Activities for All Ages
2018 Early Literacy Summer Reading Activities (Birth – Age 5)
Preschool Storysteps (3 – 5 years) Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Mini-Theater
Follow the footsteps under the rainbow for stories, music, puppetry, and much more!
Time Out for Toddlers (18 months – 3 years) Fridays, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Mini-Theater
Follow the footsteps under the rainbow for stories, music, puppetry, and much more!
Children’s Summer Reading Activities (completed grades K-5)
Thursday, July 5, 10:30 a.m. – Recycled Instruments (K – 5th Grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Wednesday, June 27. David English, the artist behind Black Owl Guitars, will show us how to make a working instrument out of recycled materials found in your everyday travels.
Wednesday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. – Learn the Ukulele (3rd – 5th grade) Thursday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. – Learn the Ukulele (K – 2nd grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Thursday, July 5. Stephanie Edwards, instructor of Brinson Memorial Elementary School’s Ukulele Club, will be here to teach us how to play this fun instrument. Space is limited.
Saturday, July 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – R.E.A.D. (K – 5th grade) Youth Services Department. Registration begins Saturday, July 7. Come R.E.A.D. to Frankie, our patient and attentive 4-footed friend. Register your child for a 15-minute session to cuddle and read in a relaxed atmosphere.
Wednesday, July 18, 2:30 p.m. – Jumpin’ and Jammin’ (K – 5th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Wednesday, July 11. Come learn something new or maybe try a few new tricks. Show off your jump rope skills and double dutch moves to some rockin’ music.
Wednesday, July 25, 2:30 p.m. – Strung Together (K – 5th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Wednesday, July 18. Come meet New Bern’s own family band, Strung Together, as they share their love of music and perform a mix of folk, bluegrass, and current tunes.
Thursday, July 26, 2:30 p.m. – Animals Among the Rocks (K – 5th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Thursday, July 19. Meet the Animals: Amphibians vs. Reptiles. Laura Speer will be here with a live animal presentation from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Space is limited.
2018 Young Adult Summer Reading Activities (completed grades 6 – 12)
Monday, July 2, 4:00 p.m. – Teen Kick-Off (6th – 12th Grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Monday, June 18. Five high-school students in detention form a pop band that resonates with fellow classmates who are shunned by their elitist peers. Rated PG. Call or visit the library’s website for movie title or more information.
Monday, July 9, 4:00 p.m. – Rock Your Room – Make a Butt Pillow! (6th – 12th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Monday, July 2. Bring an old pair of shorts or pants with pockets to make a pillow. The library will provide decorative elements for embellishing. Then it’s ready for your bed or the car.
Monday, July 16, 4:00 p.m. – Hip-Hop, Don’t Stop! (6th – 12th Grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Monday, July 9. Spend some time with Kandice, an instructor from Down East Dance. You’ll learn some smooth moves while listening to great music.
Monday, July 23, 4:00 p.m. – From Rocks to Sand (6th – 12th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Monday, July 16. If you can’t make it to the beach, make it to Teen Scene for rocks and sand. Crack a geode and make colorful sand art.
Monday, July 30, 4:00 p.m. – Libraries Rock! Instrument Petting Zoo (6th – 12th grade) Auditorium. Registration begins Monday, July 23. Find your sound during an Instrument Petting Zoo provided by Fuller’s Music. Explore various ways to make music by becoming familiar with different instruments and the sounds they make. Come rock with us!
For more information or to register for these activities, call 252-638-7815 or send an email to the Youth Programs Cooridnator.
Adult Summer Reading Activities
Saturday @ the Movies Auditorium – July 14, 3:00 p.m. The 1973 tennis match between women’s and men’s top-ranked players Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was a cultural event and one of the most watched televised sporting events of all time. (PG-13)
Libraries Rock
Streamin’ Rockin’ Music!* July 6, 2:30 p.m. Auditorium, Learn how to download and access your favorite music or podcast on a variety of free apps. Please bring your mobile device with you for hands-on practice.
