Summer Reading at Patterson Library
Let’s play, read, and tell some stories together this summer #atthepat!
We’re still updating this web page, but most of our stuff is up
All children’s programs are up! Keep checking back in for more updates on our summer programs!
Stay in the Loop with Text Reminders
This year, you can sign up for text reminders for the children and teen reading programs and events through the app Remind. Click or tap the buttons below to sign up!
Reading program reminders will let you know when prizes release or give other handy information. Sign up below:
Reminders for library events by age group:
Reading Program
Our reading program runs 6 weeks, from July 3 – August 11.
Sign up on paper at Patterson Library or sign up online using the link below starting early June.
Babies & Toddlers 0-2
Read to me!
Goal: 5 minutes per day/ 5 days a week (150 minutes total)
3-5 year olds
Read together!
Goal: 10 minutes per day / 5 days a week (300 minutes total)
6-12 year olds
I’m a Reader!
Goal: 20 minutes per day/ 5 days a week (600 minutes total)
Eligible for Super Reader Honor Books!
Activity challenges will be provided that can substitute for up to two days’ worth of reading every week. Parents and caregivers of children who have alternative reading needs may adjust their goals accordingly. We’ll be providing stretch goals for eager readers, too.
Prizes
As you read along these goals, you’ll earn great prizes!
Prize 1 available starting Week 1 (July 3).
Prize 2 available starting Week 3 (July 17).
Prize 3 available starting Week 5 (July 31).
You can read ahead of schedule, but prizes won’t be available until their release date. If you miss a week, you can collect it the next time.
For example: If you come in July 17, and haven’t gotten any prizes yet, you can pick up prize number 1 and 2. If you’ve read past that point, and are ready for prize 3, you’ll have to wait until July 31 to get that next prize.
Prizes will be available any time after their first availability date until August 11, while supplies last.
Patterson Library welcomes many visitors over the summer. If your loved ones are coming to visit, they can participate in the reading program, too! We have an abbreviated one to two week reading log available for visiting children. Kids can log their reading for prizes throughout the duration of their stay without having to commit to the full six week program.
This program is paper-only. Pick up a reading log at the Children’s Desk.
Teens 13-18
Goal: Submit media reviews for raffle tickets to grand prize baskets.
Teens can do more than just read books for prizes!
Submit 3 sentence reviews of not only books, but also movies, music, podcasts, art, board games, and video games that you experience over the summer.
Book reviews = Five raffle tickets
Other reviews = One raffle ticket
You can also:
Refer a friend = Five raffle tickets
Come to a library event = Five raffle tickets
Volunteer at the library = Five raffle tickets/hour
Use your raffle tickets towards prize baskets containing $50-$60 worth of prizes hand-picked by the Patterson Teen Action Board. This year’s baskets are: Gaming, Art, Stuffies and Squishmallows, and D&D.
Signups are online only, but exceptions can be made upon request.
Adults
Check back here later for more details on the adult summer reading program!
Summer Events
Our events span 6 weeks, from July 3 – August 11. No signups are required.
Will your child be joining us through WACS Summer Camp? Students will be attending library activities every week. Make sure their library card is up-to-date so that they can bring some books home!
Take and make activities for ages 0-12 will be available for pickup at the library through the summer.
Mondays at 11 am from July 3 – August 7
After stories and songs together, kids will have a snack and do a craft with volunteers while caregivers have their own casual activity in another room. Story time is focused towards ages 3-6, but open to all audiences. Supplies are limited and given out on a first come, first serve basis.
Story Time schedule:
July 3rd:
Theme: “Octopus,” with treats from Wanderlust Custard
Adult activity: Guest visit with Ericca Caccamise of Wanderlust Custard: Identifying, living, and learning with a dyslexic child.
“My son was identified at age 7, after they wanted him to repeat kindergarten. We would not do that. He went on to become an honors student in high school with no IEP needed. He became a state champion in wrestling in high school. Not only did he become an Athletic All-American in College, but additionally, an Academic All-American, and obtained Dean AND PRESIDENT List Status multiple times.”
July 10th:
Theme: “Water” with Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy
Adult activity: Guest visit with Carol Markham from Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy
The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua County region.
