Summer at El Segundo Public Library
Under the leadership of its new director, Melissa McCollum, El Segundo Public Library (ESPL) has a variety of free programs in place this summer for El Segundo residents of all ages. Pop into ESPL, enjoy the air-conditioning, browse books and displays, and try something new!
YOUTH SUMMER READING PROGRAM
The Youth Summer Reading Program is currently underway, with reading logs, grab bags, and other incentives for pre-readers, independent readers, and teen readers. Once children are registered (downstairs in the youth section), they receive a reading log and other goodies, and earn fun prizes for books read. The end-of-program "Reading Takes You Everywhere" party is scheduled for August 9th at 3pm; tickets are required. (Kids receive tickets in exchange for completed reading logs between July 30th and August 4th.)
The "Totally Teen" party, also a ticketed event, will be held on August 7th at 2pm.
ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Did you know El Segundo adults get their own summer reading program, too? It runs through September 1, and residents aged 18 years and over are invited to participate. Similar to the youth program, the adult summer-reading program offers prizes and incentives for reading and attending library activities. This year's adult summer-reading theme is "Change Your World @ Your Library" and will encourage making a difference in the community through volunteering with various local and neighboring organizations.
THE GREAT AMERICAN READ
What do the novels 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, The Color Purple, Moby-Dick, The Hunger Games, and Invisible Man have in common? They all appear on The Great American Read list of Americans' 100 most-loved novels, according to PBS. This summer, ESPL joins PBS's The Great American Read program by publishing this list, displaying many of the Top 100 within the library, and creating adult programming around the list and PBS's exploration of it.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Stay tuned for information on the new Community Conversations ESPL program beginning this July and running through Fall. These community-centric conversations will be informal talks facilitated by librarians asking community members of all ages what they'd like to see and enjoy in El Segundo in general. The goal is to come together to share ideas.
EL SEGUNDO ART WALK
June's Art Walk has come and gone (and was a fun and successful event), but two Art Walks remain! ESPL will be hosting artists and welcoming the public on both Thursday July 19th and Thursday August 16th from 5-9pm. The work of El Segundo artist Natalie Strong will be on display on July 19, and art from "Memories in the Making" from the Alzheimer's of Greater LA organization will be exhibited on August 16th.
DROP-IN PROGRAMS
Are you crafty? Or do you aspire to be? ESPL presents six completely free hands-on DIY crafting and keepsake workshops for adults this summer from noon to 1pm on the following dates: July 2, July 19, July 30, August 6, August 13, and August 16. Projects include painting kindness rocks, creating flower-seed bombs, assembling beach-sand globes, crafting paper-bead bracelets, and more. All materials (except for personal items for sand globes and memory books) are included.
ESPL hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm; Fri + Sat 10am-5pm; Sun CLOSED