Registration for Summer Reading Club will close on Saturday, July 19th.

Take a look at our summer calendar of activities:

Starting June 16th, join us every Monday at 2 PM in the Large Meeting Room to enjoy full-length movies for children and their adults. Bring your blankets, pillows, and snacks for a movie picnic in the library (no lawn chairs please!)

July Movies:

Monday, July 7th—Dog Man

Monday, July 14th—The Garfield Movie

Monday, July 21st—Harold and the Purple Crayon

All skill levels are encouraged to stop by every Tuesday morning at 11 AM for knitting, crochet, and conversation. Basic supplies and instructions can be provided by our regular group members to any beginners. Join us upstairs in the Women’s League Conference Room.

Put your dancing shoes on! Ann and Ernie Ellis are coming to the library to teach line dancing on Tuesday, July 8th and Tuesday, July 15th from 5:30-7:30 PM. This program is open to adults, teens, and children 10+, so bring the whole family. Western wear encouraged! Space is limited. Register at the Adult Reference Desk or by calling 972-204-7770. Program will take place in the Large Meeting Room.

Hola! Bring the whole family for stories, songs, and laughter—for an immersive Spanish Storytime experience—on Tuesday, July 8th, Tuesday, July 15th, and Tuesday, July 22nd. Wear your comfy jammies and join us from 6:30-7 PM in the Storytime Room. Juice and cookies will be provided after the stories for a great ending to the day.

Hora De Cuento En Pijama En Espanol Martes, 1 de julio, Martes, 8 de julio, Martes, 15 de julio, y Martes, 22 de julio a las 6:30 PM! Pongansen Sus Pijamas Mas Comodos y unanse con nosotros para escuchar cuentos para dormir, canciones, y un bocadillo. En La Sala De Cuentos. Gratis para todas las edades. Pijamas Opcional.

On Wednesdays from 2-3 PM, come-and-go for a different type of interactive program each week. Come socialize while we play, create, and make new friends! For ages 6+.

Upcoming Wacky Wednesdays will be:

July 9th—Games and Gab

July 16th—LEGO Challenge -- Build a colorful bridge that connects to cities. Remember to build the cities you are connecting!

July 23rd—Crafternoon

Our Night Owl Knitters is a must-attend for anyone who loves knitting, crochet, and conversation! The program takes place upstairs in the Women's League Conference Room on Thursdays from 6-7:30 PM. All skill levels welcome and starting supplies can be provided.

Do you have gently used puzzles you are done enjoying? Bring them to the library on Saturday, July 12th anytime between 10 AM to 2 PM and exchange them for new (to you) puzzles! Bring a puzzle, take a puzzle. Bring seven puzzles, take seven puzzles! Puzzles should be complete and in good condition. All ages welcome! ⁠

Calling all independent readers who love books *and* doggies!! Make your appointment to read to special guests — therapy dogs — during this fun independent reading activity. Therapy dogs will be available for fifteen-minute time slots on Saturday, July 12th, July 19th, and July 26th from 10:30-11:30 AM. Appointments can be made at the Youth Services Desk or by calling 972-204-7740. Don’t miss this chance to practice reading skills while spending time with some friendly, furry listeners!

Have questions about plants or gardening? On Wednesday, July 16th, a Master Gardener will be available from 10 AM-12 PM at the Rockwall County Master Gardener table on the first floor next to the stairs to answer all things gardening! No registration required.

Please join us Thursday, July 17th in the Storytime Room or the Large Meeting Room from 6:30-7:30 PM for our S.H.I.N.E. events. This program is for special needs individuals age 18+ and their caregivers to enjoy socialization, acquire life skills guidance, and engage in fun activities. Caregiver attendance is required. Registration is required. Register at the Youth Services Desk or by calling 972-204-7740.

Get creative at the Rockwall County Library’s Air-Dry Pottery Class on Tuesday, July 22nd from 5:30–7:30 PM in the Large Meeting Room. Julie Woodard from the Rockwall Art League will lead this fun, hands-on workshop where you’ll make your own wind chime using clay, beads, twine, and macramé knots. All supplies provided. Open to ages 18+. Registration required . Sign up at the Adult Reference Desk or call 972-204-7770.

