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Children's

Summer Reading
Events & Programs

Summer Reading Challenge

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June 7- August 1

Read books, attend programs, and win prizes! This summer everyone who completes their summer reading challenge will earn a prize!​

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June events open at 12am on May 27.

July events open at 12am on June 16.

August events open at 12am on July 14.​

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This year we're encouraging all participants to log their reading progress through Beanstack, our online platform. However, if you prefer the traditional paper version, download and print the PDF below!

Repeating Events

One Time Programs

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Repeating: Children

Repeating Events

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Kids Reading Map

Community Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday, July 1 to Thursday, July 31 | All ages

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Get ready to explore! Grab a scavenger hunt sheet at the Mars Area Public Library and start your journey around Mars, Valencia, and beyond! Each location on the list will display a poster showing the cover of a book. Just write down the correct title and author at each site, then return your completed list to the library for a prize!

Completion prize: One-time library fine forgiveness

Grand prize: One year of fine forgiveness ($100 value)

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Kids Yoga in the Park

Select Tuesdays at 10:30am | Ages 1-6 with caregiver

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Breathe, move, rest! Yoga, with age-appropriate poses, will be held outdoor in the beautiful fresh air. Helping kids focus on breathing, relaxation, and meditation, this is a wonderful way for children to stretch their bodies and calm their minds. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket.​​​

Located at Adams Township Park at the Rotary Pavilion, except for June 10, which will be held at the Old School House next to the Rotary Pavilion.

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Board Game Club

Saturday, June 21, July 19, August 23 at 10am | Ages vary

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Learn how to play a new game! Fun for the whole family!

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June 23: Apples to Apples (10+)

July 19: Dixit (10+)

August 23: Splendor (All ages)

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LEGO Club

Thursdays, June 5 and July 3 at 4pm | Ages 3-11

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Come join us for a one hour, drop in, free play LEGO building session. Children will have the opportunity to use our many bins of LEGOS to build their own creations. Creations can be on display in the Children's are for one month, until the next LEGO Club meeting. An optional monthly LEGO challenge will be available.

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Storywalk Week at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy

Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 15 and Monday, July 21 to Sunday, July 27 | All ages

 

​Combine physical activity and literacy while enjoying a stroll down the walking trail at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy in Valencia. Stop along the trail to read pages aloud from a children's picture book that has been turned into sign posts! Registration required.

Click here for directions.

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Pokemon Meetup

Wednesdays, June 25 and July 30 at 5pm  | Ages 10+

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Pokémon fanes unite! Hang out at the library this evening to talk, trade, and geek out. Bring your games, trading cards, and enthusiasm for the Pokémon phenomenon.

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Book Buddies: Weekly Home Projects

Mondays, from June 9 to July 28 | All ages

 

​Stop by the Children's Area any week to pick up an instruction sheet that combines a book with a craft focused on the color of the week. Craft makes use of items found around the house, and completed crafts can be brought in to be displayed in the Children's Area over the summer! No registration required.

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Color Me Crafty Hour

Wednesdays, from June 11 to July 30 at 2pm | All ages

 

​A drop in craft time focusing on the color of the week! No registration required.

June

June: Children
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Spin Art

Wednesday, June 4 at 5pm | All ages

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Spin art combines artistic creativity with a bit of machinery to create unique works of art! All materials will be provided.

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Drawn to Cartooning with Joe Wos

Friday, June 6 at 11am | All ages

 

​Join Pittsburgh Cartoonist Joe Wos for a lively hour of creativity and fun! Joe will kick things off with a 20-minute live cartooning performance, followed by a 40-minute hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to draw their own cartoon character. Along the way, students will pick up fun educational facts and artistic terms.

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Tie-Dye Kickoff

Saturday, June 7 at 10am | All ages

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Although the library building will be closed, that won't stop us from celebrating the Mars New Year and the start of the Summer Reading Program with a tie-dye palooza event in the library parking lot! Select a bandana or small drawstring bag (while supplies last) or bring your own cotton t-shirt to tie-dye using our outer space colors!

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Weather Works

Wednesday, June 11 at 10:30am | Ages 3-8 with caregiver

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A cool look at our weather outside with Pittsburgh's Action Weather Chief Meteorologist Mike Harvey. With a warm yellow sun, white fluffy clouds, blue clear skies, gray rainy days- come "color our world" with the weather!

