Summer Reading 2014

Don't forget to sign up for our annual summer reading club! You have until July 12 to sign up and get all your reading done to be eligible for prizes. 

Don't know what to read? Check out these recommendations or ask us at the information desk!

Let us know what you're reading this summer in the comments or on any of our social media sites. 

End of Summer Reading Club 2013

We can't believe summer reading club is almost over! If you haven't turned in your reading logs or entered them online, make sure to do so by tomorrow (Saturday, July 20). If you didn't register online and we're closed, drop off your reading logs in the drive-thru book drop behind the library. Just make sure first and last names are legibly written on the logs.

We're still posting names, so don't worry yet if you don't see your children's names up on the board.

End of Summer Reading Club Parties:

Teen Summer Reading Wrap Up Party: Tuesday, July 23 from 4:30-6:30 pm

Ice Cream Social: Certificate & goody bag for those that completed the program. Ice cream for everyone :)

Children's Summer Reading Wrap Up Party: Wednesday, July 24

Pick up certificates and goody bags at either 3-4 pm or 5-6 pm

World Beat Drumming: Making Music Together with Karuna Richard Warren @ 4 pm 

Also, be sure to check out the amazing decorating job done by our staff!

Decorations by library staff

Window paintings by Lizzie Ochoa

TeenFest 2013

Our annual TeenFest event is only days away! Friday, June 28 is going to be filled with games, crafts, info booths, Free Hole Poetry Slam, artwork, refreshments and giveaways from 6-10 pm.

There's still time to register for the summer reading club, too. Register at TeenFest or online at this site.

Games:

• various board games
• Wii video games

Crafts:

• library card design contest
• stickers
• literary portraits
• hexagon explosion boxes
• chalk the walk

Info Booths:

• El Paso Community College
• Molina Healthcare
• Maximus
• Latinitas
• Safe Schools Texas
• YWCA

Summer Events June 17-22, 2013

Register for the summer reading club and keep track of your reading at elpasolibrarysr.evanced.info. Children, teens and adults can register with their library card number. Adults that register online will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad or a Kindle.

Here are the events for the week of June 17th:

Tuesday, June 18 from 4:30-6:30 pm
Tune in Tuesdays is part of the Teen Summer Reading Club. Listen to a half hour audiobook teaser while enjoying snacks. Play board and video games afterwards. This week's featured audiobook is Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross.

Wednesday, June 19 @ 4 pm
Our summer reading club children's programs are on Wednesdays at 4 pm. This week, the West Texas Regional Poison Center will teach us about the venomous critters of El Paso. All ages are welcome.

Thursday, June 20 @ 4:30 pm
Thursday Things is part of the teen summer reading club. Make a craft, play board or video games and enjoy snacks. This week we're making hexagon explosion boxes. Feel free to bring photos or other items you would like to decorate the box with.




Saturday, June 22 @ 2 pm
Don't forget to sign up before Friday for the Cook the Book Club potluck! Choose a recipe to make from this month's selection,The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, make it and bring it to Saturday's potluck.

Saturday, June 22 @ 3 pm
We'll be showing movies that were adapted from books as part of our adult summer reading club. All ages are welcome (movies are rated PG or PG-13). This week's movie is based on the novel One Shot by Lee Child.

Summer Events June 11-15, 2013

Summer Reading Club 2013 has begun! This year is especially exciting with the addition of the adult summer reading club and our new online registration. Visit elpasolibrarysr.evanced.info to register and keep track of your reading. Children, teens and adults can register with their library card number. Adults that register online will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad or a Kindle.

Here are the events for the week of June 10th:

Tuesday, June 11 from 4:30-6:30 pm
Tune in Tuesdays is part of the Teen Summer Reading Club. Listen to a half hour audiobook teaser while enjoying snacks. Play board and video games afterwards. This week's featured audiobook is John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

Wednesday, June 12 @ 4 pm
Our summer reading club children's programs will be on Wednesdays at 4 pm. This week, the Asombro Institute will visit us and teach us about desert plants. All ages are welcome.

Thursday, June 13 @ 4:30 pm
Thursday Things is part of the teen summer reading club. Make a craft, play board or video games and enjoy snacks. This week we'll be making seed bombs.

Saturday, June 15 @ 3 pm
We'll be showing movies that were adapted from books as part of our adult summer reading club. All ages are welcome (movies are rated PG or PG-13). This week's movie is based on the novel by Isaac Marion.

