As the weather heats up and summer sets in, join us at Neuse Regional Libraries for the Adult Summer  Reading Program. Pleasure reading is a proven stress reliever, a great way to exercise your brain, and improve your concentration and ability to focus. The theme for this year’s program is Ocean of Possibilities. Participants will embark on under the sea adventures during this 8-week program through book discussions, cooking demonstrations, beach themed paint parties, and a presentation from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science about the inhabitants of the Prehistoric Seas.  

Registration begins July 1 at all Neuse Regional Libraries as well as online at neuselibrary.org; activity packets can be picked up at the time of registration, curbside, or accessed online for easy printing. . Filled with a variety of brain teasers, puzzles, and other fun projects, each completed activity can be turned in for a raffle ticket for entry into a drawing for one of the prize baskets. 

The Adult Summer Reading Program offers a variety of activities both in the libraries and at home for everyone to enjoy. This summer the following books will be discussed: The Brilliant Abyss: Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It by Helen Scales, The Wall by John Lanchester, and The Island of Sea Women  by Lisa See. Copies of these books will be available for check out at all Neuse Regional Libraries. Electronic copies are available in e-book and e-audio format through Libby (https://e-inc.overdrive.com/).  

The following book discussions will be held in July: The Brilliant Abyss: Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It by Helen Scales at the Greene County Public Library on Monday, July 18 at 3:30 pm and the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library on Thursday, July 28 at 6:30 pm; The Wall by John Lanchester at the

La Grange Public Library on Thursday, July 21 at 2:00 pm and the Pollocksville Public Library on Tuesday, July 26 at 1:30 pm. The following book discussions will be held in August: 

The Island of Sea Women  by Lisa See at the Greene County Public Library on Monday, August 15 at 3:30 pm; the La Grange Public Library on Thursday, August 18 at 2:00 pm; the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library on Thursday, August 25 at 6:30 pm; the Pollocksville Public Library on Tuesday, August 30 at 1:30 pm. 

Kelly Tyndall from the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension will be our special guest for cooking classes introducing the Mediterranean Way of eating. She will share a cool summer dish, and how to prepare it. Cooking classes will be held at the following locations: Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library (252.527.7066, ext. 134) on Wednesday, July 13 at 11:00 am; Pink Hill Public Library (252.568.3631) on Tuesday, July 19 at 1:00 pm; La Grange Public Library (252.566.3722) on Wednesday, August 10 at 11:00 am. Each program is limited to 15 participants. Please call your local library to reserve your seat.

Join us for a beach themed paint party led by a local artist at a library near you. Paint parties will be held at the following locations: Maysville Public Library (910.743.3796) on Saturday, July 16 at 3:00 pm; La Grange Public Library (252.566.3722) on Saturday, July 30 at 2:00 pm; Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library (252.527.7066, ext. 134) on Saturday, August 20 at 2:00 pm; Greene County Public Library (252.747.3437) on Saturday, August 27 at 2:00 pm. Each program is limited to 15 participants. Please call your local library to reserve your seat. 

The Adult Summer Reading Program wraps up with a visit from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Join us at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library on Tuesday, August 30 at 6:30 pm for their presentation of Prehistoric Seas: Mosasaurs, Pliosaurs, and Plesiosaurs, Oh My! Attendees will embark on a prehistoric maritime expedition, learn why plesiosaurs had such long necks, how one group of dinosaurs took to the waves, and what modern lizard has a surprisingly aquatic past. For more information, please call the Information Services Desk at 252.527.7066, ext. 134.  

Participants earn raffle tickets by attending programs and submitting completed activities from the activity pack. Raffle tickets can be used to enter the drawings for themed prize baskets that will be given away throughout the Neuse Regional Libraries. All activities must be turned in by September 2 and the drawings will be held September 9.  

We hope you will join us for these exciting new programs while enjoying the featured books.  If you have any questions about the Adult Summer Reading Program, please feel free to contact Amber Hargett at ahargett@neuselibrary.org, call the Information Services Desk at 252-527-7066, ext. 134, or contact your local library.