Did you know that July is National Ice Cream month? Celebrate here at the library on Monday July 23 by making your own ice cream. Kids going into grades 1st through 4th and their caregivers are welcome join us. Please register for one time slot, beginning Tuesday, June 26th. Rain location will be in the Community Room. Program times are as follows:

• 11:00 AM 
• 2:00 PM 
• 4:00 PM 

Tweens, get ready to get creative. Join us July 26, 2012 at 2:00 PM for our Cloth Painting Program. You supply the paintable item, for example, shirts, canvas shoes, bags, socks, pillowcases, etc., and we will supply the paint and other fun things to decorate your creations with. Registration begins June 26, 2012 and space is limited. See you there!

Are you in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade and looking for ways to fulfill your community service requirement for school? Join us and work as our Tween Service Corps. You can earn one hour of your community service time and also have fun helping out in the Children's Department.Our next service date will be July 21 at 2:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you!

A night to remember by Walter Lord

Shadow of the Titanic: the extraordinary stories of those who survived by Andrew Wilson

The other side of the night: the Carpathia, the California and the night the Titanic was lost by Daniel Allen Butler

On Friday, June 29 starting at 10:00 AM, join us in the Community Room to learn how to create a number of awesome paper airplanes, but it doesn't stop there. The kind folks at the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology (MIAT) will discuss how and why we fly and fire up one of their real jet engines in the west side parking lot. How cool is that? This program is recommended for patrons aged eight and up. In case of rain, the program will remain in the Community Room.

[Paper Airplanes by Stuck in Costoms is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Join us Friday, July 27, 2:00-3:00 PM. Space station, shuttle, terraforming colony. Help us build the best in the galaxy and later we’ll catalogue your entries online for future scientists — complete with your descriptions. Registration required.

Remember these fun hair accessories? These adorable barrettes were once a fashion craze and are enjoying a return to popularity. Join us Saturday July 14 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the Purple Room for a flashback craft program. All ages are welcome, but registration is required.

July 18, 6:30-8:30 PM at the library. All ages. Scrabble on our insane 10x10-foot board.

From evil masterminds to enthusiastic minions, wicked plots and the ordinary people who fight against them, conquer one of these reads this summer.

Cold cereal by Adam Rex

Despicable me [videodisc] by Universal Pictures presents a Chris Meledandri production

Whales on stilts by M.T. Anderson; illustrations by Kurt Cyrus

Movie Challenge 1: watch two (or more) movies/tv shows involving… Robin Hood. There have been a gazillion remakes. Make a comment to this post ranking what you watched to earn a secret badge besides your Curtains Up (see comment example below).

The story of Robin Hood [videodisc] by Walt Disney

Robin Hood [videodisc]: men in tights by Twentieth Century Fox ; a Brooksfilms production ; in association with Gaumont

The adventures of Robin Hood [videodisc] by a First National picture

Wishbone [videodisc]: Paw prints of thieves by written by Adam Felber ; produced by Betty Buckley ; directed by Ben Vaughn

Did you know that June is the Great Outdoors Month. Blue skies, cool breezes and blue lakes abound in Michigan, so take advantage of this and take a long walk, ride a bike, or go swimming or golfing. The opportunities are endless. Share your experience on CYS and earn an appropriate badge.

Tim Heller, avid chess player, hosts informal open play on the second and fourth Sundays of most months in the Community Room while providing instruction and pointers on improving your game. Beginners are welcome. The fourth Sunday of each month also includes a tournament by “Library Chess Clubs.” For tournament information and registration, please email clubchess@wowway.com

Maia and Alex Shibutani are ice dancers with dreams of attending the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In 2011, the Shibutanis were the first ice dance team in U.S. history to win a medal (bronze) at the World Championships in their debut senior season. They also took the silver at the U.S. championships and at Four Continents Championships behind their training mates, 2010 Olympic Silver Medalists, Meryl Davis and Charlie White. While we are all still steeped in the London Olympics, hear what dedication and drive are needed to aspire to the Olympics and perform at championship levels from brother and sister team, Maia (18) and Alex (21) on Thursday, August 9 at 7:00 PM.

Geek n.

1. An unfashionable or socially inept person.
2. A person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest: "A computer geek".

We have lots of books in our Children's Library starring geeks. And quite often, they are the heros. Check one out today.

Notes from an accidental band geek by Erin Dionne

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley; illustrations by Ethen Beavers

The Children's Library has lots of nonfiction on your favorite geeky subjects. Here are some fun ones to get you started.

The real spy's guide to becoming a spy by Peter Earnest and Suzanne Harper, in association with the Spy Museum

The big book of spy stuff by Bart King; illustrations by Russell Miller

The dangerous book for boys by Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden