Join us for an exciting afternoon of Star-Wars-themed activities, crafts, games, and a costume parade through the library. For grades K-6. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Parents are invited to observe the parade at 2:30. Space is limited, so call or stop by the children's room to sign up now. May the fourth be with you. Sat, May 4^th, 1-3pm.

Join us the second Thursday of each month for to watch anime, discuss manga, learn about Japanese culture, and more. For teens in grades 7-12. Cosplay is optional. New members are always welcome. There is no need to register: you can just show up.

• Thu, May 9^th, 6:30-8:15pm
• Thu, Jun 13^th, 6:30-8:15pm
• Thu, Jul 11^th, 6:30-8:15pm
• Thu, Aug 8^th, 6:30-8:15pm

First Place: Lady on the Bottle by Matt Echelberry; Second Place: Iberia School: Fall, 2011 by Bonnie Hildebrand; Third Place: Give me Things that Money Can't Buy by Margaret K. Leapley. Come to the library to see the winning poems on display. Contest entrants who wish to pick up their judging sheets may do so at the main circulation desk (they will be held until May 15^th).

The Cookbook Club meets again, this time to celebrate the start of the season of fresh vegetables! All are invited to bring their cookbooks (to show off or to trade) and a salad to share. We will meet in the Community Room. Registration is required for this free event. Tue, May 28^th, 6-8pm.

The Friends of the Library will be holding their spring book sale. Proceeds will benefit the library.

• Thu, May 23^rd, 9-8pm
• Fri, May 24^th, 9-5pm
• Sat, May 25^th, 9-Noon, Bag Day

Liz Miller of the Crawford Soil and Water Conservation will bring us this informative presentation. Both rural and urban dwellers can create a nature oasis right where you live. The program is free, but we have limited capacity, and registration is required. Please come to the main desk or call to register. Mon, Jun 3^rd, 6-7pm.

The Crawford Park District will present a program about geology. Registration is required. Registration opens Thursday, June 13^th. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up. Wed, Jun 19^th at 2pm and Wed, Jun 19^th at 6pm.

Shizzle Dizzle Magic of Mansfield will present a 45-minute show. Registration is required. Registration opens on Thursday the 20^th. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up. Wed, Jun 26^th at 2pm and Wed, Jun 26^th at 6pm.

Mike Hemmelgarn, comedy juggler and ventriloquist, will perform. Registration is required. Registration opens Thursday, June 27^th. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up. Wed, Jul 3^rd at 2pm and Wed, Jul 3^rd at 6pm.

Come learn amazing bug facts and view live bugs. Registration is required. Registration opens Friday, July 5^th. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up. Wed, Jul 10^th at 2pm and Wed, Jul 10^th at 6pm.

Featuring reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. Registration is required. Registration opens Thursday, July 11^th. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up. Wed, Jul 17^th at 6pm.

On select Friday afternoons in June and July, drop by the library for fun digging-themed crafts. You don't need to register for these craft days: you can just drop in any time between 3 and 4.

• Fri, Jun 14^th, 3-4pm
• Fri, Jun 21^st, 3-4pm
• Fri, Jun 28^th, 3-4pm
• Fri, Jul 12^th, 3-4pm
• Fri, Jul 19^th, 3-4pm
• Fri, Jul 26^th, 3-4pm

Local computer programming expert Jerry Francl will teach you how to use the free Scratch programming environment to uncover your hidden talent for creating digital art for comics and games. Each participant will receive a CD full of sprites to take home. Registration is required. Call or stop by the library to sign up. Mon, Jun 10^th at 6pm.

Professional photographer Adam Knapp will talk about his work, demonstrate some of the special equipment he uses, and talk about how to get into the field of photography. Adam will also talk about composition and show you how to create better photos with whatever camera or equipment you already have. A question and answer session will follow the presentation, and refreshments will be served. For grades 6-12. Registration is required. Call or stop by the library to sign up. Mon, Jun 24^th, 6-8pm.

GHS Drama Teacher and acting expert Cheri Laughbaum will introduce you to the art of improvisation in this hands-on workshop. Participants will learn to think quickly, look at the world differently, and improve their confidence. Come find out if you have a hidden talent for quick and creative thinking. Registration is required. Call or stop by the library to sign up. Mon, Jul 8^th at 6pm.

Artist Jeff Nicholas will teach you how to draw cartoons and how to come up with cool new characters and creative story lines. We will provide the drawing materials. Registration is required. Call or stop by the library to sign up. Mon, Jul 22^nd at 6pm.

Join us to create a mural of all things underground and beneath the surface. This event takes place during our normal Anime Club meeting time, but you do not need to be a part of the club or have any interest in anime to attend. Registration is not necessary for this event: you can just show up. Thu, Jun 13^th, 6:30-8:15pm.

