Category: Fun

Summer Reading Starts June 8th!

Posted on by Flor

The Summer Reading program runs June 8th through August 10th. 

Events

The Newburyport Public Library is offering tons of fun events for summer! Check out our events calendar for details, and join us on Saturday, June 8, 2024 for our kickoff event with a petting zoo on the front lawn!

KIDS (Ages 0-12)

Download the Beanstack app or visit: newburyportpl.beanstack.org to create an account. If you used Beanstack last year, you should still have an account. If you want to log reading for multiple kids at the same time, we recommend using the app instead of a web browser.

  • Mark off each day you spend time reading (or listening, or being read to) this summer.
  • Every time you log ten days (consecutive or non-consecutive!), you get to pick a prize from the Library’s prize bucket.
  • As you log days, you’ll also earn virtual raffle tickets. Use these raffle tickets to enter for a grand prize bag! We’ll pull winners at the end of the summer.

Grand prizes this year include Walkie Talkies, Glow in the Dark Magnatiles, and more!

TWEENS & TEENS (Ages 12-18)

Download the Beanstack app or visit: newburyportpl.beanstack.org to create an account. If you used Beanstack last year, you should still have an account.

Log the minutes you read to earn badges and tickets.

What can you read? Anything! Just track the time you spend reading (or listening). Tracking your reading time or achieving activity badges earns you tickets, which you can then use to win prizes. And yes, you can use your summer reading book for school to earn tickets.

We will have two drawings this summer. Some of the prizes will change between the two drawings, but you’ll be able to enter for the grand prizes all summer long. Grand prizes will be drawn on the last day.

This year’s prizes include gift cards to Jen Ju Boba, Lexie’s, a Bluetooth projector, themed mystery bags, books, and more!

ADULTS

Come play BINGO with us and track your reading progress for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Jabberwocky!

Use the online form (linked below) to view the BINGO card and submit what you’ve read. Each submission will enter you into the raffle (even if you don’t hit BINGO). You can only submit one book per category.

Attending any program hosted by the Newburyport Public Library will also enter you into the raffle! Submit your attendance via the online form. 

You can enter your submissions at any point during the Summer Reading challenge. Three lucky winners will each win a $30 gift certificate to Jabberwocky and all winners will be drawn after the conclusion of the program. Please note, participants can only win once.

If you have any questions or would like a physical copy of the BINGO card, please speak with a reference librarian on the second floor.

View the BINGO card and submit your reading progress HERE!

Prizes are funded by the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library.

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Teen Book Subscription Bags

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

Do you have a tween or teen at home who devours books? Are they looking to branch out of their comfort zone and do not know where to start? Consider a Bookup Subscription Bag!

The Bookup Subscription Bag is your hookup for everything young adult books! Each bag will be filled with snacks, goodies, a craft, and books. Tweens and teens need to register and fill out a form. This form allows us to curate a personalized bag tailored to their preferences.

For information about the Bookup Subscription Bag, including June’s theme and important dates for sign up and pick up, click here.

Spots for the subscription bags are limited. Register today to reserve your bag!

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National Library Week 2024: Apr 7-13

Posted on by Flor

(Adapted from the American Library Association (ALA) website)

The theme for National Library Week 2024 is Ready, Set, Library! National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and Newbery and Pura Belpré-award winning author Meg Medina is the 2024 Honorary Chair.

Ways to Celebrate

1. Visit your library.

National Library Week is the perfect time to visit your library. Bring the kids or invite your friends. Meet the librarians. Check out books or other great items in your library’s collection or attend a program. Take time to learn all your library has to offer!

2. Tell ALA how YOU library for a chance to win

The American Library Association needs your help spreading some library love by sharing what you appreciate most about the services and resources your library provides.

Do you love getting lost in the stories of the library’s summer reading program, storytime, or book club? When you walk through the library’s doors, are you looking for a quiet nook to study? Do you attend programs to enrich your mind, meet local authors, or find support from your community? What’s your favorite thing to check out—books, movies, outdoor games?

ALA wants to know how YOU library!

Participating is easy:

  • Snap a pic or shoot a video showcasing your favorite thing about your library.
  • Post to Instagram, X, Threads, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page with the hashtag #HowILibrary.
  • And don’t forget to tag your library to let them know how much they are appreciated!

If you don’t have a photo to share, check out the Library Elements graphics at ilovelibraries.org.

What’s in it for you?
In addition to the gratification of supporting libraries, there’s also a chance to win great prizes from ALA. The promotion starts Sunday, April 7, at noon CT and ends Friday, April 12, at noon CT.

Join the #HowILibrary movement, and let’s make this the best National Library Week ever! Official Rules (PDF)

3. Follow your library, ALA, and I Love Libraries on social media.

Be sure to follow your library on social media so you don’t miss out on all they have to offer.

Help spread the word about #NationalLibraryWeek and the #HowILibrary promotion by sharing these graphics on social media:
Twitter/Facebook | Instagram

ALA accounts: Twitter: @ALALibrary | Facebook: @AmericanLibraryAssociation | Instagram: @americanlibraryassociation

I Love Libraries: Twitter: @IloveLibraries | Facebook @ILoveLibraries

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Staying on Trend

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

Pickleball is incredibly popular now, but do you know what it is?

