TIE DYE TIME!

Sign up soon!  This will fill up fast!!!

Tie-Dye T-Shirts
Tuesday, July 12th 6:30-8pm
Ages 12-18. Participants in this classic summer craft will each get a white t-shirt to create colorful psychedelic designs. Registration required, sponsored by PALS.

Perler Craft!

Next Saturday we will be doing a really fun craft - sign up today!

Video Game Character Coasters
Saturday, July 9th 2:30-4pm
Ages 11-18. Participants will use Perler beads to create their own unique designs.  Registration required, sponsored by PALS.

Modge-a-Mug pictures!

Arm Knitting!

Did you know that you can knit an entire circle chunky scarf...with no needles at all?!  Come learn arm knitting at the library on Saturday, Feb. 21st 2:30-4:00!  Ages 12-18, please register.

Extreme Paper Snowflakes!

You know how to make a paper snowflake right?  Fold, cut, unfold.  Simple right?

What if you wanted to make these?

Or these?

Or even these?

Then come to...

EXTREME Paper Snowflakes
Friday, January 30th
3:30-4:30pm
Ages 10-18

Felt Key Chains

Felt Key Chains

Saturday, December 13th

1:30-2:30pm

Could be a great holiday gift!  Come do this fun creative little craft with us!

Sign up by clicking events above, calling 860-349-9544 ext 3, emailing kleahy@durhamlibrary.org, or coming in to the front desk

Duct Tape Time!

We will be making Duct Tape Belts at the library on Saturday, September 20th 3:00-4:00pm.  Register by clicking programs at the top of this page, calling the library, or coming in!

~ Summer Program Preview ~

The start of the Summer Reading Program is only a month away!  Time to start getting excited, I certainly am!

We have some changes to the program this year based on what teenagers suggested last year to improve the program.

You will still be earning raffle tickets toward prizes, but instead of drawing one prize per week, we will draw all prizes at the Summer End Party on Friday, August 8th.  Also, you can put your raffle tickets in whatever prize you want now!  You choose where to put your tickets! 

This year's prizes are...

(drumroll please)

~ Two snack baskets filled with candy, snacks, and drinks

~ $20 gift certificate to Cozy Corner Pizza

~ $10 gift certificate to Durham Dari Serv

~ Solar Robotics Kit

~ Two $15 Metro Movies giftcards

 ~ Two Mincraft Loot Bags

 ~ A Kindle Fire tablet



Exciting right?  Want to know how to earn your raffle tickets?  YOU BET YOU DO!

This year you can earn raffle tickets in 4 ways...

1. Reading - 1 ticket per every hour of reading logged
2. Programs - 1 ticket for every program you attend
3. Reviews - 1 ticket per week for a book review
4. Badges - 1 ticket for every 10 badges you earn

As you may have noticed above, we are changing how you track reading this year!  Instead of getting a raffle ticket for reading a book, now you get a raffle ticket for every 60 minutes of reading.  So, if you log 2 hours of reading, you get 2 tickets.   Log 6 hours of reading, get 6 tickets.  Get it?  Got it?  GOOD.


As for programs, oh boy do we have fun programs this summer for you!  LET ME TELL YOU!  (in chronological order, even!)

Registration for all events begins Monday, June 9th

After Hours Teen Kick Off Party
Saturday, June 28th 7:30-9:00pm
Ever wanted to have the library all to yourself?  At this party, we will!  We will have a glow in the dark themed party at the library, while the library is closed.  Glow sticks, glow bracelets, glowing tattoos, blacklights, games, music, food, and more!
Ages 12-18, please register

Robotics Club
Tuesdays 3-4pm
Session 1 - July 1, 8, & 15
Session 2 - July 22, 29, and August 5
Want to build a robot?  How about 14 different robots?  Join the robotics club where we will be using a solar robotics kit that can be built into 14 different robots.
Ages 11-18, please register

Hair Chalking, Henna Tattoos, Flame Nail Art, and Glitter Tattoos
Thursday, July 3rd 3:00-4:00pm
Let's play with body art before we celebrate our country's Independence Day!  Temporary henna and glitter tattoos, fiery nail art tutorial, and color your hair in bright streaks!
Ages 10-18, registration suggested

Teen Advisory Group
Saturday, July 5th 3:00-4:00pm & Saturday, August 2nd 3:00-4:00pm
Earn community services hours and help to improve the library.  Share your ideas, suggestions, and recommendations for the library and enjoy a snack while chatting with other teens.
Ages 12-18, drop in

