Stay Curious with Kim! Level Up Your Reading at Local Libraries… AND at Home!

Essential community elements like libraries, children’s museums, public parks and spaces, schools and other cultural assets all support great childhoods filled with learning, innovation and curiosity!

Our team at the Utica Children’s Museum LOVES libraries and we LOVE summer reading! 

We encourage children and families to visit one of our wonderful local libraries this summer (start with the list below!) and enjoy many special programs that give kids a chance to enhance their reading skills, meet other kids and even do a craft or fun activity. Friendly, book-loving librarians and volunteers can also suggest titles and topics for your child to enjoy! 

After you check out some fun books, there’s also ways to support your young reader at home AND get involved in the fun.

Kim Newton, our Education Liaison, shares some simple and impactful ideas to help support an engaging and motivating experience for you and your child before, during and after reading a book.

Before reading the book:

• Have your child read the title and do a “picture walk" to make a prediction of what the book might be about
• Explain the job of the author and the illustrator

While reading the book:

• Take turns with your child reading a page aloud
• Model how to read with expression! Use voices. Make faces and use sound effects. Use your hands to evoke emotion and action!
• Pause where appropriate and ask your child what they think will happen next

After reading the book:

• Who are the characters in the story?
• Where does this story take place?
• Does the character have a problem?
• How does the character solve the problem?
• Is the story fiction or non-fiction? How do you know?
• What was your favorite part of the story? Why?
• Did you like the story? Why or why not?

Reading with your child is a beloved activity that will provide many educational benefits such as:

• Improves vocabulary, spelling and communication skills
• Helps to develop better listening skills
• Enhances imagination and creativity 
• Provides mental stimulation
• Gives you a chance to spend time together learning, using your imagination or even being silly!
• Sets a daily routine (read every night before bedtime!)
• Contributes to family goals (how many books can you read together this summer?!)
• And much more!

We hope you have a great summer and make visiting libraries and reading as a family part of your summer break! If you have any books that you discover, please share! Kim, Meghan and Malik LOVE learning about new titles and you never know… you might see your favorite book at our NEW museum when we open this year!

List of Area Libraries

Check their website for up to date hours!

For additional Public Libraries please refer to the following website: midyork.overdrive.com

Utica Public Library
303 Genesee Street
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 735-2279
uticapubliclibrary.org

Dunham Public Library
76 Main Street
Whitesboro, NY 13492
(315) 736-9734
whitesborolibrary.org

New York Mills Public Library
399 Main Street
New York Mills, NY 13417
(315) 736-5391
newyorkmillslibrary.org

New Hartford Public Library
2 Library Lane
New Hartford, NY 13413
(315) 733-1535
newhartfordpubliclibrary.org

Kirkland Town Library
55 1/2 College Street
Clinton, NY 13323
(315) 853-2038
kirklandtownlibrary.org

Oriskany Public Library
621 Utica Street
Oriskany, NY 13424
(315) 736-2532
oriskanylibrary.org

Jervis Public Library
613 N Washington Street
Rome, NY 13440
(315) 336-4570
jervislibrary.org

Oneida Public Library
459 Main Street
Oneida, NY 13421
(315) 363-3050
oneidapubliclibrary.org

Canastota Public Library
102 W Center Street
Canastota, NY 13032
(315) 697-7030
canastotalibrary.org

Cazenovia Public Library
100 Albany Street
Cazenovia, NY 13035
(315) 655-9322
cazenoviapubliclibrary.org

Bridgewater Free Library
408 NY-8
Bridgewater, NY 13313
(315) 822-6475
Bridgewater.midyork.org