednesday at the Asheboro library, featuring all the movies in order leading up to the July 16 theatrical release of the final installment in the saga.

A sampling of the internationally-themed programs for children includes: “Foods of the World” and the African play “Leopard’s Drum” at Asheboro; Caribbean steel drum music at Archdale; “Local Legends with a Local Lady” at Randleman; “Going on Safari” at Franklinville; “The Gullions, a Chinese Treasure” at the Ramseur library; “Fairy Tales from Denmark” at the Seagrove library; and “Travel Back in Time” at the Liberty library.

Other programs feature origami, animal rescue, fossils, martial arts, reptiles and more.

Meanwhile, teens at the Asheboro library can go geocaching, build terrariums, learn about journaling or container gardening, and compete in Legomania III. At Randleman, teens can track their summer reading and earn a chance to win Books-A-Million gift cards.

For details on teen programs, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summereadingteens.html or call 318-6824.

For adults, the Asheboro library is offering weekly drawings and prizes, including gift certificates to local merchants and restaurants, as well as three author appearances. Randleman readers can earn a chance for Books-A-Million gift cards for each book read.

For details on the adults program, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreadingadults.html or call 318-6808.

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by the Friends of the Library and by a North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Grant via the Randolph Arts Guild.