Summer Reading
* We're at the halfway mark... can you believe it's July already? We gerbils sure can't.
* Our paper food pantry is nearly full after a great week of generous token & teen credit donations - the total amount of money raised is now $36.21!  Don't worry if the paper pantry fills.  We plan to start stacking the cans, and maybe we'll even expand the pantry.
* We now have 871 kids signed up for Summer Reading... do you have a guess as to how many will be signed up on July 28 (the last day)? Participants have been busy writing online reviews - the total is now 1820.
* In Very Hungry Caterpillar news... he's almost out of the Inger Boye Room! Good job, Book Buddies! Pretty soon we will have to ask Miss Deena to add some more caterpillar feet, because he is 36 segments long! (That's 540 books, songs or rhymes shared!)

Summer Reader of the Week
* This week's preschool winner is three year-old Amelia P., who enjoyed reading Gideon by Oliver Dunrea, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish, and New Socks by Bob Shea.
* This week's grade school winner is second grader Alexander M., who read Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo, The Bear Scouts by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Happy Birthday Hamster by Cynthia Lord.
* As winners, Amelia and Alexander's names, and the books they enjoyed this week will be displayed on our Electronic Bulletin Board for the summer. Check back here next Monday or look up on our electronic bulletin board when you come in to see reads from future Summer Reader of the Week winners!

At the Library This Week
* Stories Under the Stars meets Monday at 7:30pm in the clearing by the rose garden.
* The Library will close at 5pm on July 3 (Tuesday) for the holiday. We will be closed on July 4, but look for library people in the 4th of July Parade downtown! Have a happy and safe fourth.
* Outdoor Drop-In Chess on Saturday as usual!

Around the Web
* Jon Sciezka writes about audiobooks on his blog - linking to a couple free download sites! Perfect topic for summer, given all the road trips people go on!
* Given the recent heat, we thought it might be pertinent to share these ten survival tips learned from YA novels (though none deal with extreme heat).
* Read Kadir Nelson's 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award acceptance speech, and Shane W. Evans' CSK Illustrator Award acceptance speech.