Elmont, Franklin Square libraries gear up for summer programs

Summer fun can be had at the park, the beach, the pool, and especially at the local library.

When summer days get too hot to spend outside, an air conditioned oasis can be found at the Franklin Square Public Library and Elmont Memorial Library. Programs throughout the summer at these libraries can fill days with adventure, activity, and excitement.

Libraries are not just for books. The community is welcome to enjoy yoga classes, walking groups, community game nights, concerts, lectures and more across the two libraries.

The Elmont library’s “Live in the Theatre” programs throughout June, July and August welcome community members across Nassau County and Queens to enjoy a variety of free entertainment free. The theatre holds 400 people and welcomes all on a first-come, first-seated basis.

“We have so many cultural and big musical events,” Elmont Memorial Library Director Jean Simpson said of the theatre, where audience members can be seen dancing in the aisles. “We’re able to really make sure that we cover a lot of different genres and bring in so many different people.”

In June, there will be three musical performances and a comedy show. In July, there will be a musical performance by Rick and Frank who will sing the best of Frank Sinatra, Doo Wop, Motown, and hits from the 70s on July 5 at 12 :30 p.m. In August, there will be five musical performances.

The Franklin Square library’s adult summer reading program will take a unique style this year with the theme of “Passport to Adventure.” The program goes beyond just reading books, as the library will ask residents to explore not only the library but also the community beyond it to fill their passport with stamps. The adventure begins July 1 and ends Aug. 23.

Aviva Kane, director of the Franklin Square library, said the program will inspire neighbors to enjoy community eateries, attend library programs, check out an item from its library of things, check out a library book and more to complete the passport this summer.

The library of things, where library cardholders can check out an item, includes a virtual reality headset, video games, lawn games and more to extend the fun to community members’ own homes. Both Franklin Square and Elmont have their own library of things.

The library of seeds at the Elmont library welcomes cardholders to grab three different free seed packs a week to get planting this summer.

At the Franklin Square library, families are invited to take part in a scavenger hunt, which prompts community members to explore roadside attractions in town and unscramble their findings to reveal a secret message. Once they reveal the message, families are entered into a raffle to win prizes.

“It gets people out into the Square and traveling to different things that they may or may not have visited,” Kane said.

The sensory exploration station is a popular attraction for children visiting the Elmont library, according to Simpson. It has three screens with sensory software, arts, and crafts and exploration software for kids to choose their own adventure when visiting the library.

“There’s a lot for kids to explore and experience,” Simpson said.

Franklin Square Library’s Stuffy Storytime for kids 3-6 years old on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. throughout July and August welcomes children and caregivers to enjoy stories in their pajamas.

Summer reading programs for children at these libraries can also help prevent the “summer slide.”

“There really is a lot of time at that point where they’re slipping as far as their reading is concerned because they’re not necessarily in the classroom and they may not be reading as much,” Simpson said. “The library really bridges that gap.”

At the Elmont library, the summer reading program will be themed “Adventure Begins,” from June 22 through July 31. Registration for the program will kick off at 11 a.m. on June 15 where kids and teens can do crafts, play carnival games, have ice cream and more. Throughout the program, there will be raffles held at the library to keep kids engaged in reading this summer.

“If the (children) are coming to the library, the skills that we’re trying to enforce are going to help them in the classroom setting,” Simpson said.

For more information about upcoming events this summer at the Franklin Square and Elmont libraries, visit Bit.ly/FSLibraryEvents and ElmontLibrary.org/Events/.