Boston Public Library locations offer summer programs (www.bpl.org/summer) for children, teens, and adults, beginning this month and running through August, to provide free, quality educational opportunities for people of all ages in the City of Boston.
“Summer is a wonderful time for our students to explore their City, and that includes the Boston Public Libraries,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “BPL is helping to make summer reading and learning a fun experience that students will look forward to. I encourage all students and parents to take advantage of the important resources that BPL offers.”
“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors for their support, as these significant programs for patrons and visitors encourage reading, learning, and connectivity to the library during the summer months through a variety of fun, enriching events and experiences,” said Farouqua Abuzeit, Boston Public Library’s Manager of Youth Services.
“Summer in the City” features events for children, including programs hosted by Historic New England, New England Aquarium, and the Museum of Science and visits from ReadBoston StoryMobile and Countdown to Kindergarten, with additional programming at locations such as story times, crafts, and more. Brochures are available at the Central Library, branches, and online.
Teens explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through creative movement and dance choreography by Gique, learn fun, new recipes with Miss Debbie from Kidz Cooking, and get creative with writing through Grub Street. Teen summer programming is available at select locations.
New this year, summer reading passport participants can log visits to a park, museum, public art, or a BPL library branch as well as books, magazines, or audiobooks read/listened to during the week on a passport page. They can then drop a passport page off at a neighborhood branch of the BPL to be entered in a drawing for prizes. This program is open to children and teens in grades K–12.
The annual Read Your Way to Fenway summer reading contest is underway, in which children and teens ages 5-17 read a minimum of three books for a chance to win tickets to watch the Red Sox vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Sunday, August 27 at 1:35 p.m. Readers may download an application in English or Spanish via www.bpl.org/summer or pick up an application at any Boston Public Library location. Essays are due to any BPL library on August 1.
Adults have the opportunity to fill out a Bingo card (available by June 16) with the titles and authors of books read between Saturday, July 1, and Saturday, September 2. Completed cards can be dropped off by closing time on Saturday, September 2 at any participating BPL branch, or through posting a photo of the card to Instagram or Twitter using the following handles and tags: @bplboston #srp17 #summerinthecity.
Readers of all ages are encouraged to ask a friendly librarian for a book recommendation or try out Shelf-Service to have a Reader’s Advisory team member curate a list of personalized book titles.
Additionally, the Boston Public Schools summer information page has links to book lists, summer jobs resources, and to the Boston Centers for Youth and Families summer program guide.
Summer in the City is sponsored by the Boston Public Library, the Citywide Friends of the Boston Public Library, and WGBH courtesy of the Krueger Charitable Foundation, Tulsa, OK. Read Your Way to Fenway is sponsored by John Hancock, The Red Sox Foundation, and the Boston Public Library.
About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
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