Monday, June 21 – Saturday, July 31

From the jungle to the farm, the hot safari to the cold arctic; animals and stories from around the globe will be featured throughout Otsego District Library’s Summer Reading Program. Each week we will focus on different animals from various habitats including animals from the farm, safari, desert, arctic, forest, and jungle.

Come to sign up at the library anytime during the week of June 21 – 26 and you will get a prize! We will have a sign-up table in the library, but you can also sign up through our curbside window. Sign-ups will continue through July 10. Once you reach your reading goal, bring in your finisher slips to pick up a bag filled with a book, prizes, and coupons. Then you can enter to hopefully win one of our grand prizes! Finisher bags will be available for pick up beginning the week of July 12.

ANIMALTASTIC GRAND PRIZES
Summer Reading Program finishers (kids and teens) can enter to possibly win one of our Animaltastic Grand Prizes:
FANTASTIC FELIX THE FOX – $300 Meijer Gift Card and “Felix the Fox” Stuffed Animal
SUPER SLOTH – $200 Meijer Gift Card and Sloth Stuffed Animal
PLAYFUL PENGUIN – John Ball Park Zoo One-Year Family Membership and Penguin Stuffed Animal
GINORMOUS GIRAFFE – Binder Park Zoo One-Year Family Membership and Giraffe Stuffed Animal

ANIMAL GRAND PRIZE PICKS
When readers complete their reading goals, they can put their animal-themed “Grand Prize Pick” slip in the bucket by the prize they hope to win. Each comes with a small stuffed animal!
LION – Safari Lego Sets
ELEPHANT – Jungle Lego Friends Sets
COW – Farm Animal Toy Barn
MONKEY – Set of Animal Games
PANDA – Duplo Animal Train and $50 Meijer Gift Card
ZEBRA – Jungle Animal Play Mat and $50 Meijer Gift Card
CROCODILE – STEM Kit and $50 Meijer Gift Card
RACCOON – Art Kits and $50 Meijer Gift Card

Grand Prize winners are not eligible to win the Grand Prize Picks. Check the Teen/Tween Summer Reading Program page for Teen/Tween Grand Prize Picks!

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS!
Meijer of Plainwell – Gift Cards
John Ball Zoo and Binder Park Zoo – Family Zoo Memberships
Friends of the Library – Finisher Bag Items
Local Area Businesses – Food Donations and Animal Tracks Participation

Monday, June 21 – Saturday, July 31
Middle School – High School

Get ready to trek through the jungle with the Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program. This program designed specifically for teens and tweens will make you want to read as fast as a cheetah!
Teens and tweens will read books and complete challenges to enter the Animaltastic Grand Prize drawings – four books and one challenge a week is all it takes to be eligible for the Animaltastic Grand Prize Drawing and the Grand Prize Picks. Sign up at the library anytime during the week of June 21-26 and you will get a prize! We will have a sign-up table in the library, but you can also sign up through our curbside window. Sign-ups will continue through July 10.

Once you reach your reading goal, bring in your finisher slips to pick up a bag filled with a book, prizes, and coupons. Then you can enter to hopefully win one of our grand prizes! Finisher bags will be available for pick up beginning the week of July 12.

ANIMALTASTIC GRAND PRIZES
All Summer Reading Program finishers (teens/tweens/kids) can enter to possibly win one of our Animaltastic Grand Prizes:

FANTASTIC FELIX THE FOX – $300 Meijer Gift Card and “Felix the Fox” Stuffed Animal
SUPER SLOTH – $200 Meijer Gift Card and Sloth Stuffed Animal
PLAYFUL PENGUIN – John Ball Park Zoo One-Year Family Membership and Penguin Stuffed Animal
GINORMOUS GIRAFFE – Binder Park Zoo One-Year Family Membership and Giraffe Stuffed Animal

TEEN/TWEEN ANIMALTASTIC GRAND PRIZE PICKS
When teens/tweens complete their reading goals, they can put their animal-themed “Grand Prize Pick” slip in the bucket by the prize they hope to win.