Coming some time this summer. Watch this space for more information, or check our Galion Public Library Teen Programs page on Facebook for announcements and reminders, trivia, and the occasional contest.

Summer Reading starts June 1^st for all ages.

• Kids: Dig Into Reading.
• Teens: Beneath the Surface.
• Adults: Ground-Breaking Reads.

Summer reading runs June 1^st - July 31^st. We'll be giving away hundreds of dollars' worth of gift certificates to local stores and restaurants in our weekly prize drawings. The sooner you sign up, the more chances you have to win.

You must be at least 18 years old and out of school to participate. (Otherwise, see Beneath the Surface for teens or Dig Into Reading for children.) Also, you must register for the program if you wish to enter our weekly prize drawings.

For each book you read this summer, you fill out a drawing slip and put it into your preferred Prize Drawing box. Weekly drawings will take place each Friday throughout the Ground-Breaking Reads program. The more books you read, the more chances you have to win.

Winners will be notified by phone. Participants are eligible for a maximum of two weekly prizes. Tickets not drawn for the weekly prize might still be winners: all tickets submitted over the course of the summer will go into the Grand Prize Drawing.

June 7th	$20 Payne's Pizza	$15 Liberty Mill	$10 Wendy's
June 14th	$20 The Cracked Pot	$15 M & S Pizza	$10 Pizza Hut
June 21st	$20 Little Caesar's	$15 DK's	$10 Taco Bell
June 28th	$25 Geyer's	$15 M & S Pizza	$10 Taylor's
July 5th	$25 Rite Aid	$20 Poland True Value	$10 Burger King
July 12th	$25 Fiesta Salon	$20 Varsity Grill	$10 East of Chicago
July 19th	$25 Rus-Men Farms	$20 Big Plate Diner	$10 Granny's Kitchen
July 26th	$25 The Candi Bar	$20 Uptowne Outfitters	$10 Subway
Grand Prize (July 31th)	$50 Barnes & Noble	$50 Barnes & Noble

We'll also be hosting a number of special programs during the summer. Watch this page for more details.

Our Summer Reading program starts June 1^st. Read books, win prizes, and come to our special programs. We'll reward you for reading books... with fabulous prizes.

If you read...	you will earn...
5 days	Temporary Tattoo
10 days	A New Book
15 days	Insect or Spider (you choose)
20 days	Pirate Bracelet
25 days	Dinosaur Excavation Kit, Hatching Dinosaur Egg, or Dinosaur Skeleton (you choose)

Extra activities and prizes will be provided to those who want to keep digging. Plus, we'll have a special pool party for children who reach the goal of reading 25 days.

Summer Reading starts June 1^st. Read books, win prizes.

Teens (going into grades 7-12 in the fall) who wish to participate should sign up at the main desk (upstairs), where they will receive their bookmark and book bag. (If you are going into grade 6, you can choose either the children's summer reading program or the teen one, but not both.)

After reading an item, teens will fill out a rating form and place it in one of the boxes for the weekly prize drawings. Each week, names will be drawn for two different $10 gift cards for local restaurants and shops, books, iTunes, and more.

You may fill out rating forms for as many books as you read, and you can choose which weekly gift-card drawings you wish to enter. All entries will also be saved for the final Grand Prize drawings, which will include a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card.

Special Bonus: Teens who come to any of our special summer events for teens, or who volunteer at a children's event, will receive bonus tickets to enter into the weekly drawings.

Join us for our annual party on the lawn in celebration of summer reading. We'll have crafts, games, and other fun activities. (If it rains, we will still have indoor activities.) Watch this space for more details. You don't have to register for this program: you can just show up. Wed, Jun 12^th, 1-3pm.

We're bringing back our popular summer writing series, conducted by Rachel Mendell. Mendell has conducted several well-received events for writers at the library; don't miss out on this opportunity to partake of her literary advice and participate in brain-sharpening exercises. In addition to coffee and sweets (catered by The Candi Bar), each workshop will also feature a door prize for one lucky participant. All participants will take away more confidence and joy in their writing processes. These workshops do require registration, but there is no cost to attend. Sign up at the main desk. The workshops will be held in the Community Room at the library. Bring paper and a pen or pencil.

• Sat, Jun 22^nd, 10-Noon, Digging Deep to Find the Narrative Voice
• Sat, Jun 29^th, 10-Noon, Blogging and the Digital Frontier
• Sat, Jul 6^th, 10-Noon, Overcoming Writer's Block

With the help of our chess master (Mark Papenhausen) and other club members, you can learn new strategies, face new opponents, and compete for the top rungs in our ongoing ladder tournament. For grades 6-12. New members are welcome any time. Refreshments are provided. You do not need to register for this event: you can just show up.

