News & Notes from the Blanding Library

FORE! Mini-Golf on Sat. July 9
Bring your team (no more than five in a group) for Mobile Mini-Golf at the library on Sat. July 9, for all ages. Call to reserve your tee time, with time slots that start between 11:30 and 2:30. This event is made possible by the Friends of the Blanding Library.

Rainforest Reptiles on Tues. July 12
Rainforest Reptiles presents an hour long educational program at 1 pm on Tues. July 12. You’ll see a variety of small animals (bugs, lizards, frogs, etc.) along with a presentation by a herpetologist of four larger animals.  All animals are tropical or semi-tropical.  Each audience member will have the opportunity to view them up close. This program is sponsored by the Rehoboth Cultural Council.

Baby/Toddler Story Time Tuesdays
Baby and toddler story time on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 will begin on July 12. There will be a special “Tunes-N-Tales” musical program on Tues. July 26. Older siblings are welcome. Ann-Marie Forer will share her songs, stories and more. Please register in advance for this event.

Stories on the Lawn July 14 & 21
Bring a chair or blanket and listen to several stories on the library’s front lawn on Thursday July 14 & July 21 at 10:30. A simple craft will be available to make or take home. You can bring snacks if you’d like. In case of rain, this will be held in the hall.

National Hot Dog Day, Wed. July 20
At a special story time for all ages on Wed. July 20 at 10:30 you can meet Melissa and her therapy dog “Jack Ryan” and make a fun hot dog craft to take home. No registration necessary.

Children’s Author Events
UPDATED: July 28: Author/illustrator Carla Marrero returns this summer to share several of her books about cats and the stories they tell on Thurs. July 28 at 10:30. Make a craft to take home. No registration needed.

Aug. 3: Local author/illustrator Nancy Cote visits several of her fun children’s stories on Wed. Aug. 3 at 10:30. All ages welcome; no registration needed.

Aug. 10: Alec Carvlin, author of the children’s book “How to Bake a Universe” visits the library on Wed. Aug. 10 at 10:30 to read his popular story and lead group activities. This talk is geared for children from kindergarten through grade 6. Please register for this program.

Animal Diversity on Aug. 18
The Lloyd Science Center from Dartmouth will present a program on Animal Diversity on Thurs. Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. This program is for all ages and is sponsored by the Rehoboth Cultural Council.      

Read Beyond the Beaten Path
This is the theme of the Massachusetts summer reading program this year. The Blanding is offering young patrons a choice of a reading log, a writing journal, Read&Bead, or for children too young to read, Book Buddies. Read what you want when you want. Anything you read counts. You set your reading goals and we’ll have the supplies waiting for you.  Stop by the library to find out more.

The Blanding Library is also part of the Southcoast Five, along with Berkley, Swansea, Somerset and Dighton. We offer a Passport program. Young visitors may acquire a special stamp or sticker to add to their summer passport by visiting each of these five libraries. Each library will feature one of the National Parks.

The Great Rehoboth Book Hunt
The Great Rehoboth Book Hunt is on!  We’re placing our first 4 foot x 6 foot book cover somewhere in Rehoboth on Saturday, July 2, followed by at least one additional book cover per week for eight weeks.  Stop by the library and pick up a passport to collect stamps from each cover, and check out our website, Facebook page, and Instagram account for clues about the location of each book.  Find the books, take a "shelfie," stamp your passport, and enter to win a prize.

Town-wide Read:  The Map Thief
The library is coordinating a town-wide read of The Map Thief:  The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps by Michael Blanding.  We're encouraging adult readers in Rehoboth to read The Map Thief over the summer in preparation for a visit from the author Saturday, October 15th at 2:00 p.m.  Other upcoming events include displays of Rehoboth maps at the Library, a lesson and activity about maps for children, and a treasure map activity.  Come by and pick up or reserve a copy to borrow.

The Blanding Public Library (www.blandinglibrary.net) is open Monday through Thursday from 10 to 8 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 4. Closed Sundays and holidays. Phone 508-252-4236.