Dover library to launch summer reading program

The Dover Public Library will kick off its summer reading program 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Dover Pool, 3000 Tremont St. Ext. Dover.

Fell Realty and the city of Dover will kick off summer with a celebration at the Dover City Pool featuring swimming, music, food, a petting zoo, inflatables and more. The library will be there to register children for summer reading.

Children who sign up that day will receive a bag with items from the library and a reading tracker. They also will be entered into a drawing for four Kings Island tickets and a full set of “Harry Potter” books, which will be given away that day. The library also will offer a Plinko game with library and dragon prizes.

The rain date is Sunday, May 31.

This year’s theme is “Set Sail with Dragon Tales and Summer Reading.” The summer will include several dragon programs, beginning with a dragon egg hunt all day Saturday, June 6, in the children’s department. Shield and crown decorating will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13.

“We will have dragon ribbon dancing by Ms. Farrah Raines at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, and a program from a dragon trainer and his animatronic dragons at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 27,” Children’s Department Manager Jen Gardner said.

Gardner said Ms. Chris will have a special dragon training course set up outside the library at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, for anyone wanting to challenge themselves. Both dragon training programs will offer a special dragon reading card that children can collect and add to their collections from the school year.

A live bearded dragon presentation by Auntie E will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 18. A no-bake cooking class will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, featuring dragon-themed foods.

Some programs require registration. Call the library or visit doverlibrary.org for more information.

Special storytimes will be held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. through June and July. The themed storytimes will include bubbles, ice cream, community helpers, a progressive storytime and more.

The library’s annual Park Day will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 24, in place of storytime. Park Day will include inflatables, fish ponds, games and popsicles. No registration is needed for storytimes or Park Day.

Sponsors helping make the summer reading program possible include Directions Credit Union, Dover Exchange Club, Dover-New Philadelphia Elks, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union, Fell Realty, First Federal Community Bank, Friends of the Dover Public Library, Gionino’s Pizzeria, McDonald’s, Miller’s Creamery, Pangrazio’s Pizza, Park Street Pizza, Penso’s Pizza, Peterman Plumbing and Zach and Lisa Espenschied.

For more information on summer reading or programs offered this summer at the Dover Public Library, visit doverlibrary.org or call 330-343-6123.