July 17th:
Theme: Author Lynda Graham-Barber reads her book, 10 Dragon Eggs
Adult activity: Guest visit with Lynda Graham-Barber
Lynda is the author of 17 books, 15 for children. Her picture book Say Boo! is a Scholastic Book Club Selection. The American Institute of Graphic Artists selected The Kit Furniture Book as one of its “50 Best Books of the Year,” and KokoCat Inside and Out garnered a Silver Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Lynda holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. Visit Lynda’s website.
July 24th:
Chris Centi bottle rockets program at Welch Field
(No story time)
Chris Centi at Centi Astro-Space Activities offers hands-on programs for children and adults exploring the exciting topics of Astronomy and Space Exploration. Visit Chris Centi’s website.
July 31st:
Theme: Author Cheryl Beilli reads her book, The Boy Who Never Threw Anything Out
Adult activity: Guest visit with Cheryl Beilli
Cheryl Bielli is the illustrator of two children’s books, The Boy Who Never Threw Anything Out (Crave Press, 2022) and Henry Didn’t Listen (Crave Press, 2023), and like Tommy, the hero in the first book, she has been collecting materials and making messes from a young age.
A NYS certified art teacher, Cheryl has taught art in public schools and private settings and illustrated for national trade magazine, tabloids and businesses. Since 2012, she has owned and operated Mrs. B’s Petite Galerie & Studio in Gloversville, NY and free-lances from her current home at nearby Peck’s Lake in the Southern Adirondacks.
August 7th:
Theme: Oceans of Possibilities with Chautauqua Opportunities Inc
Adult activity: Chautauqua Opportunities guest visit
Chautauqua Opportunities (COI) is a non-profit organization that provides direct services and support for education, employment, and family support services for low-income families. COI currently works with customers in the areas of: housing, health, child care, child and youth development, financial literacy, and small business development.
Tuesday, July 11 and August 8 at 4 pm
We’re opening up Word Warriors, our home school book club, to the community.
July 11: I Spy Treasure Hunt
August 8: Where’s Waldo Tournament
Every Thursday from 10-11 am from July 6 – August 10
Zoom Room is our open playtime for under 3s with exclusive toys and activities to promote interactive play.
Zoom Room runs from 10-11 am Thursday mornings for the summer. Fall times are TBD, but will likely go back to Wednesday mornings.
Dungeons and Pattersons: Oceans of Possibility
Teen Dungeons and Dragons with oceanic one-time adventures. Beginners welcome! Contact the library with any character creation questions, or join us for the game and you will be provided with a pre-made character.
July 1 at 11 am
August 5 at 11 am
Unfathomable Board Game
July 15 at 10 am
Unfathomable is a hidden traitor game where players assume the roles of the passengers and crew of the Atlantica, a steamship beset by monsters. They work together to fight off beasts and perform repairs to the ship. However, some of the players are secretly cultists determined to sabotage the heroes.
This game runs for approximately 3-4 hours.
*Contains mild cosmic horror elements based off of Lovecraft fictional lore.
Check back here for adult activities over the summer!
Wednesday Special Events for All Ages
July 5th at 11 am
It’s a Small World event with SUNY Fredonia.
Take a closer look at what lives in our lakes! SUNY Fredonia is bringing microscopes and live water lake samples for a microscope water exploration day.
July 12th at 11 am
Ocean jars craft activity. Craft your own colorful ocean jar with Molly Brown!
We will also be joined by Virginia Green, a Family Peer Advocate at Hillside. Virginia works to help parents to learn how to advocate effectively for their children, help strategize, and learn new parenting techniques. Hillside offers many groups on a variety of topics, including Love and Logic parenting classes.
July 19th at 11 am
The Wondermakers present “Let’s Get Together,” a performance about community with stories from cultural groups prominent here in New York State.
July 26th at 10 am
The Traveling Lantern Theater Company presents Rhonda Appleseed and the Tree that Learned How to Speak.
Rhonda is a descendant of Johnny Appleseed, and everyone calls her Ronnie. When she learns about her great great uncle’s story, she grows fascinated and then proud. Ronnie decides that she wants to follow in his footsteps. She decides she will protect nature and all the creatures on our planet from climate change. But how? She takes a journey to visit one of the beautiful, kind, wise old apple trees that Johnny planted so long ago to ask how she can help. The tree teaches her that her voice is needed to bring people together to do the right thing.
August 2nd at 11 am
Nan Hoffman and Joe Tumino will present their concert, “Water, Water, Everywhere!”
August 9th at 11 am
Benjamin Berry’s Circus for All and final party with Super Reader and Teen Raffle Prize winner presentation.
