Exciting summer set for Janesville public library

The Janesville Free Public Library will soon start its summer library program which features a variety of activities for all kinds of personalities and interests within the community.  

Kelly Koplen, Branch Supervisor, expressed excitement when she introduced an “Unlovable Animals” event set for 1 p.m. Monday, June 3. Koplen said the library system does its best to host an animal-themed event like this every year since it draws quite a crowd.

“It would be a good time to sign up for the summer reading program because it begins on that day,” Koplen added. 

Among the animals that will be there this year are a live snake, salamander, and owl; children will learn about their adaptations and behaviors.

While the initial plan is for children to meet in the reading garden outside of the library, she said if it happens to be a rainy day, the program will be moved to Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) High School.

Last year, an event named Loveable Llamas brought live animals to the library and offered an opportunity for children to learn about them.

“Kids were able to touch them and walk them around the property,” Koplen said, adding that a total of 100 individuals, adults included, showed up last year. “A couple of kids didn’t want [the llamas] to leave. I had a lot of people asking if they would be back.”

Children from 3 to 18 years old are invited to “Chalk the Walk” in front of the library beginning at 2 p.m. on June 4. Koplen plans to read some chalk-themed books during the event

“It ends up being a pretty good outing event for families,” Koplen said.

“Little Explorers” for children ages 2 to 5 will invite young learners to use their curiosity and employ their senses through activities including “mold and dig,” “scoop and pour,” “snap and pop,” “count and sort,” and “color and texture.” The event will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, and again on Tuesday, June 11. 

During all open hours on June 6, Koplen invites stuffed animals to come to the library for a one-day visit. Children should drop off favorite stuffed animals on Thursday, and might have a chance of seeing them touring the town. Animals will stop at Dairy Queen, take a wagon ride, and spend some time fishing before returning to the library to be reclaimed  between 1 and 6 p.m. on June 10. Koppen says it’s a chance for beloved stuffed animals from around the neighborhood to get to know each other. 

Koplen hopes to enjoy the stuffed animal outing in much the same ways as last year, when they played card or board games like Scrabble or Candyland. Koplen also plans to bring popcorn and soda, and says she will read the stuffed animals a story at bedtime. She is also hoping that, like last year, they will help her with tasks like checking books in or out. She remembers around ten stuffed animals attended the extended overnight event last year, and hopes even more will take part this summer.

Koplen has a paper airplane workshop scheduled at 2 p.m. on June 10 which invites children from ages 7 to 12 to create their own designs. The library owns a kit that she will use to teach the curious patrons.

“I’m excited to learn about the different kinds to make along with the kids,” she said.

Registration is required for “Create Your Own Comic Book Character” set for 10 a.m.  June 11. Performing artists Trisha and Stephan Shaskan are traveling from Minneapolis to share their “comic book expert” knowledge with children ages 7 to 12. Patrons will be guided through writing exercises to come up with their own comic book character and from there, sketch the character they imagine.

“Signs and Symbols” will begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 20. Children ages 9 to 12 will have the chance to learn about signs and symbols, how they’ve been used in storytelling, and what can be discovered in horoscopes, crystals, and flowers.

Bubbles and the science that surrounds them will be the topic beginning at 2 p.m. Monday, June 24. Children ages 8 to 12 will learn about bubbles, why they pop, why they are round, and other scientific elements. The children will also have an opportunity to create their own bubble mix. Koplen extended an invitation to seniors at the nursing home to come out for the bubbles event, as well as to others like the Unlovable Animals and Chalk the Walk.

“[The residents] can watch the kids run around and play,” Koplen said. “I figured they would enjoy the interaction with the young patrons and see the different activities.”

What she says she is most excited for is the library carnival that will be July 1, starting at 1 p.m. There, children will enjoy an afternoon with balloon artist Kevin Lindh, have an opportunity to get temporary tattoos, participate in games from G & K Rental in Mankato, and decorate the sidewalk again with chalk. They will also be able to meet Willow Gentile, an artist from Rochester who received a grant to paint historical libraries and had told Koplen she could come with or without an event.

“Thankfully we received a grant from the Janesville Area Foundation so we could make an event in honor of her,” Koplen said.

Friends of the Library and the Janesville State Bank donated money which Koplen put toward prizes for the children.

Stanley the Sea Serpent will “pop up” beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 1. Organized by the Waseca-LeSeuer Library System, the Stanley the Sea Serpent Puppet show will be fun for children and families. It shares the story of a serpent who is the “biggest and baddest of the sea” until one day he spots a human who throws garbage into the water. He goes to the surface and transforms into a human who shows other humans how to treat the environment.

Koplen invites children ages 7 to 12 to create perler bead keychains based on their favorite games during an event beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18. She requires registration for this event.

“Last year, someone replicated Sponge Bob,” she recalled.

Children ages 7 to 12 will learn about the scientific techniques law enforcement uses to catch criminals during “CSI Detectives," set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 23.  Registration is required in advance.

Friendship Pins are the final July project Koplen has planned. Beginning at 2 p.m. Monday, July 29, children can design and create pins including their name or a message using perler beads. When they’re done, they can trade their creations with friends.

“One little girl created one with my initials on it,” Koplen said. “I thought that was sweet.”

Several of these activities are made possible through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund provided by the Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative. More events will follow in August. For children who complete the summer reading program, Koplen will have a wide variety of prizes to choose from, including a free book, DQ token, Casey's coupon, prize pack for ages 3 to 13, and a raffle ticket for a prize.