Experiment with Month Full of Science Activities

By KATHY McGILBERRY

If you’ve been anywhere near a radio, newspaper, Facebook page, downtown display, library brochure/flyer or bookish Twitter feed, you already know it’s Summer Reading Program time! But just to make absolutely sure you don’t miss a single thing, here’s your monthly rundown of activities at McAlester Public Library.

The overall theme for the summer is “science.” We hope you’ll experiment with lots and lots of library visits—there is truly something for everyone!

*Wednesday, June 3—Extreme Animals at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Whiteacre Room; Teen Summer Reading Kickoff Party, 2 p.m. upstairs. Lunch Bunch is held every day Monday-Thursday at noon, providing a free lunch for anyone age 18 or younger.

*Thursday, June 4—Story and Activity Time, 10 and 11 a.m., ages 5 and up, Lunch Bunch at noon and Children’s Game Time, 2 p.m., all in the Whiteacre Room; The Bookies book club, discussing “The Last Policeman” by Ben H. Winters, 1 p.m., Conference Room; Teen Game Time upstairs, 2 p.m.; and Adult Mystery Science Book Club, discussing Camille Minichino’s “The Hydrogen Murder,” 6:30 p.m. Register to win a Kindle Fire HD at all Adult/Family programs, with a drawing at the final program on July 31.

*Monday, June 9—Helen Hunt chases twisters in our second Science Movie Special of the summer, 6 p.m., Whiteacre Room. See some of own beloved Oklahoma meteorologists on the big screen, too! We always have free popcorn at our movie screenings.

*Tuesday, June 10—Lap Sit story times for ages 5 and under, 10 and 11 a.m., Lunch Bunch at noon, and Children’s Movie Time (title to be announced), all in the Whiteacre Room; plus Teen Challenge, Minute to Win It, 2 p.m. upstairs.

*Wednesday, June 11—Derick Brock’s Mad Science show, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Whiteacre Room; Adult/Family Crafts Workshop, making Origami, 1:30 p.m., Conference Room; Teen Science Project, making Lava Lamps, 2 p.m. upstairs; and finally, Adult SteamPunk Book Club, discussing Scott Westerfeld’s “Goliath,” at 6 p.m., Whiteacre Room. Someone will win a cool steampunk-style head lamp by attending.

*Thursday, June 12– Story and Activity Time, 10 and 11 a.m., ages 5 and up, Lunch Bunch at noon and Children’s Game Time, 2 p.m., all in the Whiteacre Room; Teen Game Time upstairs, 2 p.m.; and a special Adult/Family program on Storm Chasing, with Pittsburg County Emergency Management director Kevin Enloe, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. Learn what it takes to be a real-life storm chaser, and you can also register to win the Kindle Fire HD. A special science-themed door prize will also be given away.

*Saturday, June 14—Audience Participation Family Movie, 2 p.m., Whiteacre Room. We have a movie with a laboratory, some explosions and the introduction of “flubber.” What else could we possible need? Why, bags of bouncy balls, noisemakers and other toys, and instructions on just when to deploy them. It’s great fun, and it promotes active viewing. Fred MacMurray stars as an absent-minded academic in this colorized Disney classic, rated G. Join us for raucous fun and free popcorn.

*Monday, June 16—Light Readers will meet at 6 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss Lauraine Snelling’s “Wake the Dawn.” Our third Science Movie Special stars Val Kilmer as a teenage genius who invents a special laser. This PG-rated film begins at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre, with free popcorn and a chance to register for the Kindle drawing.

*Tuesday, June 17– Lap Sit story times for ages 5 and under, 10 and 11 a.m., Lunch Bunch at noon, and Children’s Movie Time (title to be announced), all in the Whiteacre Room; plus Teen Yu-Gi-Oh club, 2 p.m. upstairs. At 6:30 p.m., laugh along with the Night Readers as they discuss “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened,” by Jenny Lawson, also known as “The Bloggess.”

*Wednesday, June 18—Giant puppets represent the four elements as Joann McMillan teaches earth sciences at the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. children’s performances. Teens will experiment with different tastes during their “Taste Trippin’ Party” at 2 p.m. upstairs. Then at 6 p.m., fans of Dr. Who will gather in the Whiteacre Room for another Science Movie Special, with prizes and entry forms for the Kindle drawing.

*Thursday, June 19– Story and Activity Time, 10 and 11 a.m., ages 5 and up, Lunch Bunch at noon and Children’s Game Time, 2 p.m., all in the Whiteacre Room; Teen Game Time upstairs, 2 p.m.; and a special Adult/Family program on the Science of Ham Radio, with David Meeks and members of the Pittsburg County Amateur Radio Club, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. It takes special science and technology know-how to become a Ham Radio Operator. Learn more at this family-friend program. Special door prize, plus Kindle Fire registration, too.

*Tuesday, June 24– Lap Sit story times for ages 5 and under, 10 and 11 a.m., Lunch Bunch at noon, and Children’s Movie Time (title to be announced), all in the Whiteacre Room; plus Teen Movie, 2 p.m. upstairs (title to be announced). Adults will gather in the Conference Room at 10 a.m. for Socrates Café, the monthly discussion group that examines the deeper meanings behind life’s ordinary events. This month, the group has agreed to read and discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates’ recent article in “The Atlantic” magazine, “The Case for Reparations.” You are welcome to join the discussion.

*Wednesday, June 25—Monty Harper will entertain with his show “Songs from the Science Frontier” at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Teens will learn Stop-Motion Animation at 2 p.m. upstairs. And the Adult SteamPunk Book Club will gather to discuss G.D. Falksen’s “Blood in the Skies” at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. Special door prize, and Kindle Fire registration.

*Thursday, June 26—You’ve heard about the anti-vaccination movement? Learn from health care professionals about the very real threat it poses, when Lesa Curry and Melissa Locke present “What If…You DON’T Immunize Your Child?” at 6:30 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. There will be a door prize and Kindle registration, too. Plus, Story and Activity Time, 10 and 11 a.m., ages 5 and up, Lunch Bunch at noon and Children’s Game Time, 2 p.m., all in the Whiteacre Room; Teen Game Time upstairs, 2 p.m.

*Saturday, June 28—Some folks enjoy reading nonfiction. And some folks would like a book group on the weekends. We’re trying to start a new nonfiction reading group on each third Saturday of the month. Join us for the first meeting, when the book up for discussion will be “The Disappearing Spoon,” by Sam Kean, at 11 a.m. in the Whiteacre. Just stop by the front desk and ask how you can sign out a copy of the book. It’s all free. Later, the monthly Documentary Matinee at 2 p.m. will look at dolphin hunting. Please join us.

*Monday, June 30—The Film Movement independent movie will be “The Iran Job,” the story of an American basketball player who traveled to Iran to play his sport. Join us for popcorn and an unusual movie at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room.