As of today school is out for summer and many parents, grandparents and caregivers are already searching for ways to entertain and occupy their children over the break. Well, your Bay Minette Public Library has a novel remedy for boredom and restlessness — our annual Summer Reading Program!

Because so many of you made the program a part of your summer activities last year we will be extending this year’s reading into July. “I am very excited about extending our program into July. Anything we can do to help keep our kids reading during the summer will also help keep them from losing academic ground over the summer,” said BMPL Children’s Librarian Victoria Barnett.

The eight-week program kickoff is Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the library. The library courtyard will be filled with fun activities for children that follow this year’s theme “Dig Into Reading.” Kids can sign-up for the program, get their reading log, dig for fossils and have some outdoor fun and refreshments. The remaining programs will be at 1 p.m. at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center across the street from the library. A complete schedule is also available on our website www.bayminettepubliclibrary.org.

“For many, Tuesdays are the high point of the week,” Barnett said. “We are fortunate to be located close to the park and the splash pad.  Many families come to our morning storytime then go to the park until it is time for the afternoon program.”

Storytime is every Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the children’s library year round. According to Barnett, the Family Guidance Center of Alabama will be providing its Kids and Kin program every other week in June and July at storytime. The Kids and Kin Program provides support, resources and workshops for relative child care providers as well as raising awareness of the provider’s important role as caregiver.

The Summer Reading Program has a full schedule of wonderful entertainers to help kids beat the heat and learn something in a fun way. “I am thrilled to be working on my sixth summer reading program,” Barnett said. “We will be digging for fossils and dodging dinosaurs all over the library. Many favorite performers are returning this year, including Charlie Williams, the Noise Guy and Mark Seymour, Be-At Your Best.”

On June 4, Flow Circus will be performing at the Civic Center. They provide engaging “experiences of play that captivate, energize and inspire” through feats of daring and skill.

Charlie “the Noise Guy” Williams, a perennial favorite, will be returning on June 11 with his show entitled “Eat My Dust.” Williams is a vocal sound impressionist, author and illustrator who uses sound to enhance storytelling, reading and writing.

Monty Harper, a children’s performer, songwriter, and teaching artist will be performing songs that celebrate reading and science on June 18.

Mark Seymour will return on June 25 with his Be-At Your Best program which motivates children through drum and music and teaches responsibility, anti-bullying and character education.

Due to the July 4 holiday we will not have a program the first week in July but will return on July 9 with Cowboy Bruce Brannen who will take his audience “back in time to the early years of America’s Western Expansion through stories, poems and exciting demonstrations of the ‘almost’ extinct cowboy arts.”

A storyteller will help us “Dig Into Reading” on July 16 and a wrap-up party is planned for July 23.

The Summer Reading Program is free of charge and is funded by the city of Bay Minette and once again this year by a very generous grant from the fabulous ladies of the Heritage Junior Women’s Club. The HJWC does so much for the community and for the library. Next time you see one of the members give them a big “thank you” for helping provide such wonderful programming for our Summer Reading Program!

The library’s Summer Reading Program is a family tradition for many in the community including our very own children’s librarian. “Even before I worked here, I brought my children to the summer reading programs,” Barnett said.

Last year began the tradition for my family and I am looking forward to bringing Jack back again this year to see these wonderfully talented and educational performers. If you haven’t experienced it yet then maybe this summer can be the first chapter in your own summer reading success story.

In other news: mark your calendars for a Community Yard Sale sponsored by the Old Town Bay Minette Arts Council on Saturday, June 1st from 8 a.m. until 1p.m. at Blackburn Park. Call 937-3572 for more information.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com