Grand Finale a Big Hit!

Our REACH FOR THE STARS...READ! Awards Ceremony and Concert were attended by 300 proud readers and their parents and grandparents. Library Director Barbara Hathaway thanked the parents for taking the time to make repeated trips to the library and log the minutes. Mayor Pro Tem Jack McCool congratulated the children on reading a whopping 405,411 minutes. Winners of special prize drawings were announced, and Joe McDermott took over, and soon had the kids in the audience dancing, singing, and screaming with delight.

Nearly 800 children registered for the program this year, and 382 read at least 400 minutes to become eligible for awards. Study after study has shown that children who participate in summer reading programs at public libraries return to school in the fall ready to learn, and with improved reading skill and greater confidence.  We chose a Star Wars theme this year in order to appeal to boys, who are typically under-represented in our programs. Judging by the popularity of this year’s programs, we succeeded!  Prizes included a tee shirt made possible by the sponsors’ donations, and a personal poster of each star reader hanging in the library.

The Library would like to thank its sponsors Art Attack, Broadway Bank, and the Shops at the Galleria, and partners Aqua-Tots Swim School, Dogadillo, Eyecare Essentials, Hill Country Kids, and Learning Express. Other supporters donating items for the prizes or offering special support included A+ Federal Credit Union, Austin Astronomical Society, Backwoods, Barnes & Noble, Billy Butler, C&C Dentistry, The Cotton Cupboard, Karen Cook, Jessica Dieterle, Dillard’s, Cheryl Dore, fab’rik, Freedom Silk Screening, James Avery Craftsman, Lakeway TaeKwonDo, Milk + Honey Spa, Dr. Pamela Owen, PostNet, Amanda Reed, Jeanetta Sanders, SportClips, Rebecca Wright, the 501st Legion of the Star Garrison-Central Texas, and the Department of Astronomy at the University of Texas, Austin.

IT IS TIME FOR SPLASH DOWN - JOIN US FOR THE AWARDS CEREMONY & CONCERT ON JULY 31

Now that all our readers have reached those stars we celebrate as they return to Earth. Join us Saturday, July 31 at 2 pm as we celebrate all the fun activities we’ve shared and all those wonderful minutes we’ve spent growing and learning this summer by reading.   Prizes can be picked up starting at 1 pm.

Please join us for our:

Summer Reading Program Awards Ceremony & Joe McDermott Concert

Saturday, July 31, 2-3 pm

Joe McDermott is one of our all time favorites!  Great music and funny songs!  So come out and enjoy the concert - it is FREE and open to everyone, we hope to see all our patrons dancing the afternoon away!

Just a reminder please, don’t forget to turn in your logs. We want to make sure all your minutes are counted and your hard work rewarded! 

As we get ready to celebrate the end of the Bee Cave Public Library's summer reading REACH FOR THE STARS……READ, let’s take moment to look back on all the fun we’ve shared together this summer.  To see a bigger version of the pictures, just click on them. 

Sprinting for the finish line…

We have one more week of fun activities before those reading logs are due.

Thursday, July 22, Explore the magical world of Harry Potter!

We will be focusing on “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Check it out from your library! The meetings will include great discussion and/or activities, games, crafts, and snacks. Sharpen those trivia skills to see if you can outwit our Master of all things Harry Potter, Miss Michelle, in the trivia quiz!

Saturday, July 24, DEADLINE for READING LOGS and BOOK REVIEWS

All summer you’ve been reaching for the stars, so now you are in the final stretch. Be sure to turn in those final reading logs by 5 pm on Saturday, July 24. If you plan to be out of town then email the minutes to us at library@beecavetexas.gov .

Teens and Adults be sure to put your final book reviews into a prize box by July 24th as well.


Saturday, July 31 AWARDS CELEBRATION CONCERT

Join us on Saturday, July 31 at 2 pm as we celebrate our reading stars with Joe McDermott in Concert. Prizes will be available for pick up starting at 1 pm, with the concert beginning at 2 pm. If you won’t be able to attend our celebration on Saturday, please come by the library in August to pick up your well-earned reading prizes.

Explore Fossils and More at the Library!