Coding Club
Mondays in July 3:00-4:00pm (July 7, 14, 21, & 28)
Want to learn computer programming and coding?  Or, already know and want to practice and share with others?  You belong at the Coding Club!
Ages 11-18, drop in

Cracked Marble Pendants
Tuesday, July 8th 7:00-8:00pm
When you gently heat up a marble and then dunk it in cold water, you get an amazing piece of art!  We will be cracking marbles and then making necklaces with them.
Ages 12-18, please register

Teen Knitting Club
Wednesday, July 9th 5:30-6:30pm and August 13th 5:30-6:30pm
Learn to knit, or come and share what your knitting with the group while we chat!  New members always welcome.
Ages 10-18, drop in

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Potions Class
Saturday, July 19th 2:30-4:00pm
In this introduction to potions we will be brewing the Arcturi Antidote, the Felix Felicis Minor Potion, the Thius Trio potion, and the Detoxinous Draft.  Two will be edible, while the others are for use on objects only.  Wands and robes suggested, but not required!
Ages 11-18, please register

Teen Cuisine: Spicy Food
Wednesday, July 23rd 4:30-6:30pm
In our next cooking class for teens, we will "Spark a Reaction" in your mouth with our spicy ingredients!  Learn cooking skills and kitchen safety all while preparing (and eating!) an entire meal!
Ages 12-18, please register



Teen Book Club
Tuesday, July 29th 6:00-7:00pm
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Grab a copy of the book in early July and then join us for our discussion the last week of July!  We will be SKYPING LIVE WITH THE AUTHOR!
Ages 12-18, drop in

ALSO, don't miss out August meeting either!
Wednesday, August 27th 6:00-7:00pm
Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Grab a copy of the book in early August and then join us for our discussion the last week!  We will be SKYPING LIVE WITH THE AUTHOR!
Ages 12-18, drop in

Bubble Art Painting
Thursday, July 31st 3:00-4:00pm
Make art by blowing colored bubbles at canvas!  We will also have free paint to paint whatever you want.
Ages 10-18, please register


End of Summer Party
Friday, August 8th 3:30-4:30pm
Food, games, music, and the drawing of the raffle prizes!
Ages 11-18, please register




WHEW!  That's a lot of programs for only 6 weeks!  I hope to see you all at all of them!  Ok, well maybe at some of them.  That's up to you! :)  But they sure will be funn....

Now maybe you noticed earlier that I mentioned that you could earn an extra raffle ticket for every 10 badges you earn.  This year we are adding badges to our summer reading program, which are like acheivements.  Below is a partial list of the badges you can earn.  There are a total of 150 badges possible to earn!

There will be a special page online where you can view the badges you have earned, and the leaderboard of who has earned the most badges. 




Well...that's a lot of information.  If you have questions, feel free to come in and ask me, or email me at kgardiner@durhamlibrary.org


Online registration for logging your reading time will begin Monday, June 9th.  Look for another blog post on that date on how to do that!

~Summer Program Preview~

Hey all!  Are you enjoying the new blog layout?  I decided to change up the colors for summer and I looove it.  Reminds me of a creamsicle.  Anyhoo...on to today's content...

The Summer Reading Program is coming!  You can now sign up for the online tracker, though you can't track your books just yet.  To sign up, go here-

Online Summer Reading Tracker

You can log your books starting July 1st, when the program officially begins.

We will be having weekly raffles just like last year and you can earn up to 3 tickets every week.  You can earn them by:

1. Reading and tracking at least 1 book per week
2. Writing a book review on the online tracker (4 sentences or 50 words)
3. Attend a library program

Our raffle prizes this year are pretty awesome!  Here they are~

• Gift certificates to Durham Dari Serv
• Movie Passes
• Snack Basket
• Day pass to Lake Compounce
• Kindle e-reader

And here are our programs this summer~

(all of these programs require registration, which can be done in person in the library, over the phone 860-349-9544, or online on the programs page of this blog)

Goldrush Afterhours: Teen Summer Kickoff Party

Saturday, June 29th 5:30-6:30pm

Ages 10-18/Grades 5-12

After the library closes, we'll have the library to ourselves!  Miss G will hide hundreds of 'gold' nuggets throughout the library and you will all run around and find as many as you can!  There will also be music and snacks

Teen Cuisine: Seafood

Wednesday, July 10th 4:30-6:30om

Ages 12-18

In this installment of our popular cooking class for teens we will be making a salmon dip, baked fish, and sea salt brownies.

