What's Up in the Wave Room?

The Wave Room, Chestertown Branch's teen space, has a new addition!

Behind the wavy light that gives the room its name and on the side walls of the room, new paneling has been installed to help dampen the sound moving between the room and the rest of the library.

Stop by and take a look!

Keep Scrolling

This email is jam-packed with info, including:

• Upcoming Summer Reading events
• Board of Trustees recruitment
• Tech Help Drop-Ins
• And more!

Keep reading for details about these and other events!

To see all the June events at a glance, you can also visit KCPL's online calendar.

Make Sure You See It All

Did you know that some email services are set to not load full emails when they're long or full of images?

If you reach the end of this email and see text that says "Message clipped" make sure you click the "View entire message" link so you don't miss out on library news!

Holiday Closure

Wednesday, June 19

All KCPL Locations Closed

KCPL is Hiring

Applications are currently being accepted for multiple positions:

• Executive Director (FT)
• Youth Services Assistant/Associate (FT)
• Teen & Youth Services Clerk (PT)

Applications for open positions are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Help Guide the Future of KCPL

Are you enthusiastic about Kent County Public Library’s continued ability to create and sustain innovative and responsive services for the community? Are you able to commit to volunteering your time and energy to support the future of the library? If so, please consider becoming a Trustee!

The Board of Trustees of the Kent County Public Library is currently seeking applications to fill one seat for a 3.5 year term, which begins July 1, 2024. The appointed Trustee will also be eligible for a second 5-year term.

Applicants must be Kent County residents and should be passionate about supporting the creation and sustainability of library services that meet the needs of the entire community. Members of the Board should represent the diversity of Kent County, demographically and geographically.

The Board holds monthly meetings, as well as occasional special meetings, throughout the year. At the direction of the president of the Board, members may also be asked to serve on committees and participate in special events throughout the year.

The Trustee application can be picked up at any Kent County Public Library location or can be found online.

Completed forms can be emailed to the Trustees or mailed to:

Kent County Public Library

Attention: Board of Trustees Search Committee

408 High St.

Chestertown, MD 21620

Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, June 18.

Applications will be reviewed by the Trustees, interviews with applicants will be scheduled promptly, and recommendations for nominations will be sent to the Kent County Commissioners who will appoint the new members.

The library is not a standalone organization, it's a vital part of the community! KCPL Cares is a free giveaway initiative that lets us connect with and support the community in a variety of ways.

This month, our giveaway features bike locks and reflective bands for all ages, and gun safety locks for adults.

To receive a gun safety lock, you must be at least 18-years-old.

Available during normal hours of operation. No registration, first-come, first-served, while supplies last!

This month's giveaway will be held at all three locations:

• Thursday, June 6th - North County
• Friday, June 7th - Rock Hall
• Saturday, June 8th - Chestertown

Funding for the bike locks and reflective bands is provided by the Kent County Health Department Disparities Grant.

Gun safety locks are provided through a partnership with Mid Shore Behavioral Health.

This year's summer reading theme is Adventure Begins at Your Library!

With a reading challenge for all ages – babies, kids, teens, and adults – as well as weekly programs and plenty of opportunities to win prizes, create connections, and celebrate reading, you don’t want to miss this experience!

When you join a reading challenge, you choose what you read. Books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, graphic novels -- as long as it has words, it counts! The more reading minutes you log, the more chances you have to win prizes, including the top reader prize for each age category. 



All of your reading minutes also count towards KCPL’s collaborative reading goal! In 2023, KCPL’s summer reading goal was 850,000 minutes and the response was fantastic – almost 800 readers of all ages participated and they logged 911,021 minutes! 

This year we’re taking an ambitious, adventurous leap to seven figures! The collaborative goal for KPCL’s 2024 summer reading community is to collectively read and log 1,000,000 minutes.

Every minute you read and log will help us get closer to this goal!

Starting June 1, register online or in-person at any KCPL location.

As soon as you are registered, you can begin logging your reading minutes.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Everyone is welcome! There is a Summer Reading Challenge for all ages – preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Register for a Summer Reading Challenge, read, and log your reading minutes – it's just that simple. For added bonus activities, complete the Community Scavenger Hunt (available at any KCPL location).

WHAT DO I READ?

Anything with words! Books, graphic novels, movie subtitles, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and websites all count.

WHEN DO I READ?

Start logging your minutes on June 1 using a physical reading log, which you can pick up at any KCPL location, or track your time online in Beanstack. Be sure to submit all your reading minutes by August 10.

HOW MUCH DO I READ?

As much as you want! The more you read, the more raffle tickets you earn.

SHOULD I KEEP READING AFTER I FINISH MY CHALLENGE?

Absolutely! Four reasons to keep reading:

1. Kids and teens can earn extra raffle tickets by continuing to read.
2. A top reader prize will be awarded to the person in each age group – preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults – who reads and logs the most minutes this summer.
3. Every minute you read and log counts toward the community summer reading goal of 1,000,000 minutes!
4. Reading is awesome!

ARE THERE PRIZES?

Yes! There are different kinds of prizes you can win during summer reading!

Reading Challenge Raffle Drawings

As you log minutes in your reading challenge, you will earn raffle tickets.

Each reading challenge has multiple raffle drawings for prizes that are appropriate for the challenge‘s age group. To enter, you must assign your tickets to individual raffle drawings. This can be done in Beanstack or with assistance from library staff.

All raffle prizes will be posted in Beanstack by July 15. To participate in raffle drawings, you must enter your tickets into individual raffles by August 10.

Scavenger Hunt Raffle

To be entered into this raffle drawing, you must turn in a Community Scavenger Hunt (available at any KCPL location) with at least 20 activities completed by August 10.