Pickleball is a sport invented back in 1965 in Washington State by three dads whose kids were bored with the normal summer time activities (many of us can relate!). It combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and can be played indoors or outdoors. It’s versatility has made it extremely popular – so much that pickleball courts are springing up in vacant stores in malls!

Are you ready to get started? We can help with our pickleball kit!

Our pickleball kit has everything you need to get started, but beware – once you start, you will be hooked!

The kit can be reserved, as with all our other Library of Things items, for use. To find more information about our Library of Things collection, click here.

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Summer Reading Fun for All Ages

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

It’s that time of year again. Summer Reading is here!

We have programs for all ages. All three programs have been created to keep you reading all summer long!

For children ages 0-12:

Make reading a habit this summer with the Children’s Summer Reading Program. Each day we want you to ask yourself, “Did I read today?” If the answer is yes, tick off that day in Beanstack. You decide how much you want to read each day, and all reading counts: listening, being read to, whatever!
For every 10 days of reading you log (consecutive or non-consecutive), come to the Library and pick out a prize from our prize bucket. As you log, you’ll also receive virtual raffle tickets. Use these raffle tickets to enter for a grand prize bag! We’ll notify grand prize winners at the end of the summer. All prizes must be picked up in person.

For teens ages 12-18:

This summer, dive in to a great book! Log the minutes you read to earn badges and virtual raffle tickets.
What can you read? Anything! Just track the time you spend reading (or listening). Tracking your reading time and completing activities earns you virtual raffle tickets, which you can then use to enter for prizes. And yes, you can use your summer reading book for school to earn tickets.
We will have two drawing this summer, one on July 15 and one on August 12. Some of the prizes will change between the two drawings, but you’ll be able to enter for the grand prizes all summer long. Grand prizes will be drawn on August 12.

For adults:

Come play BINGO with us and track your reading progress for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Jabberwocky! Use the online form to view the BINGO card and submit what you’ve read. Each submission will enter you into the raffle (even if you don’t hit BINGO), but you can only submit one book per category.

You can enter your submissions at any point during the Summer Reading challenge. Three lucky winners will each win a $30 gift certificate to Jabberwocky and all winners will be drawn after the conclusion of the program. Participants can win only once. If you have any questions or would like a physical copy of the BINGO card, please speak with a reference librarian on the second floor.

To find out more information about Summer Reading, including access to the online form for the adult summer reading program, please visit the Summer Reading page here on our website.

Posted in Events, FunTagged , , ,

Outdoor Fun

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

Summer time is around the corner. Can you believe we’re only a month away from the official start of summer?

If you have any outdoor parties planned for the warmer weather, why not consider our collection of outdoor yard games?

Our yard games are part of our growing Library of Things collection.

For more information on our Library of Things collection, visit our website here.

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The Season for Exploring

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

The library is excited to offer our patrons two additional museum passes to add to our exciting lineup of passes currently being offered.

With the weather getting better, patrons can reserve our new Historic New England and Mass Audubon passes to get outdoors and explore the beauty and history of our state. For more information, as well as to place an online reservation on a pass, click here.

Museum passes are funded by the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library. If you are curious about all the wonderful work the Friends do for the library and to get involved, visit their website here.

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Movie Fun For Families

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

The library is so pleased to offer two new movie experiences for our patrons in April.

On Monday April 3rd & April 24th, from 2:30-4:30, we will be hosting the Sensory Friendly Movie Matinee.

The room will be lighter, the volume will be lower, and audience members will be welcome to move around, talk, and sing or do anything they feel they need to do in order to be comfortable, unless the safety of the audience is in question.

On Monday April 10th, from 2:30-4:30, we will be hosting the Stroller Movie Matinee.

Stroller Matinees are a baby-friendly, judgment-free space for adults to enjoy films with babies who may otherwise be unwelcome in traditional movie theaters. The room will be lighter, the volume will be lower, and audience members are welcome to move around, talk to their babies, and bring their strollers or car seats inside.

Information about these unique movie viewing experiences, the movies we will be showing, and runtimes, visit our event calendar by clicking here.

Posted in Fun, programsTagged , , , ,

The Library has groups!

Posted on by Dana Echelberger

Are you looking to connect with like-minded people over books or art? Ready to read something new or learn about a prolific artist? Then consider our collection of book and art groups!

The Newburyport Public Library is pleased to offer groups that meet monthly, virtually or in person, that cover a variety of interests.

Next Chapter: meets the first Wednesday of the month in person at the Senior Center.

Fiction book group: meets the second Thursday of the month virtually.

Just the Facts – nonfiction book group: meets the last Tuesday of the month virtually.

Circulo de Lectores – Spanish book group: meets every third Tuesday of the month virtually.

Art History Group: meets the second Tuesday of the month in person at the library.

To get more information on when and what time the groups meet, how to access them virtually, or what books/artists are being profiled for the month, check our our event calendar by clicking here.

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