Level Up at Your Library This Summer
Ready player one? It’s almost time to “Level Up at Your Library!” Fergus Falls Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is just around the corner and has an exciting game theme for 2025. The program runs from June 2 through July 26 and is free for all ages. There is truly something for everyone to do at the library this summer. Registration for our reading incentive program begins on Monday, June 2. Community members can pick up a gameboard in-person or sign-up online and complete a variety of reading challenges to win prizes. Everyone who finishes their gameboard can pick out a free book and bookmark. Children and teens who complete theirs will also receive a free Mini Murph pizza from Papa Murphy’s (new for 2025). Besides the incentive program, the library is offering a large amount of special programs and events during the summer months. Listed below are the events for older children and teens.
New for this summer is our program series for middle grade students called “Unplugged.” In June and July, students entering 4th – 8th grade can participate in engaging and creative events that bring them to the library and get them off of their devices. Choose from either a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday evening session. “Tails and Scales Trivia Challenge” is June 3 and 4 and will consist of questions about animals and mythological creatures from popular children’s books. “The Great Puzzle Race” is a competition to see which team can put together a 300-piece puzzle the fastest held on June 17 and 18. In July, the “Silly Spelling Bee” takes place on the 8th and 9th and is a sillier version of a traditional spelling bee. And our last program in this series is “Minute to Win It Summer Games” on July 22 and 23. Students will try to beat the clock with fast-paced and fun challenges.
One of our most popular middle grade summer events is Lunch Bunch Book Club. Students entering 4th through 8th grade can bring their lunch to the library on Thursday afternoons in June and July and listen to a chapter book. This year, I am reading “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein. This is the first book in the funny and puzzle-packed “Lemoncello” adventure series. Participants get to take home a copy of the book when the program is over. Registration is now full for this event but there is still room on the waiting list.
The library is looking for some awesome teen volunteers this summer! Students entering 9th through 12th grade can earn community service hours, gain valuable experience, and have fun being a part of the library this summer. Teen volunteers can help out with youth programming, shelving and sorting materials, passing out summer reading prizes, book processing, cleaning, creating displays, and more. Volunteers will follow a weekly work schedule during June and July with August being optional. Shifts will be one or two hours long and teens can choose to volunteer one or two days a week. Registration for this program closes on May 26.
Teen Bingo Night is happening Monday, June 16, at 6:30pm, for students entering 6th through 12th grade. Teens can try their luck at our bingo night and maybe win a prize or two! We’ll have book giveaways, gift cards, and other fun prizes. Snacks will be served. We did this program for the first time last year and it was a big hit! We ended up with a waiting list for this event and are happy to bring it back for another year.
Our 4th annual Teen Trivia Night and Cupcake Wars will be all about the world of gaming; both video and board. On Monday, July 21, at 6:00pm, students entering 6th through 12th grade can level up their gaming knowledge by competing against other teens for a chance to win prizes. We’ll have questions from Minecraft to Monopoly as well as a cupcake challenge in which participants have to decorate their cupcakes like a video game or video game character. Participants should sign up individually. Come with others or join a team when you get here.
The annual Summer Reading Program is supported by the Friends of the Library. Registration is required for all of the above listed events. For further information and registration links, please visit our website or Facebook page. Happy reading and hope to see you this summer at the library!
Arielle McCune is the Youth Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library.