Top Reader Prizes

A top reader prize will be awarded to the person in each age group – preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults – who reads and logs the most minutes this summer.

Prize Winner Notification

Prize winners will be announced at the Chestertown Branch Summer Reading Finale on Saturday, August 17. You do not need to be present to win.

Winners will be contacted and have until Monday, September 30 to claim their prizes.

COMMUNITY SCAVENGER HUNT

Adventure at your own pace with the Community Scavenger Hunt!

Pick up info at any KCPL location and complete at least 20 activities to enter the scavenger hunt raffle drawing.

TAKE A STORYWALK®

Visit Worton Park to explore the brand-new StoryWalk® and let us know what you think!

This summer’s featured book is The Story of a Book by Joy McCullough. The StoryWalk® installation is a partnership with Kent County Parks & Recreation.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.



There are many library events and programs for all ages happening this summer, starting with three kickoff events!

Celebrate the start of the 2024 Summer Reading program with a little bit of outdoor fun at KCPL's summer reading kickoff events! On June 20 and 21, meet us at the park for playground fun with friends. On June 22, join us at the library for giant games, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and more.

At all kickoff events, you can sign up for a 2024 Summer Reading Challenge and, while supplies last, receive a free summer reading t-shirt and bag of swag to get started with your reading adventure!

All ages from babies to adults are welcome at these events!

Galena Town Park

Thursday 6/20 | 2pm-3:30pm

Rock Hall Civic Center

Friday 6/21 | 11am-12:30pm 

Chestertown Branch

Sat 6/22 | 11am-1pm 

Preview the entire upcoming calendar and start planning all your summer library visits!

Some programs are drop-in, but others require registration due to limited supplies or space. Registration opens 3 weeks before the date of each program.

We look forward to seeing you all summer long!

Technology Basics

Need some help learning the basics of technology? Got a new device and you're not sure where to start? Free help is available at the library!

Let us help you learn how to:

• feel confident using your phone, tablet, or laptop
• navigate the internet, email, or social media
• use KCPL's computers, mobile hotspots, and Digital Library

Tech Help Drop-Ins

Drop-in sessions are available on a first come first served basis.

Chestertown Branch

Most Mondays | 11am-1pm

Tech Help Appointments

Tech Help appointments are also available at all KCPL locations. Please use the appointment scheduler or call 410.778.3636 for more information.

Summer Storytime Returns Soon

Beginning June 17, join us for weekly summer storytimes at all KCPL locations!

Join us to read stories, sing songs, dance, laugh, and have lots of fun!

Preschool • Ages 3-5

11am Mondays | Rock Hall

10am Tuesdays | Chestertown

10am Thursdays | North County

Baby & Toddler • Ages 0-2 

11am Tuesdays | Chestertown

11am Thursdays | North County

Special Storytime Events

Mil Colores/A Thousand Colors

Bilingual Family Concert with Nathalia

North County Branch

Thursday, June 27 • 10am • ages 0-8

Mother Goose Preschool Storytime

Chestertown Branch

Tuesday, July 16 • 10am • ages 2-5

North County Branch

Thursday, August 1 • 10am • ages 2-5

Storytime in the Park

Rock Hall Civic Center

Monday, August 5 • 11am • ages 2-5

Wilmer Park

Tuesday, August 6 • 10am • ages 2-5

Galena Town Park

Thursday, August 8 • 10am • ages 2-5

Upcoming at KCPL

Whether your schedule is open or filling up fast, don't forget you can look ahead in our online calendar!

July will be jam-packed with events, including:

• Campfire Quests
• Radical Rockets
• Fantasy Mocktail Experience
• Black Light Galaxy Party
• World's Best Paper Airplane Competition
• Travel Through Space
• And so much more!

Book Donation Days

The Friends welcome donations of books and other materials for their next used book sale.

Donation Days

Tuesdays, 12pm-4pm

June – August (or until storage space is full)

Chestertown Branch

Select Saturdays

• June 8 | 11am-4pm
• July 27 | 10am-4pm
• August 24 | 10am-4pm

Chestertown Branch

What can you donate?

Items in good to excellent condition that are sellable and meet the Friends' criteria. 

The Friends are happy to accept the following items:

Yes, Please!

• Books
• Audiobooks on CD
• Music CDs
• DVDs
• Complete jigsaw puzzles
• Potentially valuable & rare books

The Friends cannot accept the following items:

No, Thank You!

• Textbooks
• Encyclopedias
• Magazines
• VHS tapes
• Books with water damage
• Books smelling of smoke
• Books smelling of mildew
• Books with insect damage
• Books with pet damage

Show Your Support

Since 1973, the Friends have helped make it possible for KCPL to meet the needs of the community.

We are grateful for their continued support and want to invite you to support the Friends!

Become a Friend

For as little as $10 a year, you can become a member of this group of library supporters.

Volunteer opportunities, including serving on the Friends' Board, are also available.



The Friends of the Kent County Public Library is a nonprofit organization that serves and promotes Kent County Public Library. Friends:

• donate hearts, hands, and more to the library they love
• help the community by encouraging literacy
• raise money for library needs not covered by the library budget
• provide enriching cultural programs
• raise awareness about the wonderful resources available at the library

Join a Meeting

To learn more about how decisions that shape the library's future are made, join the Board of Trustees for a meeting!

Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 11 | 2pm

Virtual

Board of Trustees Meeting

Monday, June 24 | 4:30pm

Rock Hall

For more details about upcoming meetings, including the meeting agenda and virtual meeting link, please visit our online calendar.

The agenda for each meeting is posted at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Meetings of the Board of Trustees are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

STAY CONNECTED