The following article was submitted by Kirsten Smith, a Youth Services Associate at the Manitowoc Public Library.
Don’t miss this special program at Manitowoc Public Library!
After many false starts, Summer has finally made its return to the Lakeshore and with it arrives Manitowoc Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The program kicked off on June 12 and is open to ALL AGES! You are never too young or too old to enjoy a good book, so get involved! Simply download the Beanstack app and log the days you read. For EVERY 7 DAYS that you participate, you will get to spin our Prize Wheel! If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? A wonderful assortment of desirable prizes awaits! Find more information, including how to sign-up, at www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/summer-reading-program.
Kirsten Smith
In addition to our Summer Reading Program, our in-person events have returned and are easier than ever to discover! Just head over to our new website—www.manitowoclibrary.org/events. The new events calendar can be filtered based on intended audience or type of program. Every week we have fun, fantastic, FREE programs for kids of all ages. Look for Baby Storytime, Storytime on the Road, Family Activity Night, Tinker Lab, Book and a Book & a Movie at the Park, Battle of the Books, and more! The new website even boasts same-page online registration, so be sure to check it out.
One of our most exciting June guests is the Oneida Nation Museum. Representatives from the museum will share Oneida Storytelling with Manitowoc’s youth. Storytelling is an important component of the Oneida Nation’s culture. These oral traditions and legends have been passed from generation to generation, teaching Oneidas how to live, act, and care for one another, as well as how to manage during the unpredictable seasons.
The majority of these stories take place in the familiar setting of the woods, featuring woodland creatures. Other tales tell stories of little people, flying heads, and the thunders. More than entertainment, these stories teach children values, such as honesty and kindness.
The Oneida oral tradition is filled with wonderful tales from Elders, all of which knit generations together through stories. Whether scary, interesting, or amusing, these stories strengthen bonds between people in a community. From the seemingly mundane to the overly dramatic, storytellers have their own style, reflected in their words, the pace of their stories, and the drama they infuse in every description.
Families are invited to register via www.manitowoclibrary.org/events and join us on Monday, June 20, at 2 PM in the Balkansky Community Room to experience these ageless stories, as told by Oneida elders, and to make a hand-on craft, as well. Are you interested in this program, but unable to attend? Visit the Oneida Nation Legends & Lore webpage at https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/legendsandlore/.
Thanks to the Oneida Nation for contributing to this article.
