Fall is almost here, bringing a change in the weather, families’ schedules, and the activities at the library. The summer reading program is done. It was fun seeing the kids coming in all summer to turn in their reading sheets and claim their choice of prizes. Each sheet completed showed hours of reading and other constructive summer activities.

Thank you to the businesses that donated to this year’s summer reading program:

DQ – Hutchinson
Kwik Trip
Culver’s – Hutchinson
Arby’s – Hutchinson
Pizza Hut – Litchfield
McDonald’s – Litchfield
Domino’s Pizza – Hutchinson
Qdoba – Hutchinson
Ramsey Printing

Their generous donations made the summer reading program so fun for local kids!

Tiny Tykes Storytime will continue into the fall on Monday mornings at 10:30. This program is geared to babies, toddlers, and children ages 5 and under. There’s no need to sign up, and it’s free to attend. Little ones must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver.

Pokémon Trading Card Game will move to Thursday afternoons, 4:00-5:30 p.m., beginning September 10. This program will continue weekly through December. Kids ages 7-18 are invited to play Pokémon with the library’s cards or their own. New players are always welcome to come and learn how to play. Children younger than age 8 must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver.

A monthly craft program will be offered on the 3^rd Saturday of each month, September through December. This free class will be held at 10:30 a.m. It will be open to nearly all ages, age 8 to adult. Sign-up will be required for each session and will open a few weeks ahead of time. Call the library at 320-440-1012 or stop at the front desk to register. The September 19 project will be mandala windchimes.

A Take-Home Tuesday craft for kids will be offered beginning September 8, while supplies last. One per child, please. Look for this to be offered on the 2^nd Tuesday of the month for the rest of the year.

Pioneerland libraries will be closed on Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. The libraries will be open regular hours that Saturday.

Cosmos Library’s hours are Mondays 10-5, Tuesdays 2-5, Thursdays 2-6, Fridays 2-5, and Saturdays 10-1. Find us in city hall, at www.cosmos.lib.mn.us, or at 320-440-1012. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.

The summer reading program for children and teens continues until the last day of this month: Plant a Seed, Read! Kids ages 3-18 can sign up any time all summer, so families can still stop in to sign up. Remember to bring in your completed reading logs by August 31 to get “library loot” and use that to buy small prizes. New prizes have continued to be added to the selection. Kids can do one reading sheet after another and keep earning prizes.

The summer reading challenge for adult continues until August 15. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, pick up a reading sheet at the library and read 5 things from a long list of options. Bring in your completed sheet by August 15 for a choice of a small prize. Make sure to check the back of the sheet for all of your reading choices. You can read the core documents of the U.S., read Revolutionary War era history or historical fiction, or read about American history and culture across the whole 250 years and more. The semiquincentennial is a great occasion to learn more about all of America, all year long

Fun activities are happening at the library in August:

Thursday, August 6, 3:00 pm: Tree-themed storytime with a naturalist from Sibley State Park.

Friday, August 7, 2:00 pm: CLIMB Theatre presents Once Upon a Beanstalk, a short, interactive play for children.

Thursday, August 13, 3:00-4:00 pm: Pokémon Trading Post. Kids and teens can trade their Pokémon cards with other players. No sales.

The button maker will be back for the week of August 10 through 15, all day, for Pokémon buttons.

Saturday, August 22, 10:30 am: Saturday Storytime.

Mondays all summer at 10:30 a.m.: Tiny Tykes Storytime. Bring the kids ages 0-5 for a short program with stories and songs. No need to sign up.

Mondays all summer, 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For kids age 7 and up. No need to sign up.

Special take-home craft kits will be available starting on the first three Saturdays of August; these are for adults and kids. Regular take-home craft kits for kids and teens will be available on the first three Tuesdays of August. Available while supplies last.

None of the programs offered in August require signing up in advance. As always, children ages 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver who will stay with them. And as always, library programs are free.

Cosmos Library’s hours are Mondays 10-5, Tuesdays 2-5, Thursdays 2-6, Fridays 2-5, and Saturdays 10-1. Find us in city hall, at www.cosmos.lib.mn.us, or at 320-440-1012. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.

The summer reading program for children and teens continues this month: Plant a Seed, Read! The program runs through Monday, August 31. Kids ages 3-18 can sign up any time all summer, so families can stop in to get started this month or next — whenever it’s convenient. Bring in your completed reading logs to get “library loot” and use that to buy small prizes. New prizes have continued to be added to the selection. Kids can do one reading sheet after another all summer until late August and keep earning prizes.

