Library unveils new summer events

A busy summer is planned at the Gibson Memorial Library this year with the release of the 2025 summer reading program schedule. With the theme of “Level Up at Your Library,” patrons will have a variety of events and programs to attend.

The season-long event starts with a kickoff party Saturday, May 31 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Like last year, a foam party will be held part-way through at 1 p.m.

Director Danielle Dickinson Thaden said planning for the annual program starts in November each year.

“In November, there’s a big youth services event where they showcase all the performers that you might get for summer because you really do have to book them in November or you don’t get them,” Dicksinson Thaden said.

The library has four performers planned for the month of June. Dickinson Thaden said the first event on June 4 was pivoted last minute due to federal cuts.

“We originally had the ISU Insect Zoo coming, and they are fantastic,” Dickinson Thaden said. “Kids get to look at insects up close and hold them, learn that they’re not scary and are an important part of our ecosystem, but unfortunately ISU cut their program due to funding.”

The library found out about the program ending in April. Dickinson Thaden said she was rushing to find a replacement when Creston Street Superintendent T.J. Parsons stepped in to help with a new Touch a Truck event.

“T.J. Parsons has even volunteered the Public Works building to host that, so they’ll get to see all the city crew trucks, plus we have all the emergency vehicles coming,” Dickinson Thaden said. “One thing we are looking for that we have not locked in is agricultural vehicles, like a tractor or something.”

Other performers include the Dragon Training Academy on June 11, Science Heroes: Adventure of the Missing Color on June 18 and Wilderman’s Treetop Tales with Chad Elliott on June 25. All events start at 10 a.m., with all but Touch a Truck taking place at the library pavilion. The United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall will hold events if there is rain or high heat.

In addition to these Wednesday performers, a series of programs for kids and tweens will run at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, for teens at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays and for adults at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The library will also have summer reading logs for both adults and children. All logs must be turned in by July 31.

In other library news...

Three library policies were updated and approved by the board. Policy 8, which governs institutional checkouts, was overviewed at a previous meeting, only adding a policy objective. Policy 13, regarding faxing in the library, was approved with only grammatical fixes.

The cell phone policy, number 22, was heavily edited, since no revisions to the policy have been recorded since 2012. The changes include asking patrons to move to the entryway or a study room for longer calls, using a low voice no matter the length of the call and using headphones when listening to media. Video calls are also allowed will similar guidelines.

The board approved the closure of the library for Saturday, July 5. Dickinson Thaden said the day after a holiday is usually slow for the library. In addition, she would like to use this day off to give staff a three-day break as they hit the half-way point of the summer reading program.