If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to far off places or taking your family on an adventure, then the Hewitt Public Library is the place for you this summer. The theme of their annual summer reading program is “Traveling Through the Pages,” and books are your ticket to exotic destinations.
Not only will patrons be able to find amazing locations inside the pages of the books on HPL’s shelves, but they will also get the chance to participate in travel-themed photo opportunities and pick up weekly craft kits.
“We will also have a large world map [inside the library] where patrons can mark the places they’ve traveled in a book or in person,” said HPL Director, Waynette Ditto.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. The library will also host performances by a creature teacher, a magician, a Texas tall tales’ storyteller, and much more. These special events will take place in the library, at Mammoth National Monument, at the zoo, and at Hewitt and Warren Parks on Wednesday mornings all summer long.
Some of your child’s favorite characters will also make appearances at the library this summer. So, stop by and see Mickey and Minnie, Black Panther, Buzz and Woody, Paw Patrol characters Chase and Marshall, Elsa, Minions, Sonic and Knuckles, and Cinderella. Appearances will take place between June 6 and July 25, with visit times ranging from 10 a.m. to noon, and 5 to 7 p.m.
Not only will there be fun happenings at the library, but thanks to a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HPL’s programs can now reach the community outside of the library’s walls with the help of a new bookmobile called HPL on the GO.
“Bookmobiles are an important and perhaps the truest form of library outreach, as their role is to bring the library to the people,” Ditto said.
From the bookmobile, library staff will be able to create library cards, do small crafts, give away free books and library swag, and participate in many other engaging activities.
“We will be able to go to school-sponsored events, community events, as well as local block parties,” she said. “Through donated books, we can go into the community and deliver books to the areas that need them the most.”
The library director hopes that in the future HPL on the GO will become a full-service branch of the library that provides programming and all types of materials for patrons of all ages.
For more information about summer programming and the new bookmobile, visit www.cityofhewit.com, the Hewitt Public Library Facebook page, or call 254-666-2442.
Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
