Need to Know:
June 16, Father's Day: Merrillville Branch Closed (Merrillville Branch is the only location with Sunday hours.)
Summer Reading 2024: Adventure Begins at Your Library
Starts in: It's Here!
June 1 - July 31
Summer Reading is here! Earn a raffle ticket for one of our grand prizes for every hour you spend reading from June 1 - July 31!
As always, Summer Reading is open to all ages. You can sign up online or at any LCPL location.
If you signed up online last year, simply log in using the same username and password and choose Enroll to get started with this year's program.
Happy reading!
See the Prizes Sign Up More Info
Read to Earn Prizes
Earn a raffle ticket for each hour you read! You can log your reading and submit tickets online, or visit your favorite branch for an old-fashioned paper tracker.
Each ticket can be submitted for a chance to win one of our fabulous Grand Prizes!
But that's not all - everyone can also earn the following prizes:
Kids and Teens Prizes:
1st hour of reading: A Railcats ticket + a discounted ticket to Deep River Waterpark*
2nd hour of reading: Beach ball
3rd hour of reading: Free book
4th hour of reading: Bear or bumblebee backpack (while supplies last)
*discounted waterpark tickets are for ages 6-18 only
Adult Prize:
At 4 hours of reading: 3 free books
FAQs:
Q: What if I read to someone else?
A: Both of you get credit for that reading time!
Q: Do audiobooks count?
A: Yes! Time spent listening to a book is time spent reading.
Q: I can't read for a whole hour at a time. Can I log smaller units?
A: Yes! You can log as little as 1 minute at a time (and no more than 900 minutes in a day).
Q: When do I find out if I won a Grand Prize?
A: Grand Prize winners will be contacted August 5.
Special Events
Wed, Jun 05, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart Community Center - 111 E Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana 46342
All ages are invited to join us for a wild animal show! Mark will bring an assortment of animals to teach us about his amazing critters! Event will be held at Hobart Community Center!This event is full. Join the wait list
Wed, Jun 05, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
All ages are invited to join us for a wild animal show! Mark will bring an assortment of animals into the library and teach us about his amazing critters! Register
Science Heroes: "Adventure of the Lost Treasure
"Wed, Jun 05, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Join us as we kick off our Summer Reading Program with the Science Heroes Interactive S.T.E.M. Show! Please register each child and adult that will be attending! Registration is now closed
Wed, Jun 05, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
All ages are invited to join us for a wild animal show! Mark will bring animals into the library and teach us about his amazing critters! Young children should be accompanied by an adult This event is full. Join the wait list
Teen Edible Landfill - Enviromobile Program
Wed, Jun 05, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Teens (11-17 years old) will learn about the important design and construction of a landfill by making their own edible version. Must register. Register
The Incredible Journey - With Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District
Thu, Jun 06, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
A hands-on look at the water cycle with the Lake County SWCD. Children will roll the dice to travel the world as a water molecule and make a bracelet to commemorate their journey. This event is full. Join the wait list
RESCHEDULED
The Noteables Choral group - Sponsored by the LCPL Foundation
NEW DATE Thursday, June 06, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville
Welcome to an evening of entertainment provided by the NWI Choral group, The Noteables. This special event is sponsored by the LCPL Foundation. Please register.
The Noteables Choral group - Sponsored by the LCPL Foundation
Thu, Jun 06, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Welcome to an evening of entertainment provided by the NWI Choral group, The Noteables. This special event is sponsored by the LCPL Foundation. Please register. Register
Mon, Jun 10, 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Teens (11-17 years old) test your skills at our Mario Kart Tournament. Players will compete with the library Nintendo Switch. Fun, snacks, prizes! Must register. Register
Wed, Jun 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Animal handler Mark will be bringing in a few critters from his animal collection. From feathered and furry friends to creepy crawlies, this program has something fun for the whole family! This event is full. Join the wait list
Wed, Jun 12, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville Branch - South Parking Lot
Drop by our parking lot any time during this two-hour window to see a variety of hardworking vehicles up close! Will there be fire trucks? Police cars? Something else? Come and see! Register
Wed, Jun 12, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
St. John Branch - Adult Area
Mark's Ark is bringing live animals to St. John Library! Join us for a 60 minute animal show. Registration Required. This event is full. Join the wait list
Wed, Jun 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Cedar Lake Branch - Main Area
Animal handler Mark will be bringing in a few critters from his animal collection. From feathered and furry friends to creepy crawlies, this program has something fun for the whole family! Register
Wed, Jun 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Teens lets sit around the campfire and tell scary stories. And what's a campfire without s'mores? We'll do this all indoors, so don't worry about the weather. Please register. Register
Animals & Habitats of Indiana Dunes
Thu, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Children in grades K-6 and their families are welcome to join an Indiana Dunes Park Ranger as they teach us about the animals and habitats of Indiana Dunes. Registration Required. Register
Livestream Author Talk with Freida McFadden - Bestselling Author of The Housemaid Series
Thu, Jun 13, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
Patrons are invited to join a livestream conversation with Freida McFadden about their novel, The Housemaid Is Watching, and writing psychological thrillers. The event will be shown on a large screen. Register
Virtual: Livestream Author Talk with Freida McFadden - Bestselling Author of The Housemaid Series
Thu, Jun 13, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Online
Join a livestream chat with Freida McFadden about her new novel The Housemaid Is Watching.
