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Lots going on in July at the public library

A clothes swap, Toledo Zoo visit, watercolor workshop, just for starters

What's happening in July at the Bluffton Public Library? Lots of things, and here's the schedule.

Patrons wishing to participate may still sign up for the Reading Challenge. If you’re already signed up, just keep tracking what you read and attending our many events.

The library will continue accepting donations of teen or adult female clean clothing in good condition through July 7. Donations will be used for the Clothes Swap Party on July 13 at 6:30 p.m. Come find a new outfit at this ticketed event, with proceeds going to Crime Victim Services of Lima. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk for $7. Volunteers are needed to help set up on July 12 at noon. Email [email protected] with your questions or comments.

The library will close Tuesday, July 4. Due dates will be adjusted accordingly.

The Adult Book Discussion group will meet on July 5 at noon to discuss "Another Brooklyn," by Jacqueline Woodson. This monthly discussion group is always looking for new members. Registration is requested. Call 419-358-5016 or email [email protected] for more information. On Aug. 2, the group will discuss "We are Called to Rise," by Laura McBride.

Library Playgroup is on July 7, 14, and 28 at 10 a.m. Make a play date and the library will provide the space and toys.  (Registration is not required for these Playgroup sessions.)  Sensory Playtime is on July 21 at 10 a.m. Sensory play incorporates art experiences, discovery play, and gross motor activities to stimulate your child’s mind.

Have you been to a library program with Ayane Hida, Japanese Outreach Coordinator of the Mazza Museum? Ayane is headed back home, and so the library will host a Send Off Program for her on July 7 at 2 p.m. to thank her for all that she has done for the Bluffton community. Come make thank-you cards and listen to her reflect about her experience in the U.S. and with the Japanese Outreach Initiative. Registration is required.

All ages are welcome at the library’s Farmer’s Market Storytime on July 8 and 29 at 10 a.m. The market is in the Citizens National Bank parking lot.

Summer Storytime continues on July 10, 17, and 24 at 6:30 p.m. or July 11, 18, and 25 at 10 a.m. Registration is required and caregivers can register children via email, phone or in person.  Storytime is for preschool children ages 3-5 on either Monday nights or Tuesday mornings, and registration may be full.

Dulcimers @ the Library continues into July at their regular meeting time, Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Meetings will take place in the Youth Services program room during the summer.

The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium returns with “Endangered Species”  on July 11 at 1:30 p.m., and they will bring another group of animal friends..This program is for children going into grades K-5, and registration is required.

Babies Love Books is on July 13 and 27 at 10 a.m. Join us for a special time of stories, movement, and song for babies and toddlers (birth-3 years) at Bluffton Public Library. Activities are chosen to promote language and motor development.

A Teen Tie-Dye Workshop will be held on July 14 at 1pm. For this teen event, bring a light colored T-shirt or pillowcase and then walk away with your own work of art. Meet us in the lower level of the library. Please wear old clothes as staining is possible.

The Teen Nerf Challenge is July 17 at 2 p.m. in the lower level Richland room. Join us for target practice, obstacle building, a super Nerf challenge, and snacks. Advanced registration is required, and the activity is limited to teens grades 6-12. Participants must bring their own equipment and darts should be initialed.

Fix a Kitty, Fix a City: An Educational Skype Session with Angels for Animals is on July 19 at 11 a.m. Join us for an informative Skype session with professionals from Canfield, Ohio’s Angels for Animals. They will discuss the importance of spaying and neutering your pets and other pet safety tips. There will be time for a Q&A session at the end (Yes, there will be a camera and microphone so their staff can see and hear you through Skype.) Registration is required.

Developing Empathy is a program designed for children, tweens, and teens ages 7 and up, presented by Open Arms of Findlay, Ohio. This program is on July 20 at 1 p.m., and registration is required.

Jammin’ at the Library continues at 6 p.m. on July 10 and 24. This is a song-circle style jam session to which anyone is welcome to join. For more information, email [email protected]. The Jammin’ Instructional series will begin again in September.

A naturalist from Johnny Appleseed Metro Park will be at the library on July 21 at 1:30 p.m. to present Make the World a Better Place. This program is open to children ages 5 and up. Registration is required.

Watercolor Workshop continues on July 24 at 5:30 p.m. Jeanne Beutler will continue teaching on the lower level of the library. Advance registration is required (and the number of registrants is limited). Walk away with your own watercolor piece of art, complete with mat! There is a $10 supply fee at the door (cash only please).

The Gluten Free and Food Allergy Support Group meets July 24 at 6:30., in the Local History Room on the library’s main level.

The Ever Changing Weather Show with Robert Beer is on July 25 at 6:30 p.m. Bob Beer is a Weather Spotter who will share some of his experiences with weather, what weather signs to look out for, and more about how he became a weather spotter. This event is family friendly, and registration is required.

Teens are invited to a Cult Classics screening on July 26 at 1 pm.  What is a “cult classic?” ...something, "typically a movie or book, that is popular or fashionable among a particular group or section of society." Not mainstream. Think The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, Napoleon Dynamite, or The Princess Bride. Registration and permission slips are required.

The library will host a Sock Puppet Workshop for children grades K-5 on July 26 at 3 p.m. Join us for some STEAM fun! Registration is required.

The library will host Adulting 101: Basic Care Maintenance at Leiber Garage (for teens and adults) on July 27 at 3:30pm. Ever wonder what you should check in between visits to your mechanic? Meet at Lieber Garage. Registration is required.

Join Alter-Ego Comics at the library for a Comics Pizza Party. Tweens, teens, and adults can come on July 27 at 6:30 p.m. to the teen area on the main level of the library for some pizza and to learn from the experts what to look out for in comics and graphic novels in Fall of 2017. Register in advance so the library has enough pizza for everyone.

The Library Pool Party at the Community Pool is on July 31, and is a ticketed event open to those who have completed the Learn Together Family Challenge or the Summer Reading Challenge for their age group.  Be sure to pick up your ticket so you don’t miss the Summer Program finale at the Bluffton Pool.