Fairfield library plans youth events in July

In the month of July, Fairfield Public Library will be offering several special events for junior high and high school youngsters through the “Reading Colors Your World” Summer Reading Program.

On Saturday, July 3, the library will hold a Tie-Dye Hangout with snacks and refreshments from 3-4 p.m. The library will provide everything needed for tie-dye including a plain white T-shirt for everyone who signs-up. Participants are welcome to bring any additional clothing items they would like to tie-dye.

Youth Services Librarian Alecs Mickunas remarked, “This event is really the kick-off party for a series of events that will culminate this fall when students are returning to school. In April of this year, our library received a $3,000 grant from the American Library Association to expand our services to teens. This summer, it’s my hope that we can begin developing trust with the teens who will help us decide how we will use this funding after school is back in session in September.”

The library asks that those interested in joining the tie-dye event pre-register with the library’s front desk.

Later in July, a Teen Book Club is forming to read Filipino-American author Randy Ribay’s coming of age novel “Patron Saints of Nothing.” Ribay’s novel centers on a protagonist named Jay who travels to the Philippines to learn about a cousin murdered as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Jason Reynolds, author of the Coretta Scott King Award for “Long Way Down,” calls Ribay, “A singular voice in the world of literature.”

Patron Saints of Nothing was a National Book Award Finalist and has been selected as the Iowa Library Association’s Teen All Iowa Reads selection for 2021. Participants can sign-up for the Teen Book Club by calling the library or visiting the front desk. Meetings will be on Mondays, July 12 and July 19, at 4 p.m., with all participants receiving a free copy of the book.

At the end of the month, the first new Teen Advisory Board meeting will be held in-person on Thursday, July 29, from 4-5 p.m. The Teen Advisory Board, or TAB, is an informal group of teens who meet with the Youth Services Department on the last Thursday of each month to share about literature, music, video games, and other interests. The recommendations they make to Mickunas will help inform purchases made for the department.

Attendance at TAB meetings may be included in teen’s public service hours, and plenty of other volunteer opportunities are possible through membership in the group.