Sentinel photo by Tabitha Goodling
Jocinda Rhinier, children’s director, and Vince Giordano, library director, pose inside the Juniata County Library as they promote their summer reading program, ‘Build a Better World.’

­­MIFFLINTOWN — Getting families invested in reading and learning while school is not in session is the building block of the Juniata County Library’s summer program.

“Build a Better World” is the theme of this year’s program, which will kick off June 9 at the library on Jefferson Street, in Mifflintown.

The program runs through Aug. 11 for children of all ages, as well as adults.

The kickoff event begins at 1 p.m. and will feature vendors from local businesses and agencies such as CHiP and Juniata County Head Start.

A magic show will take place at 2 p.m. to keep children engaged while parents check out the booths at the event, Juniata County Library Director Vince Giordano said.

Jocinda Rhinier is the children’s director for the Juniata County Library, and she has been in charge of organizing the summer program for young people.

Children up to age 12 can get a Summer Reading Activity Log. If a child completes 10 activities, he or she is granted a free book. Those who do all 30 recommended activities will have their names entered into a drawing for prizes at the completion of the summer program.

Activities in the log include reading outside, reading an award-winning book, making up a silly song, following a recipe to help make dinner, and many more.

Teenagers also need to complete 10 activities to earn a free book, and they can do more activities to be entered in a drawing as well.

Teen activity options include connecting with the library on social media, checking out a new young adult book and leaving a review, taking a poll on the library website, going to an event at the library and more.

Storytime summer sessions for small children will take place from June 12- Aug. 8 at the library. The story time sessions include 10:30 a.m. on Mondays for preschool, ages 3-6 years; and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays for Tales for Twos, ages 18 months – 2 years.

Wednesdays this summer at the library will include special visits from various individuals.

Thursdays will alternate with Engineering Mystery Challenge, where students receive a bag of materials to complete a challenge. A Block Party will consist of playing blocks and a theme in which children get to be creative and Family Build where children will build a wooden creation.

Fridays will also alternate with events. There will be Family Field Trip Story times in which children ages 3 and older, along with family members, will meet at a Mifflintown location such as the Juniata County Food Pantry, CJEMS and more. The intention is for young people to understand what volunteers and others do to “build up” the community.

The field trips begin at 10 a.m. and will take place June 23, July 7, July 21 and Aug. 4.

Teenagers can meet every other Tuesday afternoon and do one of the following activities: watch a movie adapted from a book and enjoy snacks, teen cooking, teen crafting that will involve paracord and duct tape and a 3-D printer demonstration.

Adults will not be at a loss for activities at the library either this summer.

Giordano said the library will continue through the summer months with its Life Long Learning options.

June will feature classes on the language of technology. The course will focus on terms such as sinking, cloud, and linking among many others that will help adults understand the easily misunderstood computer words.

In July there will be four or more sessions on financial issues such a student loan debt and retirement/estate planning.

August courses will focus on healthy living and eating.

Giordano said these courses have had a positive turn out in the past.

“We have a unique population of people who want to learn,” Giordano said.

A closing program will be planned for Aug. 11.

Adults, parents and teens can register for all of these programs online at www.juniatacountylibrary.org, where times and further details will be posted on a regular basis.