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Mario-Kart Grand Prix

Wednesday, June 11 at 4:30pm | Ages 10+

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Start your engines! We'll be spending an evening enjoying the thrill of Mario-Kart on the Nintendo Switch. Choose your character, kart, and let the games begin!

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Summer Storytime

Friday, June 13 at 10am | All ages (geared toward Early Elementary)

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Kick off the lazy days of summer with a summertime themed storytime. PA State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba returns as our special guest reader, sharing all the feels, colors, and 'imagination runs free' time for kids.

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Cardboard Creations Build-a-thon

Tuesday, June 17 at 5pm | Ages 6-12

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Use your imagination and budding engineering skills to create artwork out of recycled materials!

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How Money Works

Tuesday, June 17 at 6pm | Ages 11+

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Help your child get an early jump on financial literacy for a lifetime of potential financial success with best-selling author and keynote speaker, Marta Sauret Greca. Begin building enhanced confidence in sound money making decisions early on! Topics include the basics of budgeting, saving vs spending, credit, investing, and giving back.

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Water Safety for Kids

Wednesday, June 18 at 11am | Ages 3-8 with caregiver

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Get the jump on water safety this year. Join us for a fun and interactive program that teaches kids to be safe in and around water. Presented by the British Swim School Pittsburgh.

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Movie Matinee: Moana 2

Friday, June 20 at 1pm | All ages

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Enjoy a free, animated "big screen" PG movie. Sit in chairs or on the floor, picnic style. Bring your own blanket and favorite snacks!

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Color Our World Magic Show

Saturday, June 21 at 11am | All ages

 

Combining a little magic and a lot of imagination, this magic show will be a good time for everyone! Magician Steve returns again this year, bringing some of his friends along who will help motivate and inspire kids to read more, use their imagination, and be creative. So get ready to create a magical and colorful world!

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Handwriting Help: Ages 4-5

Monday, June 23 at 10:30am | Ages 4-5

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A multisensory program, grouped by age, aimed to help kids master handwriting. Presented by Ivy Rehab for Kids.

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Egg Drop Experiment

Tuesday, June 24 at 10:30am | Ages 10+

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Form a group of two to three partners to construct an egg-protection device. All teams receive identical materials and then let the creative construction begin. Once complete, all teams receive an egg and we head outdoors to begin testing, starting with a two-foot drop and working our way higher and higher. Last egg standing wins!

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Teach Children to Save

Tuesday, June 24 at 2pm | Ages 5-10

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Help children learn good saving habits with this fun and engaging financial literacy program presented by NexTier Bank. Topics will include Needs vs Wants, Save vs Spend, and Basic Budgeting.

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Kittens Storytime

Wednesday, June 25 at 10:30am | All ages

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Join us for a storytime with kittens! Listen while petting cute, purring kittens, and learn how to properly care for our furry friends. Brought to you by the Butler County Humane Society.

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Firehouse Storytime

Thursday, June 26 at 10:30am | All ages

 

Visit the Adam Area Fire District firehouse, meet some real-life firefighter heroes and hear some fire engine stories as part of this fun, interactive, and educational storytime!

Click here for directions.

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Happy Teeth Storytime

Monday, June 30 at 10:30am  | Ages 3-5

 

Smile and say "Cheeeessee!" Enjoy a storytime (and songs) all about teeth! We'll also talk a little about dental hygiene- how best to care for your teeth and keep them healthy and bright! Brought to you by Kampas Orthodontists.

July

July: Children
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DIY Seed Bombs

Wednesday, July 2 at 5pm | All ages

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Seed bombs combine clay, soil, and flower seeds to create the perfect planting pods for your yard. This is a messy program, so dress accordingly!

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Handwriting Help: Ages 6-7

Monday, July 7 at 10:30am | Ages 6-7

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A multisensory program, grouped by age, aimed to help kids master handwriting. Presented by Ivy Rehab for Kids.

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Constellation Lanterns (Stars in a Jar)

Wednesday, July 9 at 5pm | Ages 10+

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Place stars in a jar with this inventive craft that turns a few common items into a lovely constellation lantern, perfect for providing a touch of the great night sky to any room!

