Summer fun at the Carnegie Carnegie

The weather is warming. The sun is shining a little brighter. School will be out before you know it.

Luckily, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is ready!

Our summer calendar is already packed with fun events for all ages. It is my first summer here at the Carnegie Carnegie, but I am thrilled to welcome lots of students looking for something fun to do once school is out.

Summer Reading starts with some fun in the sun! Our Summer Kick Off Party is June 3 at 10 a.m. Join us for fun games outside and try the new “Superscotch” activity (think super-fabulous hopscotch). Do an art project, and, most importantly, sign up for summer reading! Once you sign up, grab a bingo card and reading log (or use the Beanstack app) to start logging all those minutes.

Then the fun really begins! Mondays have preschool story time at noon in Library Park, and then elementary students can join us at 3 p.m. for a chapter book read aloud.

Tuesdays will be busy with baby and toddler story time at 10:30 a.m. Then young learners can sign up to read to our wonderful therapy dog, Ginny, from 1 to 2 p.m. Wrap up the day with a fun arts and craft project at 2.

Wednesday preschool story time starts at 11:30 a.m. Thursdays picks up with preschool story time at 11:30 a.m. and Lego Club (for ages 5 and older) from 3 to 4 p.m.

Fridays wrap up weekdays with baby and toddler story time at 10:30 a.m. and lots of special guest programs. Saturdays, stop by the library for preschool story time at 11:30 a.m., and spend some time playing with the train table or the play kitchen. Kids of all ages will find something to do every day at the library!

Be sure to check out our website, carnegiecarnegie.org, for additional special events throughout the summer.

We’ll make kites with Alcosan on June 9 and enjoy “Wonders of the Wild Life” when the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium comes to visit on June 30. Allegheny County park rangers and their snake, Mr. McSlithers, will stop by on July 14 to teach us about native snake species.

These programs have limited space, so be sure to register in advance on our website!

Of course, we wouldn’t forget about the teens. We’ll have special programs just for ages 12-18.

Video games, board games, puzzles and snacks will be in the Studio on June 16 and July 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. for Teen Game Night. Meet us in Library Park on July 7 at noon for Teen Field Day. We’ll make teams and have an afternoon of outdoor games.

With all that summer fun, I’m sure August will sneak up on us before we know it. Don’t worry. We’ll have you covered with a Back to School Bash!

Join us outside on Aug. 19 to wrap up the summer. This year, we are working with B.R.I.D.G.E People to provide school supplies to school-age children to ensure they have everything they need to get the year started right. Plus we are super excited to have one of Carnegie Borough’s coolest fire trucks join us to offer kids an up-close look.

Fortunately, it’s still May and we have the whole summer to look forward to. I truly can’t wait to enjoy the season with the wonderful community here at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.

I’ll see you at the library!

Samantha Varela is children’s librarian at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.