For the first time, the Cosmos Library is offering a summer reading challenge for adults. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, pick up a reading sheet at the library and read 5 things from a long list of options. Bring in your completed sheet by August 15 for a small prize. Make sure to check the back of the sheet for all of your reading choices. You can read the core documents of the U.S., read Revolutionary War era history or historical fiction, or read about American history and culture across the whole 250 years and more. The semiquincentennial is a great occasion to learn more about all of America, not only its founding or government.

Fun activities are happening at the library in July:

• Mondays all summer at 10:30 a.m.: Tiny Tykes Storytime. Bring the kids ages 0-5 for a short program with stories and songs. No need to sign up.
• Mondays all summer, 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For kids age 7 and up. No need to sign up.
• Take-Home Tuesdays on the first 3 Tuesdays in July: Stop in to pick up a kids’ craft kit beginning on Tuesday, while supplies last. On 7/7 the project will be for teens: a U.S.A sand art bottle craft. On 7/14, it will be for children: a s’more campfire lacing craft. And on 7/21 it will be a paper strip ice cream craft. One per child, please.
• Thursday, July 9, 2:30 p.m.: The Science Museum of Minnesota presents Dinosaurs! Kids of all ages are welcome to attend this free educational presentation in the community room. No need to sign up.
• Friday, June 17, 5:00-8:00 p.m.: Space Festival mini golf. Drop in anytime during the program to play free mini golf in the community room and library. For all ages. No need to sign up.
• Saturday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.: Saturday Storytime. Bring the kids to the library’s monthly storytime on the 3^rd Saturday of the month all summer for stories and an activity. No need to sign up.
• Tuesday, July 21, 3:00 p.m.: Summer Splash Goldfish Painting Workshop. Artist Carol Slinden will teach this free painting class for all ages. All supplies are provided. Space is limited, so call the library at 320-440-1012 or stop at the front desk to sign up.
• Saturday, July 25, 10:30 a.m.: Garden wand class. In this free program, participants will assemble a beaded stake for their garden. All supplies are provided. For ages 8 through adult. Space is limited, so call the library at 320-440-1012 or stop at the desk to sign up.

As always, children ages 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver who will stay with them. And as always, library programs are free.

Pioneerland libraries will be closed on Saturday, July 4^th for Independence Day. Cosmos Library’s hours are Mondays 10-5, Tuesdays 2-5, Thursdays 2-6, Fridays 2-5, and Saturdays 10-1. Find us in city hall, at www.cosmos.lib.mn.us, or at 320-440-1012. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.

Bring the kids to Saturday Storytime this summer! At 10:30 a.m. on the 3rd Saturday of the month, we’ll hold a storytime for kids in the library.

Free to attend. No need to sign up. Children age 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver. Caregivers are encouraged to participate along with their children.

Dates:

• June 20: special guests the Danielson Hustlers 4-H Club
• July 18
• August 15

Pokémon Trading Card Game time is moving to Mondays this summer! Beginning June 1, this program will be offered Mondays through August 31, 3:00-4:30 p.m. No Pokémon June 29.

Open to kids ages 7-18. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver. Caregivers are welcome to stay with kids at any time.

Never played Pokémon before? We can teach you! No cards? No problem. The library has all the cards needed to play. Want to bring your own cards? That’s okay, too.

No need to sign up or to attend every week. Free!

Pioneerland Library System protects your privacy according to state law and library system policy.

Per the library system’s Confidentiality of Patron Records policy:

The Library has the responsibility to protect each individual library user’s right to confidentiality and privacy relating to information sought or received and materials consulted, borrowed, or acquired.

All patron records are confidential. No library employee shall reveal the identity of a borrower to any requestor or make known in any manner any information contained in patron records.

The confidential information in these records includes, but is not limited to:

• Subjects researched
• Materials consulted
• Individual titles borrowed
• All information on the patron record
• The presence of a patron in library facilities or space

Check out a free state park pass at the Cosmos Public Library! These seven-day passes cover the vehicle entrance fee to any state park or recreation area in Minnesota, making it easy to spend time outdoors and see nature at any time of year. To check out a pass, visit the Cosmos Library and ask a staff member. If one is available in the library system, you’ll be issued a 7-day vehicle pass, no library card needed. Passes cannot be reserved in advance. A limited number of passes are available each week in Pioneerland Library System.

Your state park pass should be clearly displayed on your vehicle’s dashboard. If you would like to camp, you will need to make and pay for reservations separately. When you are done exploring with your pass, just recycle it!

State park passes are provided through the Minnesota State Parks Library Program, a collaboration between our library and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Learn more about the state parks library program at mndnr.gov/librarypass