Upcoming Summer Programs

Texas Summer Reading Program

Having a hard time occupying your child or teen’s time over the summer break?  The Huntsville Public Library is here to help with our annual Texas Summer Reading Program for all ages.  Start your break at our Summer Reading Kick-Off Party from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9.  Sign up for the Summer Reading Program, print off your Book Squares Reading Log, and get busy reading.  The first day to turn in your completed Book Squares Reading Log is Monday, July 23. The last day to turn in your completed Book Squares Reading Log is Saturday, July 28.  Children (ages 0-12) and Teens (Ages 13-17) who turn in completed logs will receive a prize packet of coupons to local Huntsville restaurants, a free book sponsored by the Huntsville Kiwanis, and a ticket to enter our raffle to win even more exciting prizes.  Adults (ages 18+) can also participate by playing Book Squares to receive a chocolate bar and a raffle ticket for the Adult Summer Reading grand prize.

Up, Up, and Away—with Mad Science!

Explore the properties of air pressure with a series of scientifically magical experiments. Mad Science will be at the Huntsville Public Library from 1-1:45 p.m. Saturday, June 9th with gadgets, gizmos, and a hovercraft. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Huntsville Public Library and is best suited for elementary ages and up. Registration is not required but space is limited due to fire code rules. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Nature Discovery Story Time

Is your little one interested in bunnies? Children 5 and under can enjoy a special Nature Discovery Story Time with live rabbits along with stories and animal facts at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 13. Sign-up is not required, but this program can only host 60 children due to animal safety concerns. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Huntsville Public Library. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

“Back to the Bone”

The Huntsville Public Library will have more spines than usual at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 13. The Nature Discovery Center will be visiting the library to talk about all things with backbone in their “Back to the Bone” presentation. Learn about fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and animals with both specimen and live animals. No sign-up is required but this program can only host 175 people due to animal safety needs. This all-ages program is sponsored by the Friends of the Huntsville Public Library. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Summer of Shakespeare Theater Boot Camp

There’s no business like show business! Is your teen interested in flexing his or her theatrical muscles? Does the idea of your teen engaging in intellectual activities throughout the summer appeal to you? Huntsville ISD teachers Rolando Salazar and Ian McPhail have volunteered to lead a “Summer of Shakespeare Theater Boot Camp” for students ages 12-17 years old at the Huntsville Public Library. Auditions will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12 with rehearsals being held from 4-6 p.m. on June 14, 26, 28, and July 3, 5, 9, 12, 17, and 19. Witness the culmination of the participating students’ hard work by attending the exclusive performances at 5:30 p.m. on July 24 and 26. Registration is required and can be found here. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Munchkin

This is not your grandmother’s board game! Come to the Huntsville Public Library to play the epic Munchkin, an award-winning deck card game by Steve Jackson Games.  Humorously based on role-playing games similar to Dungeons and Dragons, players break open “doors” and defeat “monsters” to win the game. Sabotaging your friends is encouraged. Play Munchkin at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday June 19, June 26, and July 17. Ages 13 and up are encouraged to play. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Find the Birds in Your Own Backyard

The Huntsville Audubon Society is bringing two exciting programs to the Huntsville Public Library for elementary aged children. Join us at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 and July 18. June’s session “Find the Birds in Your Own Backyard” will be led by Anne-Marie Prouty and covers the best methods of bird identification. Sign-up is not required. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910

Southwest Dairy Farmers

Did you know that a cow can produce an average of 6.3 gallons of milk each day?  That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year! The Huntsville Public Library invites families to learn more about the bovine family at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21 at Kate Barr Ross Memorial Park during a special presentation by the Southwest Dairy Farmers.  This program will feature a traveling milk parlor, live cows, and a discussion about milking and food safety.  For more information about this all ages event, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Junior Genealogists

Is your student interested in becoming a family history sleuth? Are you interested in developing their researching skills over the summer? The Huntsville Public Library is pleased to host five weeks of “Junior Genealogists,” a family tree researching program for children ages 9-12. Under the tutelage of Johnnie Jo Dickenson, students will learn how to successfully research their family history, develop a binder of records, and receive a certificate of completion. Sessions will be held from 3-4:45 p.m. with a fifteen-minute snack break in the middle. The library will provide snacks. Join us for “Junior Genealogists” on Thursday, June 21, June 28, July 12, and July 19. Sign-up is required, and space is limited to twenty children. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910 or visit myhuntsvillelibrary.com to register. 

Walker County Beekeepers

The Walker County Beekeepers are back at the Huntsville Public Library with another informative presentation from 3-4 p.m. Monday, June 25. Learn about bee colonies, hives, and conservation in this exciting program. No live bees will be at the program.  No sign-up required, but space is limited. All ages are welcome. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Show and Tell - Natural History Collections

The Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) located at SHSU in collaboration with the Natural History Collections will be hosting a fun-filled Show and Tell with a wide variety of native, exotic, and invasive animals from 11-5 p.m. Monday, July 2 at the Huntsville Public Library. We will have intriguing animal skins that you can touch from a python and alligator to a polar bear and tiger! There will be many other specimens like butterflies, birds and mammals you can see in your own backyard; invasive slugs, mammals and fish to look out for; creepy and cool aquatic animals from the Gulf of Mexico; antlers of exotic deer; and the skeletons of frogs, snakes, small and large mammals. No sign-up required for this all-ages event.  For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Cathy’s Critters

A Ruby Macaw, Pot Bellied Piglet, Prairie Dog, Kangaroo, Lemur, and their friends will be at the Huntsville Public Library to meet YOU! Learn about these exciting animals and see them in person. Cathy’s Critters will be at the Huntsville Public Library from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, July 10. This program is partially funded by the Helen Wheat Fund and is best suited for children aged 5 and up. Sign-up is not required, but space will be limited. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Birds' Nests and Eggs

The Huntsville Audubon Society is bringing more exciting programs to the Huntsville Public Library for elementary aged children. Join us at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 18 for “Birds’ nests and eggs.”  See firsthand a display of different types of nests and eggs as you learn about them and make your own nest and eggs to take home. Sign-up is not required. For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.

Makey Makey Workshop

Want to make a piano out of bananas and grapes? Ever played games like Super Mario or Pacman using Play-Doh? Enjoy connecting everyday objects to computer programs in the Makey Makey Workshop at the Huntsville Public Library! This series of four classes from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays begins June 5th in the Community Room. In this program, students will learn how to alligator clip the internet to the real world through many different projects, like Foil Dance Dance Revolution, Human Synth Drum Kit, and more! This free program for ages 8 to 12 is perfect for newbies and experts who enjoy doing art, engineering, and everything in-between. Supplies will be provided and registration is required. You can register here. For more information, call Jalpa Shah, IT Coordinator, at 936-291-5485.

Hour of Code™ for K-12 at the Huntsville Public Library

Have you ever been interested in coding but have been too intimidated to try? Participate in the Hour of Code™ event - a fun, first introduction to computer science - at the Huntsville Public Library this summer! This series of four classes from 3 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays begins June 5. The 'Hour of Code™' is a nationwide initiative by Computer Science Education Week [csedweek.org] and Code.org [code.org] to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming. Activities require no experience and are designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics of computer science. Code.org’s own activities feature Minecraft, Star Wars, Disney’s Frozen, Angry Birds, and Plants vs. Zombies. Space is limited and registration is required for this FREE program. Register here or call Bella Abril, IT Coordinator, at 936-291-5485 for more information.

Circuit Maker Workshop

Need a fun and educational activity for your kids this summer? Allow them to discover the joy of making electronics in the Circuit Maker Workshop at the Huntsville Public Library! This series of four sessions from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays begins July 3rd in the Community Room. In this class, students will learn the basics of working with electrical circuits through 40 different projects, including launching glow fans, investigating inline and parallel circuits, and completing functional experiments. This FREE program for ages 8-12 truly challenges your imagination, creativity, and analytical skills. Supplies will be provided, and registration is required. You can register here. For more information, call Jalpa Shah, IT Coordinator, at 936-291-5485.