Line Dancing Rocks! July 9, 7:00 p.m. Auditorium, The Movers and Shakers line dance group will rock your world! Tap your feet to a rockin’ beat! Learn all the latest line dances with instructor, Connie Davis.
Rock Your Body!* July 14, 9:30 a.m. Auditorium, Rock what you got with Down East Dance at our dance fitness move and groove. Sweat with no regret! Let’s rock it out together! Families are welcome to attend.
Acoustic Coffeehouse July 19, 7:00 p.m. Auditorium, Local musician Aaron Davenport returns to the library for another night of live acoustic music. Come join us for a fun night of rockin’ music.
Meet the Author* July 20, 2:30 p.m. Auditorium, Best-selling North Carolina author Lynne Hinton will share her latest novel, The View from Here, which takes place in Jones County. Copies of her novel will be available for purchase and Ms. Hinton will sign books.
Plymouth Rock* July 23, 7:00 p.m. Auditorium Learn how to explore your own family’s genealogy with Special Collections Librarian Victor T. Jones, Jr.
Rock Salt & Ice Cream* July 27, 2:30 p.m. Auditorium Learn the science of ice cream making and enjoy the cold smooth evidence as we use rock salt to mix milk and sugar into ice cream. Children welcome when registered with an adult.
Stop! Hammer Time!* July 28, 2:00 p.m. Auditorium Learning a new craft solo can often lead to treble. Join us for a clef-er music-themed string art craft. Even if crafts aren’t normally your forté, it’s easier than it looks! Please register by July 21.
Rockin’ Karaoke Tuesday, July 31, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Let your inner rock star shine through with our local Karaoke Queen, Diane Dees. Sing the night away or just come out to cheer on your friends. Either way, you are sure to have a rockin’ good time!
Activities for All Ages
Bring a bag lunch and join us on Mondays during our Summer Reading Program for the showing of a different musical each week. Enjoy a fun afternoon filled with song and dance!
July 2: 12:00 – 1:45 p.m. Rated G
July 9: 12:00 – 1:45 p.m. Rated PG
July 16: 12:00 – 2:20 p.m. Rated G
July 23: 12:00-1:45 p.m. Rated PG
July 30: 12:00-1:45 p.m. Rated PG
Rock Your Library!
Tuesday, June 26, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Join the rock-painting craze at the library! Painting rocks is fun and relaxing, so come get creative. There’s no wrong way to paint a rock!
Rockin’ Karaoke, Tuesday, July 31, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Let your inner rock star shine through with our local Karaoke Queen, Diane Dees. Sing the night away or just come out to cheer on your friends. Either way, you are sure to have a rockin’ good time!
Photography Rocks Amateur Photography Contest
Open to everyone age 6 and up.
Applications are required for each entry and may be picked up beginning June 18 in the library or printed from the library’s website. All entries must be submitted to the Adult Reference Desk by July 23. No emailed, faxed, or framed entries will be accepted. Please see the application form for complete guidelines.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st & 2nd place in three age categories: 6-12, 13-17, and 18+.
Libraries Rock Songbook
Attention amateur composers: Everyone age 6 and up is invited to submit an original composition for addition to our Libraries Rock Songbook.
When completed, the songbook will be on display in the Adult Reference Department.
Applications are required for each composition and may be picked up beginning June 18 in the library or printed from the library’s website. All compositions must be submitted in paper format to the Adult Reference Desk by August 4. No emailed or faxed compositions will be accepted. Please see the application form for complete guidelines.
*These programs require registration. Call 252-638-7807 or 252-638-7815 to register.
Due to limited space we are unable to accommodate groups and summer camps at these events.
For more information, visit the New Bern-Craven County Public Library located at 400 Johnson St., call 252-638-7813, or visit NewBern.cpclib.org.
Submitted by: Cassandra Hunsucker, Librarian, New Bern-Craven County Public Library