Pirate Party

Saturday, July 20th 3:00-4:30pm

Ages 10-18/Grades 5-12

Dress like a pirate! Talk like a pirate!  Eat like a pirate!  Sing like a pirate!  DO EVERYTHIN' LIKE A SCURVY PIRATE ME BUCKO!

Sand Drip Bowls

Tuesday, July 23rd 7:00-8:00pm

Ages 10-18/Grades 5-12

We're making these cool decorative bowls out of sand and glue.  The picture says it all, I think!

Flower Pot Decorating

Wednesday, July 31st 4:00-5:00pm

Ages 10-18/Grades 5-12

Paint, color, cover in fabric or tape your own flower pot!  Basically decorate it however you want!  Afterwards, I'll give you a mystery seed to plant in it.

Shark Teeth Jewelry

Monday, August 5th 2:00-3:00pm

Ages 10-18/Grades 5-12

Learn wire wrapping techniques to incorporate real shark teeth into jewelry!  Lots of other beading supplies available too.

Jaws movies playing at the library

Jaws - Monday, August 5th 3pm

Jaws 2 - Tuesday, August 6th 6:30pm

Jaws 3 - Wednesday, August 7th 6:30pm

Jaws: The Revenge - Thursday, August 8th 3pm

TAG Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, August 21st 7:00-8:00pm

Ages 12-18

Come build your own ice cream sundae and talk about how we can improve the library!  Consider joining the Teen Advisory Group!

Volunteering at the library this summer~

Are you 12-18 and need something extra to do this summer and want to do something to help the community?  Then consider working at the Summer Reading Desk and helping out patrons.  You would be helping other patrons (children, teens, and adults) to sign up for the online tracker, helping them learn how to use it, giving out the childrens coupons, keeping track of the raffle tickets for teens and adults, cutting out shapes, promoting the program, and more!  These hours can count as community service hours if you need them for church or school.  Volunteer at least 6 hours of your time and get a t-shirt!  If your interested, then sign up at the library front desk!

Also, everyone who volunteers is invited to our end of summer pizza picnic!

Summer Volunteer Pizza Picnic (or party inside if rain!)
Saturday, August 17th 3:00-4:00pm
Pizza, cookies, drinks, music, games, and more!


Any questions?  Comment, come in, call, or email MissG!  

Teen Knitting Club

Don't forget!  The next meeting of the Teen Knitting Club is Tuesday at 7:00pm!

Candy Art!

On Saturday the 16th we will be having a craft program at the library for teens, Candy Pixel Art.  Here are some ideas of what we might be making...

If your interested in coming, sign up at the front desk!  Ages 10-18.

No Dye Tie Dye!

Heya YAs,

A week from today on Jan. 19th we are having a program for teens at the library - No Dye Tie Dye!  We'll give you a shirt and explain how to do it and you'll make yourself a pretty new shirt!  Sign up at the desk, online, over the phone, or by email.

Here's how the shirts look...

Teen program coming up next week!

Heya guys and gals,

Do you need a special, handmade gift for someone this Christmas?  Then you should come to MAKE YOUR OWN JAR GIFTS at the Durham Public Library!  The program will be Wednesday, December 12th from 7:00-8:00.  We will be putting together two tasty gifts inside jars, hot chocolate mix and cookie dough mix.  And we'll be decorating the jars all nice nice.

So be sure you sign up soon!  Ages 10-18, sign up by calling, emailing, or coming in.

Plastic Bottle Bracelets

Heya guys and gals, don't forget that coming up next week we have a craft program for teens.  We're going to be making bracelets out of plastic bottles and fabric scraps.  It's a stylish way to upcycle (converting waste material into something better) some plastic bottles into some DIY accents.  There are still spots available on the sign up sheet, so sign up soon :)

Plastic Bottle Bracelets
Wednesday, Nov. 28th 6:30 to 8:00
Ages 10-18

Sign up by filling out the form on my blog, calling (860-349-9544), emailing(kgardiner@durhamlibrary.org), or coming in to the library.

Let's make jewelry!

I have a big box o beads and jewelry making supplies at the library so come and make jewelry with me!

Bead It! Jewelry Making Program
Wednesday, September 19th
7:00-8:00pm
Ages 11-18

Bring home anything you make!  All supplies provided!

Please register by emailing, calling, coming in, or registering online!  Click the programs and events tab at the top of the page to register online :)