We will share A Universe of Stories as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing

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This space-themed Summer Reading adventure begins June 3 at all eight Mesa County Libraries locations.

• All ages
• Set your own reading goals
• Earn books and prizes
• Earn chances to win grand prizes
  • Kids’ telescopes
  • Space science kits
  • LitKits
  • Gift certificates
  • More!

As always, there’s no charge to participate in Summer Reading!

Why is Summer Reading so important for kids?

• Students who don’t read during the summer can lose up to two months of reading skills
• Reading two to three hours a week during the summer combats summer learning loss
• Reading is FUN. Fun is good for kids.

 

SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

Admission is free to all performances!

Cody Landstrom, magician

• 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Central Library, 443 N. 6th St., Grand Junction
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the Central Library
• 10 a.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Clifton Branch, 590 32 Road
• 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Central Library
• 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 7, at the Collbran Branch, 111 Main St.

Sarahndipity, local author leading an interactive story time and dance party

• 10 a.m. Friday, June 7, at the Orchard Mesa Branch, 230 Lynwood St.
• 2 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the Central Library
• 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Central Library
• 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 10, at the Fruita Branch, 324 N. Coulson St.
• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Clifton Branch

Embodying Rhythm, percussion musical performance

• 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, at the Palisade Branch, 119 W. Third St.
• 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the Fruita Branch
• 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the Clifton Branch
• 1 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Gateway Branch, 42700 Highway 141
• 11 a.m. Friday, June 14, at the De Beque Branch, 730 Minter Ave.

Rocky Mountain Puppets with Meghan Casey, a ventriloquist puppet show

• 10 a.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Clifton Branch
• 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Market on Main in downtown Grand Junction
• 10 a.m. Friday, July 12, at the Orchard Mesa Branch
• 2 p.m. Friday, July 12, at the Central Library
• 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Central Library

ADDITIONAL EVENTS

SPECIAL STORY TIME ABOUT THE SUN

“The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal”

• 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, in the Central Library Children’s Area
• 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Clifton Branch
• 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 17, at the Fruita Branch
• 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Palisade Branch
• 10 a.m. Friday, June 21, at the Orchard Mesa Branch

TEEN SUMMER KICKOFF PARTY

2-5 p.m. Friday, June 7

Central Library Community Room

Kick off summer right with karaoke, a selfie station, brain busters like a scavenger hunt and a guessing game of famous landmarks, and crafts such as Nebula Jars and Shrinky Dinks. Oh, and there will be food! Teens only, please.

SPACED-OUT TEEN TRIVIA

2-5 p.m. Thursday, June 20

Central Library Community Room

Teens will test their knowledge against one another on galactic pop culture such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, and more. Teens only, please.

TEEN SMASH BROS ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT

2-5 p.m. Friday, June 28

Central Library Community Room

Teens can choose their character and use their own controllers when they meet up to see who’s the best.

TEEN TRIVIA: ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A LIBRARIAN?

2 p.m. Thursday, July 18

Central Library Community Room

Teen contestants will play trivia with and against librarians. Categories will include geography, history, math, and astronomy. Teens only, please.

TEEN RETRO GAMING TOURNAMENT

2-5 p.m. Friday, July 26

Central Library Community Room

Teens square off over retro video games. The number of entrants is limited, and registration is required on the Event Calendar at mesacountylibraries.org. Teens only, please.

CANYON COUNTRY DISCOVERY CENTER PLANETARIUM

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15 (Viewings every 30 minutes)

Central Library

How many constellations are in the night sky? What kind of celestial objects are in space? Why do stars appear to move across the sky? Discover the answers to these questions and more while taking a tour of the night sky inside an inflatable planetarium with stunning visuals. This is a family event for all ages!

PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOASTRONOMY IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18

Central Library Community Room

Learn about the Gunsight Pass Archaeological Site, a prehistoric archaeoastronomy site recorded by Dominguez Archaeological Research Group archaeologists Brian O’Neill, Cheryl Harrison, and H. Sonny Shelton in 2013. The site consists of man-made stone rings with cross feature alignments likely used to predict solstices, equinoxes, and other astronomical events.

OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD MOVIES

The Central Library Community Room will host several movie screenings that are open to all ages at no charge.

• “Guardians of the Galaxy” (PG-13), 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26
• “Cowboys and Aliens” (PG-13), 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13
• “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” (PG), 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24

TELESCOPE CLINIC

4 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25

Central Library Community Room

The Western Slope Astronomy Club will host this clinic which focuses on the selection, operation, and maintenance of telescopes and their components. There will be an assortment of scopes and mounts on display in case you are thinking about buying a telescope of your own. The public is welcome to stop by and learn, or bring in your telescope and learn more about it from astronomy club members.

LIBRARY NIGHT AT THE GRAND JUNCTION ROCKIES

6:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 31

Suplizio Field, Lincoln Park, Grand Junction

(Regular game admission rates apply)

The Grand Junction Rockies take on the Ogden Raptors on a special evening honoring Mesa County Libraries. The first 500 fans get a special READ poster featuring Corky the Coyote!

END-OF-SUMMER CELEBRATION BLOCK PARTY

6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2

Central Library

Join us for an end-of-summer celebration of your reading accomplishments! Celebrations also are planned at each library branch location. Stay tuned! Details will be announced at a later date.