News & Notes from the Blanding Library

Bee-ing Artful
The Blanding is hosting a bee-related art exhibit this August. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 14. Art will be displayed from Aug. 17 to 22, with a reception on Aug. 17 from 6:30 to 7:30.  All ages are welcome to contribute. You may submit two artworks per person. Art must be original and feature bees as the subject. For more details, call 508-252-4236.

More on Bees: Jim DeTerra returns for a talk on bee-friendly gardening on Tues. July 11 at 6:30.

There will be a book discussion at the library on the book, “The Honey Bus: a Memoir of Loss, Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees” by Meredith May. Stop by to pick up a copy. Two discussion groups will be held on Tuesday July 18, one at 2 p.m. and one at 6:30 p.m.

Fun for Kids & Familie
Our statewide reading theme this summer is “Find Your Voice” supported by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, the Boston Pride, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This summer get creative, express yourself and Find Your Voice at the Blanding Library through books, Reading & Beading, programs for all ages, and more.

Our Summer Kick-off Event takes place Thursday July 6 at 2 pm with Parents’ Choice award-winning performer Davis Bates. Davis will lead the audience with fun stories, hand-clapping songs, a wooden dancing dog, and more at this fun family event. Reading logs, journals, “Brag Tags”, logging records, and more will be available for our young readers.

Our StoryWalk welcomes the summer featuring, “How the Sun Was Brought Back to the Sky” by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Be sure to visit the library’s front garden to enjoy this sunny tale including an activity to take home.

Help us “Chalk the Walks” around the library walkways this summer. We will supply the chalk, you supply the imagination.

The Rehoboth Cultural Council sponsors not only Davis Bates, but also Dream Tale Puppets, a story and puppet format where one performer narrates the voices and the second operates the puppets. Both of these programs promise fun for the whole family.

As a special treat, we are happy to welcome a live, in-person performance from The Storytime Quintet – five professional musicians who produced stories for libraries via the internet during the pandemic. They will perform the classic “Peter & the Wolf” in Goff Hall on Wed. July 12 at 11 am, for all ages.

More summer events will feature Miss Joyce’s Baby/Toddler Storytime, Tales & Tails Puppy Pals, and Family Yoga with Rebecca. All are great events for the younger patrons and their families.

BEE on the lookout for our BEE-themed programs for patrons ages 10 and older, such as: BEE Creative Painting with artist Melissa Treichler, BEE kind to bees, led by nature-educator Nikki Gardella, the Quirky Queen Bee Cross Stitch class with Pam Dumont, owner of Stitch New England, North Attleboro.

In August, Animal Adventures from Bolton, MA, will bring their up-close and personal learning experience with several of their animal friends. This is an educational event for the family.

Julie Stepanek will instruct a “Find Your Voice” session through an instrument that is fun and easy to play – the ukulele. This program is suggested for children ages 5 to 9 (older siblings welcome).

Details of dates, times and reservations for these programs will be posted on the library’s website event calendar: Please visit

http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/B/BLANDING/ekp.cfm?curOrg=BLANDING

The Blanding Library provides our town schools’ suggested reading lists, and all library staff members are eager to help out. Our hope is that reading will become a lifelong pleasure for all. Thanks to the Friends of the Blanding Library for their continued support of our summer programs.

The Blanding Public Library, 124 Bay State Rd., is open Monday through Thursday from 10 to 8, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 4. Closed Sundays and holidays. Phone 508-252-436 or visit www.blandinglibrary.net for more information.