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Driftwood Public Library launches Summer Reading Program

New Youth Services Librarian Vickie Kromer works her magic

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

Libraries across the nation are happily welcoming back patrons, and few staff are more excited for the summer than Vickie Kromer, new youth services librarian at Lincoln City’s Driftwood Public Library.

“I’ve been having so much fun planning things for individuals and families,” she said. “We also have made some changes to our annual events like the summer reading program so that visitors can be more involved.”

For families with preschoolers, the library will have activities on Thursdays for the littles, but open to all ages, such as “Storytime,” a 30-minute, all-ages session with books and songs.

During “Book and a Craft” staff will read a non-fiction book and then kids will create a craft project on the theme of the book, like, on Tuesday, June 21, “Dinosaurs.” On Tuesday, June 14, and Tuesday, June 28, “Music and Movement” will provide kids with 30 minutes of music and dancing.

“We’re calling it ‘Get your wiggles out with Miss Vickie,’” Kromer said. “You get them moving, wear them out and send them home for a nap.” 

Tween and teen programs will also happen Thursdays.

“I’ve read on social media that a lot of libraries don’t have a lot of things for teens to do, so I wanted to create some fun activities for them,” Kromer said. “We’ll have a different topic every week. I just generally wanted to make a place where kids can come and hang out at the library and realize it can be fun.”

On Thursday, June 16, at “Rainbow Night” kids will gather to create rainbow marshmallows and rainbow crafts. The best rainbow-themed outfit wins a prize.

On Thursday, June 23, at the “S'mores Off,” kids will compete to create the ultimate S'more.

“We’ll be using marshmallow fluff so that we don’t start the library on fire,” Kromer said. “But it will still be a fun ‘camping in the library’ experience.”

Thursday, June 30, is Teen Paint Night.

“Set up a still life, bring a reference photo, or just freehand it,” Kromer said.

The library is also providing fun for the whole family.

“Every Wednesday we’ll have a family night program that’s open to all ages, with kids or without,” Kromer said. “Our first is June 22, where we will be creating summer nature journals from a variety of materials to keep track of all your outdoor adventures. All supplies will be provided. So far we are not requiring registration.”.

Take a journey through the Museum of Natural and Cultural History's DIY activities on Tuesday, June 28, for “Oregon's Dino-Story.”

“I learned a lot about dinosaurs in Oregon when I was working on setting this up,” Kromer said. “It turns out that during the time of the dinosaurs, most of the state was under water, so though we have plenty of fossils of marine creatures, dinosaur bones are rare.”

Saturdays, beginning on June 18, drop in for fun crafts, like making tote bags out of t-shirts or learning about animal tracks and creating some of your own.

On Wednesday, June 29, there are bears at the library! Create bear crafts and join a bear hunt at the library.

Registration began June 1 for the Driftwood Public Library Summer Reading program. The theme is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” All ages are welcome to participate, from infants to seniors.

Kromer said changes made to this year's program are meant to simplify the whole process and make it easier for visitors to participate.

“Instead of having single logs that they have to keep track of all summer, we’re going to have shorter logs, with different ones for kids, teens and adults,” she said. “They’ll color in an icon every time they read, are read to or even listen to an audiobook. They can even count it if they go to a community event.”

Completing the first log will score kids a Summer Reading t-shirt and adults a tote — after that, with each one turned in they get a button.

“We have about 40 designs,” Kromer said.” Then at the end of the summer we’ll have some really cool raffle prizes.”

The staff has three months to pick out the raffle prizes, but promise they will “be awesome.”

Driftwood Public Library is located on the second floor at 801 SW Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City. For more information and the full schedule of events, go to driftwoodlib.org or call 541-996-2277.