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Summer 2017 the year of ‘Discovery’ at PCPL
With so many activities taking place around the Stellar Community of Greencastle this summer, the Putnam County Public Library (PCPL) would be remiss not to jump into action and provide its own source of entertainment for families and the abundance of potentially bored children around the county.
A myriad of upcoming activities, including those currently in motion, such as the Book Walk, have been hatched from ideas thought up by several of the library’s employees, including Children’s Department Head Krista Mullinnix and Circulation Manager Conni Wrightsman.
Wrightsman, who was on hand Wednesday at the library, took the time to explain to the Banner Graphic some of this summer’s activities.
“We decided to use the theme of ‘Building a Better World’ this summer at the library,” she explained, pointing out the decorations recently placed, which include caution tape and figurines of construction equipment/workers. “I took it literally so kids can be reminded of the theme throughout the summer.
“One of the things we’re doing is our ‘plarning’ collection -- it kind of looks like a typo until you realize what it means,” Wrightsman continued. “We have a collection box here for used, plastic shopping bags and then Jo MacPhail, the knitting teacher, takes those bags and uses a big crochet hook to turn them into sleeping mats for the homeless. I haven’t done it yet but it makes a plastic mat that is weather-proof and really durable, and it’s a reusable thing that is really useful. The idea was spearheaded by a couple of workers here at (PCPL).”
The plarning initiative is part of a collaborative effort by PCPL, MacPhail and the Creative Change Project of Indianapolis.
Wrightsman not only works as the circulation manager at PCPL, she also has an extensive background in childcare and education, running a daycare for 20 years while working as an instructional assistant for many of those years.
“We have so many things coming up this summer for the kids,” she said, noting her passion for child literacy. “We have STEAM stuff that’s going on each Monday and all kinds of stuff going on down in the children’s department -- including teen programs to keep all of the kids busy.”
In addition to the year-round activities for adults in the form of book clubs and author visits, PCPL has announced dates and locations for special, weekly upcoming events including a developing butterfly exhibit, “silly safaris,” cooking clubs and Family Fort Nights. Also on hand will be Ollie the Gnome who will either be in his usual book-drop locale or somewhere throughout the library for kids to find, complete with hard hat.
Other upcoming events at PCPL include, but are not limited to:
• Stop Motion Legos: Tuesday, June 13, 2 p.m.
• PALS Pup Tales: Saturday, June 17, 12:30 p.m.
• Masterpiece of the Month: Wednesday, June 28, 4 p.m.
• Pokemon League: Saturday, July 22, 1 p.m.
• Teen Interactive Harry Potter Movie Night: Monday, June 26, 5 p.m.
• Candy Sushi: Monday, July 24, 3 p.m.
• Ice Cream Party: Tuesday, July 25, noon.
• Yoga Storytime: Tuesday, June 20 and Tuesday, July 18, 11 a.m.
• Music Makers: Tuesday, June 13 and Tuesday, July 11, 11 a.m.
• Plarning: Wednesday, June 5, 6 p.m.; Wednesday, June 12, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m.; and Wednesday, June 26, 4 p.m.
• Fuzzy Friday: Friday, June 16, 5-7 p.m.
• Family Film Fridays: Friday, June 16, 1 p.m.
• Monarch Butterfly Talks: Friday, June 16, 2 p.m.
For more information about the Putnam County Public Library, 103 E. Poplar St., Greencastle, or its upcoming summer events, interested persons may contact the library at 653-2755.