What to Expect from the June 13 Crafternoon Kick-Off to Summer Reading

Text reads CRAFTERNOON in a water-color style font, above the summer reading logo for TCPL which has a multi-colored background. The image contains hexaflexagons, boondoggles, watercoler, paper hats, chalk, music and graphic novels incorporated into its background.

What to Expect from the June 13 Crafternoon Kick-Off to Summer Reading

Tompkins County Public Library has an afternoon filled with food, music, crafts, book giveaways and fun planned for the official launch of the “Color Our World” Summer Reading challenge and programming.

The Crafternoon will be held along the Avenue of the Friends inside your Library from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Additional activities are planned for the Thaler/Howell Programming Room. All library programming is free.

People of all ages are invited to join the fun in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room for food, music and a chalk wall. There will also be giveaway books for youth age groups and the Summer Reading challenge activity book, which serves as an entry form for youth raffle prizes!

Along the Avenue of the Friends, there will be stations for various age groups to flex their creativity through crafts.

  • Ages 0-5: Paper hat construction with dot colors.
  • Ages 5-11: Liquid watercolor art.
  • Ages 12 and up: Folding paper into hexaflexagons. What is a hexaflexagon? It’s a paper construction that can be folded, or “flexed” to reveal six different patterns, designs or colors! It’s almost like watching a magic trick once yours is complete!
  • Adults: Graphic novel giveaway, button making and boondoggles. A boondoggle is a knotting and plaiting craft using flat, plastic lace. It’s also known as scoubidou, gimp or lanyard.
  • Everyone – All ages: A library card design contest for the 25th Anniversary of TCPL’s move to the Green Street location. Learn more about the contest here: www.tcpl.org/library-card-design-contest-2025

There will also be reading challenge cards available for adults, where leaving a review of a book can serve as an entry to the raffle to win gift cards to local businesses. The reviews aren’t limited to words. They can be drawn as well. The goal is to let creativity take control, no matter your age. Summer reading is for everyone!

Other Color Our World programs in June include the beginning of an 8-week creative writing workshop for teens starting on June 10, 4-weeks of SingSong music classes beginning June 17, History’s a Drag: The History of Ithaca’s Drag Scene with Tilia Cordata on June 26 and the SPLAT Sumthin’ Paint Party on June 28.

Summer Reading programming at TCPL runs through August 23 and will include animal visits, a magic show, a music-filled reading pep rally, the return of the TCPL Tour Series, a puppet show, a figurine painting party and so much more. There is a complete guide available at www.tcpl.org/summer-reading which includes printable calendars for adult and youth programs.

Summer Reading at TCPL is made possible by the Bernard Carl and Shirley Rosen Library Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.