Over 600 children registered for the Library's Summer Reading Club. Singer Patricia Shih (pictured on stage) performed for the Final Show for children entering Grades K - 5, who completed the requirements of the Summer Reading Club. During the Library's six week summer season, the Children's Department held 57 programs for children of various ages with attendance exceeding 1,600! The Children's Department staff registered over 600 children in the Tomorrow's Talents and Tiny Talents Summer Reading Clubs. Barbara Grace, Head of Children's Services, would like to thank the children of Garden City, and the Librarians and staff of the Children's Department for another successful summer.

Be Creative was this year's theme for the Library's summer reading program. Garden City kicked off the summer with Seth Bloom and Bubblemania. Tuesday craft programs included making slime with Mad Science, snagons with Joanne Manning, and tasty ice cream with Sue Bazzicalupo. Garden City's youngest stars shone brightly during the annual Talent Show nights. Over the course of two nights, children performed to a large and appreciative audience. During one of the Wednesday night family programs, lucky attendees saw some incredible (and creepy) reptiles with Eric the Reptile Man. The summer fun continued with the ever popular weekly guessing games and raffle drawings. But throughout all this entertainment, the children of Garden City also worked hard, and read over 1,100 books!

Making and tasting ice cream with Sue Bazzicalupo was just one of the 57 children's programs held by the Library this summer. The success of the Library's summer programs is due, in great part, to the generosity of The Friends of the Garden City Public Library, who enabled the Children's Department to have so many wonderful programs. Many thanks go out to them! In addition, the parents of Garden City are the Library's greatest partners and supporters. They believe in the value of a strong library program. The programs would not be as successful as they have been without their efforts in enrolling their children in the programs and then shuttling them to the Library so that they can participate in them.

The Garden City Library kicked off its summer programming for children with Seth Bloom and Bubblemania. The Children's Department looks forward to the beginning of the fall season with storytimes, book discussions, and special programs for children of all ages. Registration will begin on Monday, September 14 at 9:30am. Storytime registration may be done either online at www.gardencitypl.org or in person. Book discussion registration is done in person in the Children's Department only. Check with a children's librarian for details or visit the Library's website.

Over 1600 children attended the children's programs this summer at the Library. Two participants are pictured displaying lighthouses that they were making at one of Joanne Manning's craft workshops