LION – Lion Longboard with Accessories (Helmet/Strap/T-Wrench)
FOX – 104 Piece Professional Art Set and Animal Coloring Book
FIRE STICK – Fire TV Stick 4K with Snack Box and $50 Meijer Gift Card
KITTEN – Exploding Kittens Game with Imploding Kittens Expansion Pack and $50 Meijer Gift Card

Grand Prize winners are not eligible to win the Grand Prize Picks Check the Children’s Summer Reading Program page for Children’s Grand Prize Picks!

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS!
Meijer of Plainwell – Gift Cards
John Ball Zoo and Binder Park Zoo – Family Zoo Memberships
Friends of the Library – Finisher Bag Items
Local Area Businesses – Food Donations and Animal Tracks Participation

July 1 – 31

The library has partnered with Otsego Main Street and the downtown Otsego area to give you an interactive activity. During the whole month of July, downtown area businesses and local community centers will have paw prints leading up to the animal that it matches.

Pick up a list at the library to find different animals in and around the downtown area. See if you can figure out what the animal will be that matches the paw prints. Once you find all of the animals, return your completed sheet to the library for a special prize!

June 22 – July 27
Tuesdays (ONLINE)
Find out what animals have in common with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math!

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for virtual events.

June 23 – July 28
Wednesdays (ONLINE)
Let’s get excited for stories and songs about animals!

June 24 – July 29
Thursdays (ONLINE)

The first week’s video will feature Miss Andrea’s farm. Come along with Miss Diane for the next five weeks for a visit to the John Ball Park Zoo!

A different animal will be featured from the following habitats: safari, desert, arctic, forest, and jungle. A zoo educator will provide many incredible facts about some amazing animals!

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for virtual events.

June 29 – July 29
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM – 12 PM

Note: If it rains, this event will be cancelled for that day.

Come to the library lawn either day for animal interactive explorations! These activities will be spaced out on the library property to provide for social distancing. The activities will only last 15-30 minutes, so drop in anytime during the designated time for the following fun activities:

June 29 and July 1
Safari Scavenger Hunt and Yoga

July 6 and July 8
Reptile and Desert Animal Sidewalk Chalk

July 13 and July 15
Arctic Bubbles

July 20 and July 22
Forest Animal Balloons

July 27 and July 29
Jungle Animal Paintings

Fridays at 4 PM (Note: If it rains, this event will be cancelled for that day)

Hang out with your friends outside the library for weekly activities and snacks. These activities will be spaced out on the library property to provide for social distancing.

Book Club
July 2
Chat about what you are currently reading or your favorite book.

Giant Game Day
July 9
Play oversized yard games

Animal Yoga Day
July 16
Learn fun yoga poses while we enjoy the sunshine.

Sidewalk Chalk Design
July 23
Create an amazing design with chalk

Wild Trivia
July 30
Test your knowledge of books, animals, and fun library related shenanigans.

The Otsego District Library currently has ONE open position.

Library Clerk – Job Posting and Description

Employment Application

** Employment applications and resumes are only accepted when the library has an open position posted. 

The Otsego District Library serves 14,230 residents with a budget of $518,000 and a staff of fifteen. In 2009, a beautiful new 18,000 square foot, LEED-Silver Level building opened for service to the community. A dedicated library millage voted in perpetuity provides 75% of the library’s operating revenue. The library has a staff known for its commitment to outstanding customer service and a supportive board that is responsive to the community. Otsego is located in beautiful southwest Michigan, fifteen miles north of Kalamazoo, thirty miles south of Grand Rapids, and only forty minutes from Lake Michigan. The Otsego area offers affordable living, excellent schools, convenient shopping, and an outstanding quality of life.

Applying for a position as a high school student? Questions on how to write a first time resume when you are still in high school? Click HERE for a helpful link.