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Learn about Local Wildlife

Friday, July 11 at 11am | All ages

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Come out to the Middlesex Township Community Park Pavilion to meet some bird and reptile education ambassadors and learn all about wildlife rehabilitation and our local ecosystems from our friends at Wildbird Recovery at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy!

Click here for directions

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Escape Room: Paul Revere's Ride

Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 at 10am | Ages 12-18

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Take on the challenge of this Revolutionary War themed escape room. Based around Paul Revere's historical midnight ride and the events leading up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, sift through the clues to unlock a box belonging to Samuel Adams and the American rebels before the British regulars arrive. Decipher encoded messages, piece together clues, and race against the clock!

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Kids Comics

Tuesday, July 15 at 5pm | Ages 6-12

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Create your own superhero and give them a comic strip story! In partnership with WQED's PBS Kids programs.

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Mars RR Storytime

Wednesday, July 16 at 10:30am (rain date of Thursday, July 24) | All ages

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All Aboard for a train-themed storytime with stories, songs, crafts, hands-on exhibits and train rides! The Mars Shortline RR Campus has been opened exclusively for Mars Library families, thanks to the generous support of the Mars Area History and Landmarks Society.

Click here for directions.

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Movie Matinee: Paw Patrol Air Rescue

Friday, July 18 at 1pm | All ages

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Enjoy a free, animated "big screen" PG movie. Sit in chairs or on the floor, picnic style. Bring your own blanket and favorite snacks!

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Handwriting Help: Ages 8-9

Monday, July 21 at 10:30am | Ages 8-9

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A multisensory program, grouped by age, aimed to help kids master handwriting. Presented by Ivy Rehab for Kids

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Glowtopia Storytime

Wednesday, July 23 at 11am | Ages 3-8

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A fun, interactive storytime with a glow-in-the-dark atmosphere. Songs, stories, and activities amped up with glow sticks under blacklight. It is recommended that children wear either white or neon shirts!

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Paper Plane Aviation Workshop

Wednesday July 23 at 1pm | Ages 10+

 

​Discover the principles of aviation at the Middlesex Township Community Park when we try out a variety of paper plane designs and test them for accuracy, distance, and air-time with our airplane performance tracker! All materials provided.

Click here for directions.

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Kids Clothes

Children's Clothing Swap

Friday, July 25 to Saturday, July 26 | All ages

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Donate your children's clothes to the library between June 10 and July 21, then come back and find something new! You don't have to donate to participate! Leftover clothes will be donated to Inspired Hearts and Hands.

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Stuffie Storytime and Overnight

Tuesday, July 29 at 5:30pm (Stuffie pick-up Wednesday, July 30 from 12-7pm) | All ages

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Bring your favorite stuffie for a special evening storytime. Stuffies will then spend the night in the library! What special adventures will these stuffies have when nobody is around?

August: Children

August

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Foam Party Finale

Friday, August 1 at 4pm | All ages

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Join us as we celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program at the Adams Township Community Park Rotary Pavilion with snacks, activities, and a Foam Party for some good "clean" fun! Bring towels and wear comfortable clothing that can get wet!

Click here for directions.

The mission of Mars Area Public Library is to inform, educate, entertain, and culturally enrich by providing books,​ library materials, facilities, and professional
services for all individuals in our area.

Hours

 

Mon-Thurs: 10am-7pm
 

Friday: 10am-3pm
 

Saturday: 9am-4pm (10am-2pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day)

Contact

 

724-625-9048
 

jcallihan@bcfls.org

 

107 Grand Avenue/P.O. Box 415

Mars, PA 16046

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  • HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
    2025 HOLIDAYS Wednesday, January 1 - New Year's Day Observed Monday, January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, February 17 – Presidents Day Friday, February 28- Staff Training Friday, April 18 – Good Friday Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day Thursday, June 19 - Juneteenth Friday, July 4 – Independence Day Monday, September 1 – Labor Day Monday, October 13 - Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day Friday, November 28 - Black Friday Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day Wednesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve 2025 IN-SERVICE DAYS Monday, February 17 - Presidents’ Day Friday, February 28- Staff Training Monday, October 13 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day

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