Only two more weeks of Summer Reading activities left-- you don't want to be left out! 

REMINDERS:  If you turn in your first 400 minutes by Saturday, July 10th, you get an extra prize but the LAST day to turn in Reading Logs is Saturday, July 24th.  If you can't make it in, email us at library@beecavetexas.gov  or call at 767-6620 and let us know how many minutes you've logged!

Explore Fossils with Dr. Pamela Owen on Tuesday, July 13, 11:30 am OR 1:00 pm

Join us at either session for a hands-on learning experience!  Learn about dinosaurs, fossils and more with Dr. Owen from the Texas Memorial Museum.  You can even bring your own fossils for Dr. Owen to identify!  View our flyer for more information.  Recommended for ages 5 and up. 

American Girl Book Club on Wednesday, July 14th,  4:00-5:00 pm

Join us for games, crafts, snacks and more as we learn about Josefina, a young Hispanic girl in 1824.  This will be a repeat of the June 16 session, but you're more than welcome to attend again!  View our flyer for more details.  

Magic Tree House Book Club on Thursday, July 15th, 4:00-5:00 pm

Learn about the Olympics and make your own medal as we have fun with Jack and Annie and The Hour of the Olympics!  Click here for more information.

Summer Reading Moves into July with More Fun Events

The parades have ended, the hot dogs are eaten, the fireworks have lit up the sky and disappeared, but the fun is still going strong at our summer reading events. Please join us the week of July 6 for the following events:

Tuesday, July 6, 10 am Bee Cave Public Library Heliostat Viewing Party

on the UT Campus. Come learn about the Heliostat (Solar) Telescope. View our sun and learn more about the “star” of our galaxy. Click here for location information, directions and a map. For more details, check out the flyer.  The program lasts about one hour.

Wednesday, July 7, 4-5 pm AMERICAN GIRL BOOK CLUB

Back by popular demand, this year’s American Girl Book Club is reading the Josefina books, about a young Hispanic girl who lived with her family in New Mexico in 1824. We will be having two sessions this month so join us on July 7 & 14 for activities, crafts, snacks, and more! For details, check out the flyer.  Even if you came to the June meetings, you are welcome to come this month although we will be repeating the same activities.

Thursday, July 8,  4-5 pm STAR WARS BOOK CLUB

Come learn Jedi moves from Master Chris Abramson of Lakeway TaeKwonDo. We will also be discussing every Jedi’s favorite sidekick. Can you guess who or what that might be? Here’s a hint: as friends they are made of very strong metal. Read any of the Clone Wars or Operation Huttlet graphic novels, and join us to explore the Ways of the Jedi! Click here to see the flyer for more information.

Don't forget, if you turn in your reading log by Saturday, July 10, with at least your first 400 minutes, you will win an extra prize!

If you have turned in your log but did not get your picture taken, make sure you come by and have it done!

Go and See the Sun!

Here's more information about the Bee Cave Public Library Heliostat (Solar) Telescope viewing party on the UT campus on Tuesday, July 6th, at 10am.  Don't pass up this chance to see a once and lifetime event!  If you have questions or need more information, call us at 767-6620 or send an email to library@beecavetexas.gov.

And the Fun Continues in July!

We have been having a great time this summer!  So far, we've visited American Girl Josefina and the worlds of Harry Potter and Magic Tree House; learned about Yoda's secrets; and made great crafts.  

There are no events this week but keep reading and turn in those reading logs and review tickets.  Great events and programs resume on July 7th, check out our WEBSITE and CALENDAR for more details. 

Any questions or need more information?  Then give us a call (767-6620) or sends us an email (library@beecavetexas.gov). and we will be happy to help.  The library will be closed Saturday-Monday, July 3-5, for the Fourth of July but regular hours will resume at 10 am Tuesday, July 6th. We hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday and that we see you soon at the library!

More Fun in June!

Check out these exciting activities coming up!

TUESDAY, JUNE 22 2-4 pm
• Come-and-Go Crafts! We supply the materials, you supply the ideas--the sky's the limit! And there's still time to Decorate a Star for the Reach for the Stars Quilt!