Going on a Bear Hunt: a Preschool Obstacle Course Adventure
Thu, Jun 20, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
Kids, ages 6 and under, are invited to stop in and "go on a bear hunt" through our pre-k-friendly obstacle course. Register
Thu, Jun 20, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Patrons are invited to watch a livestream conversation with Tiffany Jewell that highlights the inequities black and brown students face in education. Attendees will watch the event on a large screen. Register
Thu, Jun 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
In this program, children will learn about local wildlife and the humane treatment of animals with a visit from Humane Indiana and their wildlife ambassadors. Register
Wed, Jun 26, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
Teens (ages 12-18) are invited to compete in the library's obstacle course. Teens will test their speed, endurance, and problem solving skills. Registration is required. Register
Make and Take Print (Grades K-5) - Photography Without a Camera!
Wed, Jun 26, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Photographer Carol Estes will lead a workshop on making cyanotype prints - which is a 170 year old process that produces artistic prints in a greenish-blue tint. This event is full. Join the wait list
Careers of the Dunes National Lakeshore
Wed, Jun 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
An interactive program where children will learn about careers with a ranger from the Indiana Dunes National Park! Register
Make and Take Print (Grades K-5) - Photography Without a Camera!
Wed, Jun 26, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Photographer Carol Estes will lead a workshop on making cyanotype prints - which is a 170 year old process that produces artistic prints in a greenish-blue tint. This event is full. Join the wait list
Environmobile: Edible Landfill (Grades K-5)
Mon, Jul 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
Learn about landfills by making your own edible version. Educational and delicious! Supplies are limited, so please register. Allergies? Call 219-769-3541 x360 for info. Register Registration opens Monday, June 10 2024 at 9:00am
Tue, Jul 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A
School-age children are invited to learn about Indiana Dunes National Park from a real park ranger and their animal ambassador. Register
Grand Prize Raffle
Thank you to the Friends of LCPL for providing this year's awesome prizes! For each hour you read, you earn one raffle ticket to put toward one of these prizes. You can also earn smaller prizes for your first 4 hours of reading!
Prize List
#1: Soft Zone Building Foam Blocks
#2: Rocking Floor Hammock
#3: 3-in-1 EZ Fold Wagon with Canopy
#4: Nintendo Switch Lite
#5: SIMATE Electric Scooter for Kids
#6: $200 Urban Air Gift Cards
#7: Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones
#8: $200 GameStop Gift Card
#9: Amazon Fire Maz 11 Tablet
#10: $200 Visa Gift Card
#11: Core Equipment Six Person Tent
#12: National Parks Annual Pass
From the Stacks:
Staff Recommends:The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White
For thriller fans searching for a compelling plot with a brisk pace!
Have You Tried Weiss Financial Ratings?
Learn the basics of finance, like creating a budget, or branch out into more complex topics, like stocks. It's free with your library card!
You Asked, We Answered!
Question: The library doesn't have a book I'm looking for and I don't want to buy it. Is there anything you can do?
Answer: You bet! Full access cardholders can place Purchase/InterLibrary Loan Requests. The library will then attempt to borrow the book for you from another library or, in some cases, purchase it for our own collection.
If we borrow the book from another library, this is called an InterLibrary Loan or ILL. It's free for you, but it can take some time to arrive. We partner with libraries across the country to fill requests, so your item could be coming from California, Maine, or any state in between!
Here's how to place your purchase request. If you need help, feel free to ask any staff member!
Kids' Skill-Building Books:
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson
Skills:
• Print Awareness
• Phonological Awareness
• Narrative Skills
Practices:
• Talking
• Reading
• Singing
Extend the book by playing with cars!
Chirp! by Mary Murphy
Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Vocabulary
• Letter Knowledge
Practices:
• Writing
• Talking
Extend the book with a paper plate bird!
How does SINGING help my child get ready to read?
Lake County Public Library
1919 W 81st Ave
Merrillville, IN
(219) 769-3541