Portland District Library News

There’s still time to participate in Summer Reading 2023: All Together Now, as it runs until August 5. Patrons will have the option of using PDL’s virtual reading tracker, Beanstack, or logging minutes using a traditional paper tracker. Adults will get a sweet treat for unlocking their first badge and then can enter to win one of our wonderful prize packs at the end of the summer. Youth readers, ages 18 and under, will earn a prize for every badge they unlock and also an entry into one of the many grand prize packs for each age group: Littles (ages 0-5), Middles (ages 6-12), and Teens (ages 13-18). All reading must be logged on Beanstack and paper trackers turned in by Saturday, August 5.

Brighten Your Bookshelves Everyone loves to have books in their home, but sometimes they can be difficult to manage. Add some organization to your shelves as we revive tired old library bookends by making them into usable works of art. This in-person program will take place on Wednesday, August 9 at 6:00pm. Ages 16 and up, registration is required.

Children’s and Teen

LEGO Lab

LEGO! LEGO! LEGO! LEGO Lab is where we provide you with the materials and you bring your engineering skills and imagination. Build what you want, how you want, during this hour-long program where we let you experiment with all sorts of brick combinations. Build a bridge, construct a tower, or draw a card to challenge yourself! This program will take place on Tuesday, July 25 at 6:00 p.m. for ages 10-12 and Wednesday, July 26 at 6:00 p.m. for ages 6-9. Registration is required and limited to 6 patrons for each program.

Picnic in the Park

We’re taking Books & Blankets on the road again! Meet Miss Jessica at the Thompson Field pavilion on Thursday, July 20 at 6:00 p.m. Pack a healthy picnic to eat, enjoy a storywalk on the Riverwalk, and cool off with a tasty treat before the night is over! And everyone is going home with a special book from our friends at the Ionia County Great Start Collaborative. This program is recommended for families with children ages 8 and under. Registration is required!

The Fresh Food Bonanza

Welcome to the Fresh Food Bonanza! Starting Monday, July 10, we are inviting patrons to pick from the many fresh herbs and veggies in our garden, take the pickings home, and create some edible magic in the kitchen! Patrons can submit photo entries of their delicious creations via email to epock@portlandmilibrary.com for a chance to win a prize. Each week, patrons can submit as many photos as they’d like and a winner will be drawn every Friday until September 25. We can’t wait to see what kinds of tasty plates our patrons will create!