• FREE VISION SCREENINGS for children of all ages, by Eyecare Essentials at the library during the craft session.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
• Bee Cave Night at UT's 16-inch Telescope

THURSDAY, JUNE 24 4-5 pm
• Harry Potter Book Club

SATURDAY, JUNE 26 1-5 pm
• Last Day to Sign Up for Summer Reading Programs!

Check our WEBSITE and CALENDAR for more details, and to see what'scoming up in July.  And you can always give us a call at 767-6620, or email us at library@beecavetexas.gov.  See you soon at the library!

Kick-Off was a Blast!

Thank you to the more than 500 kids, moms, dads, grandparents and friends who showed to meet R2D2 and the Stormtrooper at our Reach for the Stars Kick-Off!  What a blast!

Don't forget to turn in your Reading Logs as soon as you reach 400 minutes.  Why?  We'll take your photo for a poster, you'll get a mini pop-up alien, and you'll get a Paw Print to take to our partner Dogadillo in the Galleria for another free prize!

KICK-OFF AND MORE

Wow, we have "blasted off" into summer here in Bee Cave!  More that 375 kids have already signed up to "Reach for the Stars...Read!"   It's not too late, so come to the library and get your reading log, and start reading your way to fun prizes! 

KICK OFF this Saturday from 2-4 pm!
Come to the library to MEET STAR WARS CHARACTERS from 2-4 pm--bring your camera!  You can also make a bookmark and get a tattoo--and it's all FREE.

STAR-GAZING on Tuesday, June 15th, 8:30-10 pm
Click here for more details.  There will be a program at the Old Bee Cave School House that night even if it's cloudy or raining,  so come on out.  If the weather isn't good for star-gazing, our astronomer friends will return with their telescopes on July 20th for another try.  Call the library for more information, 767-6620.

AMERICAN GIRL BOOK CLUB, Wednesday, June 16, 4-5 pm
If you love the American Girl books and dolls, come learn all about Josefina! Click here for more information.

MAGIC TREE HOUSE BOOK CLUB, Thursday, June 17, 4-5 pm
Do you love Jack & Annie?  Join Ms. Casey for games, snacks, and crafts with Magic Tree House!  Click here for all the details.

2010 Summer Reading Program

Welcome to our new Summer Reading Blog! Visit here for the latest news about what’s happening at the library this summer.

SUMMER READING IS ALL ABOUT THE FUN!
Why do libraries all across the nation sponsor reading programs in the summer? We want to share our love of reading and encourage everyone to read JUST FOR FUN!! Prizes and programs add to the excitement, and encourage kids to keep those reading skills up so they go back to school in the fall without losing ground.

SIGN-UP begins Saturday, June 5th for our 2010 Summer Reading Program, REACH FOR THE STARS…READ! Stop by the library to sign up, pick up a Reading Log, and start reading! Keep track of the minutes you read and earn cool prizes! For details, check out our FLYER and CALENDAR.

June 8 2-4 pm COME-AND-GO CRAFT DAY
Join us on Tuesday, June 8 between 2-4 pm to make some fun crafts. Decorate a square for our very own Bee Cave Star Quilt, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Make other fun crafts sponsored by Art Attack. (For ages 4 and up).

June 9 4-5 pm AMERICAN GIRL BOOK CLUB
Back by popular demand, this year’s American Girl Book Club is reading the Josefina books, about a young Hispanic girl who lived with her family in New Mexico in 1824. Come to one or more of the sessions on June 9 & 16, or July 7 & 14 for activities, crafts, snacks, and more! For details, check out the flyer.

June 10 4-5 pm STAR WARS BOOK CLUB
New this year! Read any of the Clone Wars or Operation Huttlet graphic novels, and join us to explore the Ways of the Jedi! Check the flyer for more information.

June 12 2-4 pm KICK-OFF EVENT!
Join us from 2-4 pm and meet Star Wars characters! Make a craft, get a tattoo, and don’t forget your camera! Members of the Star Garrison of the 501st Legion (a/k/a Vader’s First) will pose for pictures with Star Wars fans of all ages.

REACH FOR THE STARS....READ