Cook the Book Club returns this month! Don't forget to sign up for the potluck on Saturday, June 22 at 2 pm. This month's featured cookbook is The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

Cook the Book Club: July/August

July

You would think that a cookbook of salads would make for one boring and unfulfilling potluck, but quite the opposite occurred. A medley of fresh and flavorful salads abounded that included leafy greens, legumes, pasta, potatoes, and fruit. You really need to check this cookbook out! Each recipe is accompanied by a beautiful photograph, and the recipes have creative and unlikely flavor combinations. Reserve a copy by clicking here. The only problem that our group encountered was the lengthy amount of preparation time that went into the recipes. Also, some ingredients were expensive, but were easily substituted without compromising any flavors.

Top, left to right: Cooking Light Big Book of Salads, BLT Bread Salad, Candied Walnut, Pear, & Leafy Green Salad.
Middle, left to right: Farmers' Market Potato Salad, Pasta Salad w/Green Beans, Pistachios, & Lemon Thyme, Grilled Peppers & Lentil Salad.
Bottom, left to right: Romano Bean Salad, Romaine Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette, Winter Jeweled Salad.

August

We're trying something different this month by allowing participants to vote for this month's featured cookbook. Stop by the information desk to peruse the three selected titles, then vote for your favorite one by August 6.

Get a Clue @ Your Library!

We can't believe that we're already halfway through our Summer Reading Club, but don't worry there's still time for children and teens to register! The last day to register is July 7, 2012 and the last day to turn in reading logs is July 14, 2012. After registering, participants must read (or be read to) a minimum of 8 books or for 8 hours.

There are also still plenty of fun programs left to attend!

For children of all ages on Saturdays @ 1:00 pm:
June 30 Desert Weeds Printmaking by Oscar Moya
July 7 Special storytime and meet & greet with Chet Gecko
July 14 EP Police Department K9 Unit Presentation
Closing parties with Randy Collins (magician):

• Wednesday, July 18 @ 5:00 pm: Awarding of certificates for last names A-M (begins at 4:30 pm & continues after the program).
• Saturday, July 21 @ 1:00 pm: Awarding of certificates for last names N-Z (begins at 12:30 pm & continues after the program).

For teens on Tuesdays (crafts) and Thursdays (video games) @ 4:30 pm:
July 3 Make Paper Lanterns
July 10 Make & Eat Onigiri (Japanese rice balls)
July 17 Make Shredded Paper Bowls
Thursday, July 26 @ 4:30 pm: Mad Hatter Tea Party (crafts & awards)

Don't forget to turn in your reading logs to help us reach our goal of 7,000 books read!

Cook the Book Club May/June

Last month's Cook the Book Club had a good variety of delicious dishes, and a few new faces! We even had a discussion about organic and raw foods. Did you know that you can order and pick up harvest boxes of regional organic produce from Skarsgard Farms? Check out their website for more info.

Join us on Saturday, June 23 at 2 pm for our next Cook the Club potluck. This month's featured cookbook is Nigella Kitchen. Don't forget to choose a recipe and sign up by Monday, June 18 at the Information Desk.

Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast

The Recipes (click each title to get the recipe):
Chickpea Snack, p. 48
Vegetable Quesadillas with Corn Relish
Kale Salad, p. 120
Pasta with Peas & Ricotta
Quick Navy Bean Stew, p. 97
Teriyaki Tofu
Stuffed Poblanos
Chicken with Tomatoes, Olives, & Cilantro
Creamy Lemon Squares, p. 346

Summer Reading Kickoff!

It isn't officially summer yet and for most, school hasn't let out, but the library is ready for its annual summer reading club program! Beginning this Saturday, children and teens can register for the summer reading program up until July 7. Infants on up to teenagers will be required to read (or be read to) a minimum of either 8 books or for 8 hours in order to get prizes, a certificate, and goodie bag. For more information, visit the library's website at elpasolibrary.org. You can also download the children's events brochure here. Don't forget, all events are free!

Saturday, June 2 @ 1 pm: Kickoff: Asombro Animal Adaptations Presentation
The children's summer reading kickoff event will feature a special science presentation from the Asombro Institute (formerly the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park). Learn about the interesting animals around us and the differences between physical and behavorial adaptations in animals.

Saturday, June 2 from 6-10 pm: TeenFest 2012
The teen's summer reading kickoff event will feature an after hours indoor/outdoor festival of art, games, crafts, info booths, and music. Local band Skunk will perform at 8 pm.