Need fun this summer? Here's where you wanna be!

Local libraries  have boundless opportunities, and not just those that can be found in the pages of a good book. They have programs and services for all ages and interests.

“We have a great library system, the Nassau Public Library System,” said Camina Rafaël-Lubin, director of Lakeview Public Library. “In the last couple of years, we’ve been doing a lot to get people through the door.”

Libraries are here, first and foremost, to support their communities by making information accessible. The West Hempstead, Malverne, and Lakeview public libraries are all equipped to do this through more than their thousands of books or dozens of computers — they give community members the resources needed to access experiences as well. All three libraries offer museum passes — meaning an individual or even a whole family can take a trip to expand their curiosity horizons. The Cradle of Aviation, the New York Hall of Science, and the Vanderbilt planetarium are all popular options. Some libraries even offer discounted aquarium passes for the perfect summer day trip.

Community libraries also offer unique and hands-on learning opportunities. The West Hempstead library has seminars to learn about Tai Chi, strength training and yoga. The Lakeview library has classes and clubs to learn about gardening, quilting, and meditation and mindfulness.

The Malverne library features a particularly impressive “library of things,” which has more than one could imagine — instruments to learn, games to play, and items to explore the world, including a movie projector, walkie talkies and even a telescope. They also offer a genealogical research database for anyone interested in learning more about their family history. These resources, while not exclusive to the library, are certainly at their most accessible at these vital community hubs.

“Now with technology, you're able to have everything you want and never leave your house,” Rafaël-Lubin said. “So a lot of libraries have to come up with only creative things that people want.”

Especially important is libraries’ ability to keep residents engaged with their neighbors. The best way to make a new friend or reconnect with other community members is to join a group that seems interesting. Craft events like candle-making and tie dye parties are open to people of all ages at the West Hempstead Public Library — plus they have an adult summer reading program, which is perfect for those looking for a new book recommendation or a place to chat about their favorite current read. The Lakeview Public Library has gardening classes, a knitting and crocheting club, and game nights including the increasingly popular bid whist card game.

With school out, the library is one of the best sources around for kid-friendly activities. In the coming weeks, the West Hempstead Public Library offers opportunities to paint canvases, create decorative pins out of clay, and even make your very own bath bomb. At the Malverne Public Library kids and teens can enjoy cupcake making, bracelet crafting, and canvas painting. Messy Mornings let kids have fun with finger painting, kinetic sand, bubbles, and more — making it a perfect way for kids to get some mess-making out of their system. The Lakeview Public Library offers clay sculpting, board game and puzzle events, and coding for kids. They, as well as Malverne Public Library, have family movie events — so kids, siblings, and parents alike can get in on the fun.

Long summer days are here, and there’s no better resource to find a fun way to spend them than your local library.