EATON — All Together Now for our annual Summer Reading Challenge, runs through July 29. Read and complete challenges to earn prizes. Summer reading programs are open to kids, teens, and adults. Visit preblelibrary.org for your one-stop place to register, log time, earn badges and turn in tickets for prizes. There will be free grab and go kits, prize drawings, family programming, weekly storytimes and more!
New: Weekly Summer Storytimes & Crafts for Kids
Many of our branches offer weekly in-person storytimes for kids of all ages. Our storytimes are formulated around Every Child Ready to Read initiative, focusing on the five early literacy practices of reading, singing, playing, talking, and writing. Some crafts may get a little messy.
All Together Now Storytime (New Paris): Mondays at 5 p.m.
Summer Reading Fun (Camden): Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Summer Reading Club (Eaton): Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
All Together Now Storytime (West Alexandria): Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Wahoo Wednesdays (New Paris): Wednesdays during open hours
New: Weekly Grab & Go Crafts – West Alexandria
Weekly grab and go kits are available at the West Alexandria Branch while supplies last.
July 24: Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flower (Kids)
New: Weekly Teen Programs at the Eaton Branch
On Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. , teens in grades 6-12 can come to the Eaton Branch to enjoy activities such as coloring and simple crafting, board games, video games, and more!
• July 25: Puzzle Room
New: Let’s Get Crafty
The Preble County District Library offers various adult craft and social programs in July at several of our locations throughout Preble County.
Monday, July 24, at West Elkton at 2 p.m.: Fingerprint Tealight Jar Painting
New: Family Crafts and Activities
The Preble County District Library offers various family craft and social programs in July at several of our locations throughout Preble County.
Monday, July 24, at West Alexandria at 5:30 p.m.: Friendship Trivia Night
Wednesday, July 26, at West Manchester at 3 p.m.: Movie Night
Thursday, July 27, at Eldorado at 3 p.m.: Movie Night
Friday, July 28, at West Alexandria at 1 p.m.: Puzzle Room (Teens)
New: Build Something New with LEGO Programs
Let your imagination run wild as Preble County District Library hosts LEGO Club. LEGO Club is kids and teens to show off their Master Builder skills. If you bring LEGOs from home, please label them in a container with your child’s name.
West Alexandria LEGO Club: Saturday, July 29, at noon
Eaton LEGO Club: Monday, July 31, at 4:30 p.m.
New: All Together Now: Weekly Programs for Kids, Teens, and Adults of All Ages
Join us at the Eaton Branch every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. for a series of all-age programs. Kids, teens, adults, and families are invited to play and have fun at the library.
• July 27: Book It Bingo
New: The Space Painter — Juggling Performance
Toss it Together! We are excited to welcome the Space Painter, Tom Sparough, to our library branches this summer! Join us for this fun, family-friendly event where you will be entertained through the art of juggling and balancing at your library!
Tom Sparough is a juggler, storyteller, writer, and facilitator. He is known to hundreds of thousands of people as the Space Painter, which comes from a description of juggling that Tom received from a two-year-old child. His show is filled with skillful, humorous juggling and a generous helping of audience participation. In a delightful way, it explores the realm of the seemingly impossible, whether it is walking on the moon, or juggling on his head. It features death-defying ball juggling, plate spinning, and more!
• Tuesday, July 25 at 3 p.m.: West Alexandria Branch
• Tuesday, July 25 at 6 p.m.: Camden Branch
• Wednesday, July 26 at 10 a.m.: Eaton Branch
• Wednesday, July 26 at 2 p.m.: West Manchester Branch
• Wednesday, July 26 at 5 p.m.: New Paris Branch
• Thursday, July 27 at 1 p.m. : Eldorado Branch
• Thursday, July 27 at 4:30 p.m.: West Elkton Branch
New: Escape the Room: Stargazer’s Manor – Eaton Branch on Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m.
Join us to close out summer reading with an escape room! This program will run for about 90 minutes. It has a maximum of 8 participants, and sign-up is required. Call the Eaton Branch at 937-456-4331 or stop in to sign up!
New: Read Together Book Box – Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong– Wednesday, July 26, at 6 p.m.
Let’s read together! Combining Blue Box Exclusive and AYA Book Club – these special summer book boxes are available to both teens and adults. All community members in or above sixth grade are welcome to participate, whether you’re in middle school or you’re long retired! Request a Book Box from any branch while supplies last. Read the book and join us at the Eaton Branch (or virtually on Goodreads!) for a casual, multi-age discussion! Our July book will be Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong.
Other Library Program Offerings
New: Coffee & Conversation with Preble County Mental Health & Recovery Board
Do you know someone struggling with their mental health, and do you need answers? Join Autumn with the Preble County Mental Health & Recovery Board for coffee and conversation. She will be available from 3-5 p.m. for an informal discussion on any questions regarding mental health and mental health services.
Tuesday, July 25, at 3 p.m.: Eaton Branch
New: Magnet of the Month Club (West Alexandria Branch only)
Visit the West Alexandria Library each month to pick up a magnet kit. Each kit will include the materials you need to complete that month’s magnet. Please let us know if you need a paintbrush. Colors may vary. If you are missing a previous month, contact the front desk for extras.
TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Pick up your Magnet of the Month punch card at the West Alexandria Branch.
2. After you complete your magnet, bring it or a picture of it to show us to get your card stamped.
3. Collect all 12 punches to be entered into our grand prize drawing.
Magnet schedule:
• July – Lollipop
• August – Flip Flop
• September – Pig
• October – Skull
• November – Pumpkin Pie
• December – Christmas Tree
New: Explore & More Adventure Pass Program
Explore & More NOW with your PCDL Library Card! We are excited to introduce our newest service, the Explore & More Adventure Pass Program, enabling PCDL patrons to borrow passes using their library card. This one-time pass, which must be checked out in person at the Eaton Branch, grants patrons limited free access to attractions that would otherwise charge admission fees.
Participating organizations include The Dayton Art Institute, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park, Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, and Carillon Historical Park.
•Each organization sets its own rules for how many individuals are covered under its passes and which days the passes will be honored. Patrons are advised to call the organization ahead of their visit for hours and rules.
Genealogy Room Highlights
New hours at the Preble County Room
Genealogists and history lovers will soon have more time to research. The Preble County Room is extending hours starting in February.
The new hours for the Preble County Room are as follows:
• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Saturday: By appointment only in three-hour increments. Appointments must be requested by Wednesday. Patrons interested in a Saturday appointment may call 937-456-4970.
Along with extended hours, the Preble County Room will offer more learning opportunities for the community, including a History Hunters Group, monthly crafts, and monthly general history or genealogy programs.
Don’t Throw Away Local History – Contact the Preble Co. Genealogy Room, instead
The Preble Co. Genealogy Room is interested in archiving any local and family historical items you might come across as you clean. This includes (but is not limited to): old paperwork/documents/records, family bibles with family information, pictures of Preble Co. residents, landmarks, and properties, old maps and land records and any items having to do with the history of Preble County, its families and the surrounding areas.
If you come across an item as you clean and wish to donate it to the PC Room, please contact us at 937-456-4970 Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. or by email at pcroomat preblelibrary.org.
Preble Co. Records Online – Families, Obituaries, Marriages, Historic Landmarks, and more
Search the library’s in-house Genealogical & Historical Records collections. Visit https://preblelibrary.org/genealogy to get started on your search! Family files can also be researched in person at the PC Room. To view a list of all PC Room resources, visit https://preblelibrary.org/genealogy/holdings.