• Thu, May 16^th, 6:30-8:15pm

Come meet local young self-published author E.L. Mendell at the final event of our 2013 Adult Summer Reading Program. Mendell will share passages from her YA fantasy novel Eysheus Saga, Book One: Blood River and be available to sign copies of her book. Copies of Mendell's book will be available for purchase. Registration is required for this program. Sat, Jul 20^th, 1-3pm.

We've started posting pictures from our summer programs in our photo galleries. So far we've got photos of the soil and water conservation program, the Star Wars day, the party on the lawn, and the Crawford Park District program. We'll be posting more summer program photos in August.

Bingo for Books is back by popular demand. Join us for fun and games (literally, and also literarily). Win free copies of new books by Dan Brown, Bill O'Reilly, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods, and other notable authors. Refreshments will also be served. This event is free, but registration is required. Call or stop by the main desk to sign up. Tue, Aug 6^th at 6pm.

We've been posting more batches of pictures from our summer programs in our photo galleries. This time we've added photos from the Shizzle Dizzle Magic Show, Mike Hemmelgarn's juggling and variety act, and the teen photography and improv programs. See them all in our photo gallery archive.

Participants are invited to come dressed as their favorite Olympian, demigod, or Greek hero. Join us for Percy Jackson trivia, Greek mythology team trivia, creating your own sword and shield for dueling, food, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the trivia winner(s) and for best costumes, including a $10 Cinemark gift card to go see Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Registration is required. Call or stop by the main desk to sign up. Thu, Aug 1^st, 6-8pm.

Come watch the movie on our big screen. The movie we will show is an animated feature film and is rated PG. Call or stop by the library to sign up and to find out the movie title. Popcorn and punch will be served (but we're fresh out of meatball-making weather machines). Remember to bring your own blanket and pillow. For grades K-6. Sat, Aug 17^th at 2pm.

Learn new strategies and face new opponents. Join us for a casual game or enter our ongoing ladder tournament and see how many opponents you can knock down a rung. For grades 6-12. New members are welcome any time. Refreshments are provided. You do not need to register for this event: you can just show up.

• Thu, Jun 20^th, 6:30-8:15pm
• Thu, Jul 25^th, 6:30-8:15pm
• Thu, Aug 15^th, 6:30-8:15pm

Starting September 1^st, 2013:

• Each person may have up to 15 items on hold at a time.
• Items may be renewed up to 3 times, except for video materials.

As before, videos still may only be renewed once. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we implement these changes.

Looking for something new to read? Join us the last Friday of the month. We'll discuss bestsellers, books we're currently reading, and books that are new at the library. Come for some coffee and a chat, 10am the last Friday of each month.

• Fri, May 31^st at 10am
• Fri, Jun 28^th at 10am
• Fri, Jul 26^th at 10am
• Fri, Aug 30^th at 10am
• Fri, Sep 27^th at 10am
• Fri, Oct 25^th at 10am
• Fri, Dec 27^th at 10am
• Fri, Jan 31^st at 10am

Join us Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Wednesdays at 10:30am for stories, songs, crafts, and lots of fun. The Family Story Time on Tuesday evenings feature stories, crafts, songs, and rhymes designed for preschoolers, their parents, and older siblings to share together. The Toddler Story Time on Wednesday mornings are fit for the younger set, but all preschoolers are welcome.

The fall book sale has been scheduled. Watch this space for more details as the dates draw nearer. Thu, Oct 10^th, Fri, Oct 11^th, and Sat, Oct 12^th.

You won't want to miss being a part of these lively book discussions. Contact Cyndi for more details and to find out what the Book of the Month will be.

• Thu, Jun 6^th at 6:30pm, Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver
• Thu, Sep 5^th at 6:30pm, Blood of the Prodigal, by P.L. Gaus
• Thu, Oct 3^rd at 6:30pm, TBA
• Thu, Nov 7^th at 6:30pm, TBA
• Thu, Dec 5^th at 6:30pm, TBA
• Thu, Jan 2^nd at 6:30pm, TBA

The board meets at the library at 4pm on the third Monday of each month.

Griff the Therapy Dog listens to boys and girls read books.

An American Labrador Retriever, Griff has been trained as part of Therapy Dog International's Tail Waggin' Tutors program. He'll be here on Tuesdays from 4-5pm.

Studies show that therapy dogs calm students so that they can practice, gain confidence, and improve their skills in a relaxing environment. Parents can sign their children up for a ten-minute session of reading with Griff. Call the library or stop by the Children's Room to sign up.

The library will be closed in observance of the holiday.

• Mon, May 27^th, Memorial Day
• Thu, Jul 4^th, Independence Day
• Mon, Sep 2^nd, Labor Day
• Thu, Nov 28^th, Thanksgiving Day
• Fri, Nov 29^th, Day After Thanksgiving
• Tue, Dec 24^th, Christmas Eve
• Wed, Dec 25^th, Christmas Day
• Wed, Jan 1^st, New Year's Day