Join Best Buddies on Thursday, July 24th from 5:30- 7 PM for a fun indoor picnic at the library! Escape the heat and enjoy delicious food and friendly company in a welcoming, inclusive space. Bring your favorite picnic meal—sandwiches, snacks, fruit, and cool drinks—and enjoy a relaxing time together! This is NOT a potluck. Please bring your own food if you wish to have a meal. The North Texas Best Buddies chapter is focused on building one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life. For ages 18+. Registration required. RSVP to Gabi Dennis at gabidennis0@gmail.com.⁠

Join us for on Saturday, July 26th at 11:30 AM for a Beginner Ballet Class with Ivana Yan! This class is for children ages 4-6. The class will include:

·Introduction to basic ballet positions and movements

·Fun warm-ups and stretching

·Simple across-the-floor exercises

·A focus on having fun!



Parents will be asked to wait outside the room while the class is in progress. Students should wear stretchy clothes or leotard with skirt and socks or ballet shoes (Ballet clothing not required)! Registration required. Register at the Youth Desk or by calling 972-204-7740.

Explore science with the Perot Museum Tech Truck on Tuesday, July 29th! Come-and-go from 2-4 PM in the Large Meeting Room. Recommended for ages 11-18.

The Rockwall County Library is partnering with the Rockwall County Master Gardeners to present a fall vegetable gardening program on Tuesday, July 29 from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Large Meeting Room. Master Gardener Kim Martin will lead the presentation, offering expert tips and practical advice for preparing your fall garden. Attendees will also enjoy door prizes, seed giveaways, and helpful handouts. This program is for adults ages 18+. Registration is required through Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-vegetable-garden-class-tickets-1409588600449

The Book-a-Librarian service is an opportunity for patrons with Rockwall County Library cards (in good standing) to receive individual, focused assistance from a professional librarian in a scheduled 30-minute appointment. Assistance with computer skills, reading suggestions, downloading e-books and e-audiobooks, and resume building are just a few examples of how we can help. Please fill out the form completely, and a librarian will contact you to schedule an appointment. Appointments are limited to two sessions per month per person. 

Note: We are unable to offer advice (e.g, medical, legal, tax or business) beyond sources of information. We cannot assist with financial transactions, type or proofread your documents, troubleshoot or assist with maintenance of personal electronics (e.g, computers, eReaders, tablets). This is not a tutoring service.

Coming Soon!

The library has partnered with the Rockwall County Extension Agent to bring an egg hatching project to the library! Check the August children’s activity schedule for the "Egg-to-Chick" classes. See our social media updates on our hatching project through late July and early August! 

Letter from the Editor: Must-Reads on Our Founding Fathers

Happy 4th of July! The history of the American Revolution is long, rich, and filled with so many fascinating characters who contributed to the establishment of our country.

Of course, we know of the Founding Fathers, but how well do we really know their stories, beyond their roles in helping create the new government? Luckily, we have some fantastic biographies that shine a little more light on them!

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

It seems strange to think that a little over ten years ago, many Americans didn't know who Alexander Hamilton was—or perhaps more accurately, they had once known, having learned about him in school, but had retained very little memory of him. The wildly popular and critically acclaimed 2015 musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda would go on to change that.

The biography Hamilton by Ron Chernow is one of the main sources of inspiration behind Miranda's musical, and just like the show, delves into Hamilton's background, his critical role in shaping the nation, and his intense rivalry with Aaron Burr that would lead to tragic consequences. Despite being born into significant disadvantage, Hamilton was able to use his great intellect and ambition to create enormous success for himself, showing how he was a perfect example of what we consider living the American Dream.

Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist by Richard Munson

No one could say that Benjamin Franklin's contributions in securing America's independence have been ignored or forgotten, but as Ingenious by Richard Munson points out, his incredible scientific achievements, the inventions and innovations, are not highlighted nearly as often as they should be.

Beyond his famous experiments with electricity, Franklin researched plants, weather patterns, chemical bonds, and much more. He was also eager to challenge his own conclusions when new data arose and freely shared his discoveries with all, believing that education and access to information were a critical component of any true democracy.

Rush: Revolution, Madness, and the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father by Stephen Fried-

One of the lesser-recognized Founding Fathers, Benjamin Rush worked closely alongside other Revolutionary era American leaders, including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. But in addition to being a politician, Rush was one of the most famous physicians of his time.

Rush by Stephen Fried recounts just how much of a visionary Benjamin Rush truly was, particularly in regard to how he advocated for the humane and compassionate treatment of people dealing with mental health issues. While he was a proponent of treating physical and mental health conditions with methods that we now understand to be ineffective and dangerous (such as bloodletting and purging), he was groundbreaking in sharing his firm beliefs that mental health conditions were NOT caused by any sort of moral weakness and evil character. His efforts would go on to change the field of medicine forever, and he would eventually be dubbed the "Father of American Psychiatry."

Rockwall County Library

1215 E Yellowjacket Lane

Rockwall, TX 75087

(972) 204-7700