Summer Reading 2020! "Imagine Your Story!" Beginning on May 18, 2020, children ages 0 to 17 can earn a Barnes & Noble gift card and enjoy new, online programs at home for Summer Reading 2020 at the Blue Earth County Libraries! The sign-up form and the reading logs are available on the Summer Reading link on our website’s homepage. All children will earn a Barnes & Noble gift card for reading and recording ten books by Aug. 31, 2020. Children ages 0 to 3 will earn a 5.00 card; children ages 4 to 11 will earn a 10.00 card; kids ages 12 to 17 will earn a 15.00 card. The links for the video programs will be posted on the news flash of our website’s homepage and also on our Facebook page. Please call 304 - 4020 for more information. This program is made possible by the generosity of the Glen A. Taylor Foundation (primary sponsor), The Friends of the Deep Valley Libraries and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of Minnesota.

Long, long ago, two kids go on a daring adventure to find a dragon and save the kingdom from the Ice Sorceress! When things go awry, they must turn to themselves (and to science!) for the answer. A fun, fantasy adventure with dry-ice effects. Click on this link to view the 35-minute program beginning on May 26 and running through August 31: https://vimeo.com/421330198/de94ac01b0

Peter Bloedel has created an amazing new pandemic show for our Summer Reading Program! It’s a new version of this "Perpetual Variety Show," full of magic, comedy, music, juggling and more! Watch it more than once as it runs through August: https://youtu.be/UtRVT8x4HE4

Sing and dance along with The Jolly Pops! Great kids' music performed by three happy dads!! Click on this link from June 15 to July 30: https://vimeo.com/428239095

In addition to completing reading logs and watching online programs, summer reading participants can receive a different activity kit each week through August! Beginning on June 15, kits can be picked up curbside with books or call to have them mailed: 304 - 4020. There will be a different theme and different activities each week so that kids can stay sharp all summer! This program is made possible by the generosity of the Glen A. Taylor Foundation.

You won’t want to miss this brand-new program created by Randy Christensen just for our libraries! Fun for all ages: https://youtu.be/-0hPn42pIgE

If you enjoyed Mike Prestby's "Imagine The Magic of Your Story" Magic Show, you'll love this behind-the-scenes workshop! Copy and paste this link from June 1 - August 31: https://youtu.be/MceWIX3h0q0

Siama and Dallas invite everyone on a musical journey to the "Land of Yangalele" (happiness in Lingala)! This program delights audiences of all ages, providing an immersive way to experience the community-centered, celebratory nature of rural African music and culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcIG9DtIt18&t=137s This project is made possible with money from MInnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the people of Minnesota for Library Legacy activities.

Authors and illustrators Stephen Shaskan and Trisha Speed Shaskan have created a special storytime for our libraries that feature three of their books! https://youtu.be/7dZ4RL7fHdA

Join us for July's "Storytime for Grown-ups" — a fun storytelling event. The theme of the evening is "News, Weather, Sports." For this virtual event, we welcome special guest TJ Palesotti — a favorite Children's Storytime reader at the library for many years (you really should hear him read "The Wonky Donkey"). But tonight, he'll be sharing some grown-up stories with us! TJ is the Program/Content Director and Morning Show Host for Mix 99.1 KEEZ-FM. In addition to getting us the news and weather updates, TJ is a big sports fan. Then YOU can sign up in the chat space that night to tell your own 5-minute story related to the evening’s theme! Or, feel free to just listen and enjoy. We hope you’ll join in the fun! Please go to "Storytime For Grown-ups" on the homepage to sign up with your name and email. We will email you the link to join this virtual event. Mark your calendar for Thursday, July 16th at 8:00 p.m.!

Join us as we discuss, Inheritance: A Memoir of Geneology, Paternity and Love by Dani Shapiro. Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://www.gotomeet.me/SandiBraun/bookclub You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,968338509# Access Code: 968-338-509 Join from a video-conferencing room or system. Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com Meeting ID: 968 338 509 Or dial directly: 968338509@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##968338509