Summer is almost here, and so is the summer reading program: Plant a Seed, Read! This year’s program is all about gardening, farming, and plants.

The summer reading program begins Monday, June 1, and runs through Monday, August 31. Kids ages 3-18 can sign up any time June 1 or after all summer, so families can stop in to get started in June, July, or August — whenever it’s convenient.

The summer reading program is an activity kids do on their own time, working their way through the reading game sheets by reading or being read to, and by doing other fun activities. Children ages 11 and younger participate by playing the Plant a Seed, Read game.  Children earn “library loot,” the library’s play money, for reaching the end of the game board by doing activities like reading, attending library events, and being creative and active all summer long.  Each time a child turns in a completed game sheet, their name will also be put into a drawing for additional monthly prizes, as well as a prize drawing at the end of the summer.

Participants ages 12 and up will simply use a reading log sheet to keep track of the number of hours they spend reading. They will receive library loot when they have filled out their sheet.  These participants will also be entered in monthly prize drawings as well as an end of summer reading program drawing.

The goal of the summer reading program is to encourage kids to read all summer long, so that they keep up their reading skills and return to school in the fall ready to learn. Kids can do one reading sheet after another all summer until the end of August and continue earning prizes.

Fun activities are happening at the library in June and all summer:

Mondays all summer, June 8 through August 10, at 11 a.m.: Storytime. Bring the kids for stories and activities. No need to sign up.

Monday, June 8, 2:30 p.m.: Mosaic Seed Art Treasure Boxes class. Open to all ages. Space is limited: sign up by calling the library at or by stopping at the front desk. This class will be taught by Jen Anfinson.

Thursday, June 11, 6:00 p.m.: Tote Bag Block Printing class. Open to all ages. Space is limited: sign up by calling the library at 320-857-2550 or by stopping at the front desk. This class will be taught by Meredith Semel.

Friday, June 12, 2:00 p.m.: CLIMB Theatre presents Once Upon a Beanstalk, a short, interactive play for children. No need to sign up.

Wednesday, June 17, 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Board Game Day continues monthly on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month through the summer. Open to all ages.

Tuesday, June 23, 2:30 p.m: Storytime with Grove City 4-H

Tuesday, July 7, 4:00 p.m.: The Science Museum of Minnesota will present a program about dinosaurs.

Monday, July 13, 11:00 a.m.: The Meeker County Dairy Princesses and Ambassadors will be special guests at storytime.

Thursday, July 23, 3:00 p.m.: Carol Slinden will teach a painting class for all ages. Watch the library’s website and social media accounts to find out when registration opens.

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.

Visit the library’s story walk along Grove Lake Trail at special times this summer. When it’s set up, it will be announced on the library’s website and social media pages.

Other fun programs and take-home crafts will be happening throughout the summer, so stop in or visit the library’s website www.grovecity.lib.mn.us, Facebook page, or Instagram page for the latest updates.

The Grove City seed library is back for spring! Look for the binder at the front desk. This time of year, you can start some plants indoors: a great way to work with Minnesota’s short growing season and a good way to save money on garden plants.

Grove City Library has the weekly Litchfield Rail and the daily Minnesota Star Tribune available to read in the library.

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 Grove City 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 Grove City 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

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

Atwater-Grove City Book Club (ATGC Book Club) meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. The Atwater and Grove City libraries typically alternate hosting the program. To find out the title and the location, check with the library or check the monthly calendar. Copies may be checked out at the libraries.

One of the Crafternoon participants brought a craft for everyone this week!

Grove City Library will offer curbside service indefinitely. Call the library at the number on the sign, 320-857-2550, if you’d like your materials brought outside. Have your library card number ready.

Library staff can hand your bag of library materials to you on the sidewalk or bring it to your vehicle parked in front of the library. Let us know where you’d like us to bring it when you call.

Curbside service may be useful if you have mobility issues or a sleeping child in the car, or because of illness. Regardless of your reason, you are welcome to use the service!

by Beth Cronk, Meeker County Librarian

Here are some useful facts about the library in a Frequently Asked Questions format. I hope you learn a little something you didn’t know before!

How much does it cost to get a library card?
A library card is free! It’s part of the public services available to you as a resident of Minnesota. Once you have a library card, it’s also free to check out anything in the library collection, both ebooks and physical items. If you had a library card and it’s lost, there is a $3 charge for a replacement card.

How many books are in the Grove City Public Library?
The Grove City Library has about 6,900 books. It also has about 1,800 DVDs and about 300 CDs.

What if I want to check out something that the Grove City Library doesn’t have?
You can request things from other libraries in the Pioneerland Library System, which has a collection of about 620,000 physical items. If Pioneerland doesn’t have something, you can often request it from another library in Minnesota, using the MNLINK catalog. You can search both the Pioneerland and MNLINK catalogs online and request things yourself, or library staff can help you and place those requests.

Does it cost money to order things from other libraries?
No, the service is free to you as part of the interlibrary loan network in place in Minnesota. Our state is outstanding at providing access to library materials! Grove City Library gets two deliveries of those interlibrary loan materials each week.

How long can I keep a book?
Most books are loaned for four weeks. Some bestsellers are limited to just two weeks while they’re new; you’ll recognize these by the sticker on the spine that says “14 day loan.”

How long can I keep a DVD I’ve checked out?
DVDs are now loaned for two weeks.

Can I check out magazines?

Yes, magazines can be checked out for two weeks.

A book I checked out had a due date coming up soon, but now I found out that it’s not really due for a few more weeks. What happened?

Automatic renewals! This is a brand-new service our library system is offering. If no one has a hold on an item that you have checked out, and you haven’t renewed it before, the library’s computer system will automatically renew it for you once, three days before its due date. If you are signed up for email updates about your account, you’ll be notified by email when those renewals happen and when you have items that will be due soon.

I’m late returning a library item. How much will I be charged?

There is a charge of ten cents per day for late items, although there is a three-day grace period before those start being charged. Materials for children and teens no longer have late fees. If your item is a month overdue, you’ll get a bill for the replacement of that item. If that happens, once you return the item the charge will drop to a $3 late fee (or to $0 for materials from the kids’ section). If an item is damaged or lost, talk to library staff about how you can resolve that charge.

Can I use my library card in other libraries?

Yes, you can. Your Pioneerland library card will work in all libraries in the system. Our system stretches from Graceville to Glencoe and from Canby to Dassel. If you want to use a different library system in Minnesota, you can do that, too. Bring your card to them, and they will help you register as a reciprocal borrower in their system.

If you have more questions, stop in or call the library, and we’ll be happy to answer them.