By Julia McCane-Knox
The Adams County Public Library system is preparing another exciting week of summer programming, offering children, teens, and families a variety of educational and entertaining activities centered around reading, dinosaurs, fossils, and hands-on discovery.
Throughout the month of July, visitors to the Peebles Library can participate in the Book in a Bottle challenge. Running from July 6 through July 31, the activity invites patrons to put their literary detective skills to the test. Three different mystery books are hidden inside bottles displayed at the circulation desk. Each bottle contains snippets and clues from the hidden book, and participants must use the hints to identify the correct title. Guests may submit one guessing ticket per bottle for a chance to win a small prize bag. Winners will be notified and can pick up their prizes at the library.
Storytime programs continue across the library system, providing young children and their caregivers with opportunities to build early literacy skills through stories, songs, and interactive activities. North Adams Library will host Storytime on Tuesday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Peebles Library and Manchester Library will both offer Storytime on Wednesday, July 8, at 11 a.m. West Union Library will host Storytime on Thursday, July 9, at 11 a.m., while Manchester Library will also offer an evening Storytime session on Thursday, July 9, at 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, July 8, Manchester Library will present Dinosaur Expedition Stations at 3:30 p.m. Participants will rotate through a variety of engaging activity stations designed to spark curiosity about prehistoric life. Activities include Engineering Your Dinosaur, Dino Poo Detective, Jurassic Jargon, and Dino Flight. Children will have opportunities to explore science, engineering, and creativity and enjoy snacks during the program.
The dinosaur-theme continues on Thursday, July 9, at Peebles Library with Colossal Fossil Fun beginning at 1 p.m. Participants can explore a variety of interactive stations and interactive activities. Children will create fossil stamps using air-dry clay, experiment with a colorful rainbow volcano fizz, and investigate sensory bags filled with peat bog materials. Participants will also have the opportunity to examine real fossils and learn about prehistoric creatures that once roamed Ohio. To complete the experience, participants can design and take home a sand art necklace.
Later that afternoon, Manchester Library will host Dino Detectives and Cretaceous Colors: Stained Glass Fun at 3:30 p.m. Participants will embark on a Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt before creating colorful stained-glass dinosaur artwork. Snacks will be provided as children explore, create, and learn.
The West Union Library will welcome families to the House of Phacops Experience and Crafts program at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. Fossil and rock enthusiast Mae from House of Phacops will share real fossils and guide participants through an interactive fossil exploration experience. In addition, children can paint pet dino rocks, create edible dino dig cups, explore dinosaur-themed sensory bins, and observe a vibrant rainbow volcano experiment. The program combines science, creativity, and active learning in an engaging family-friendly setting.
The Adams County Public Library encourages families to take advantage of these free educational opportunities throughout the week. Participants are reminded that the Summer Reading Challenge ends on Saturday, July 11. Those who are unable to pick up their prizes by that date are encouraged to contact their local library to arrange an alternate pickup time. Please visit adamscolibrary.org or call the library for more details: Manchester Library at 937-549-3359, North Adams Library at 937-386-2556, Peebles Library at 937-587-2085, and West Union Library at 937-544-2591.