EAST LAKE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Strengthening our community through inspiration, enrichment, and education.
WELCOME SUMMER READERS!
All Together Now
Summer Reading 2023
Everyone from our baby busy bees, little forest explorers, and older school-aged tree climbers! Infants to rising 5th graders can participate and register at the Treehouse starting May 30th.
In Person
Summer Readers
This is our activity reporting booklet.
All in-person participants receive a booklet at sign-up.
Did you lose your booklet? No worries! Click on the image for a printable PDF.
Online
Summer Readers
For those who can't participate in person, we offer activities and reporting online through Beanstack!
To get started, click on the image to go to the Beanstack website, or download the Beanstack app!
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
We strive to offer fun, interesting and educational programs for babies to rising 5th graders and their families. All programs will be in-person.
All programs offered this summer have their own space limits and registration requirements - sign-up online or in-person, and pick up tickets when required. If you sign-up and can no longer attend, please call to cancel so we may accommodate others on the waitlist.
We offer family and all-age programs when we can, but most of our programs this season have strict age or grade ranges, allowing us to offer more space for the intended audience.
To visit our online calendar, click here!
Busy Bees
Early learning programs for babies, toddlers & pre-schoolers
Mondays, June 5, 12, 19, 26 & July 3, 10, 17 at 10AM
Baby Beats is a program for our youngest patrons (ages 0-2 years) that will include stories, songs, sensory exploration, and social time. Adults are strongly encouraged to let their inner child come out and join in the singing and dancing. Your little one will be so happy to see you participating!
This registration-only program is limited to 15 infants/toddlers ages 0-2 (no older siblings please). Registration opens one week in advance online, in-person or over the phone.
Little Explorers
Ages 2 - 5
Wednesday, June 7 at 10AM
Julie Austin visits with multiple instruments and fun songs to share while engaging kids and caregivers alike as they explore positive feelings through music!
Glitterbug and Germaine the Germ Thing
Wednesday, June 14 at 10AM
Children will learn how to prevent the spread of germs through effective handwashing and do an experiment to see how germs spread!
Wednesday, June 21 at 10AM
Children will enjoy taking their favorite stuffed friend through a "check up" as they learn what to expect at annual physicals. Please bring a favorite stuffy!
Wednesday, June 28 at 10AM
Children and caregivers will be educated about water safety with a special, water-loving friend!
Wednesday, July 5 at 10AM
A caterpillar puppet and interactive story introduce children to the importance of eating a variety of healthy foods!
Wednesday, July 12 at 10AM
A special visitor will share dental health and hygiene tips for young children in this fun, engaging storytime with a special toothy guest!
Friday, July 19 at 10AM
Children ages 2-5 and their caregivers are invited to enjoy a Piggie and Gerald party. There will be crafts and dress-up stations along with a super special dance party with BUBBLES!
Tree Climbers
Elementary School
Tuesdays, June 6,13,20,27, July 11,18 at 4PM
Rising 1st-5th Grade; Tuesday is the best day to watch movies, make crafts, and have all sorts of summer fun together! Registration Required.
Friday, June 9th at 2PM
This special event is a unique way for children to express through painting what family means to them! Participants must be rising 3rd-5th grade and agree to feature their finished masterpiece in the ELCL Art Showcase hallway. Limited registration is in-person only at the children's reference desk starting May 30th at 9:30AM.
Challenge Island Kids: Roller Coaster Beach!
Monday, July 17th at 6PM
Pinellas County's Challenge Island visits ELCL with a special summer STEM program. Rising 3rd-5th graders will learn the laws of physics and create their own switchback gravity railway in this fun, interactive program. Registration Required.
Special Offsite Events
ELCL Night at the Ballpark
Saturday, June 17th at 5:30PM
Join us for Strike Out Cancer Night at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater for a family night out at the ball game - Threshers vs. Tampa Tarpons. Tickets are $25 each or a family four-pack for $80 and must be purchased IN PERSON at East Lake Community Library. Kids ages 4 and under are FREE. Buy tickets before they run out!
Friday, July 7th at 10:15AM
Meet us at Tarpon Aquarium for a special tour and behind-the-scenes summer library event! Exclusively for registered families with children ages 5-11. This also includes admission for the remainder of the day. Must register IN PERSON at the children's desk starting 6/16.
The GABIE Bus at Brooker Creek Preserve
Saturday, July 15th at 9:00AM
The GABIE, or Great American Bus Interactive Education, Bus is a field trip that ELCL is bringing to Brooker Creek Preserve to provide agriculture and STEM-related learning adventures for our community's elementary children! Register Here.
FAMILY EVENTS
Parents and kids work as a team and problem-solve to design a treehouse with special guests Challenge Island. This program is for families with children who are rising K-6th grade. Due to space constraints and the nature of the activities being presented younger children are not permitted. Registration required.
Through a unique blend of puppetry and word wizardry, internationally-acclaimed storyteller, Windell Campbell, invites the audience to participate as well as be transported into the story like they never have before! All ages are welcome, registration required.
This two-part family history program is a great way to get started and share the history of your family with other generations. We would love inter-generational teams- parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, etc. and beginning adults and interested students who are entering 4th grade and up are welcome. Please no younger children. Please be able to attend both sessions. registration required.
Rising K-5th graders are invited to join a group drum circle and create fun and unique beats under the direction of the renowned team at Giving Tree Music. Registration required.
Rising K-5th grade children are invited to join Teddy and Delilah, two adorable skunks who LOVE reading! After a short talk to dispel myths, old wives tales and general misinformation, children will be able to ask questions and pet the skunks. Registration required.
What's everyone buzzing about? Kids 5 and up and families are invited to meet some bees, make crafts, and taste honey at ELCL's Bee kind family program featuring the Pinellas Beekeeping Association. Registration required.
Game Night of Tampa Bay will be here to host classic TV game shows like Jeopardy, Family Feud, and more! Compete with your family against your neighbors and East Lake friends and test your trivia skills on topics like Marvel, Disney, and Sports. Drinks and snacks will be served. Registration is required. Suitable for rising first through 6th grade with parents and/or grandparents. Due to the nature of this activity, we regret that younger children are not permitted.
Bring your stuffy to a sleepover at ELCL! After a special storytime and coloring activity, each child will tuck their stuffy in before saying Good Night! Come back the next morning at 10AM for a light breakfast and hear all about the stuffy sleepover shenanigans. Registration required.
Dog Days
Summer Reading is over, but there is still fun to be had before school starts!
Family Movie
Wednesday, July 26th at 10AM
Join us in the community room for a movie and snacks! No registration. Just drop in!
The ever-popular Mr. Brad will be performing favorite kid songs for our library patrons and guests at Brooker Creek Preserve. Register here!