An OPL Summer Sneak Peek 👀

Written by: Rebecca Highland

Do you remember being a kid on the last day of school, and the excitement and promise of summer? Sticky popsicles, riding bikes, time spent with friends and family (and no homework!). Life definitely feels like it has gotten bigger and more complicated over the years, but summer is still a great time to make room for a little whimsy in our lives. 

What is whimsy? To me, whimsy is seeing the everyday with fresh eyes. It’s being on the lookout for side quests, play, and discovery. It’s grabbing a packet of seeds and planting them, just to see what will grow. It’s wearing a fun pair of socks because they make you smile, or writing a loved one a secret note to find. It’s digging into life and finding moments to enjoy, even when things feel hard, and maybe especially then. To engage with whimsy is to find moments of relaxation, creativity, and escape from the ordinary, no matter how small. 

This summer, the library becomes more than a place for books—it becomes a space for curiosity, creativity, and a little bit of magic. From family programs to workshops, author talks, reading challenges, crafts and hands-on learning, there’s something for folks of all ages to enjoy.  

For kids, our summer offerings are practically endless: puppets, magicians, petting zoos, circus performers, naturalist demonstrations, soccer clinics, family game nights, and plenty of programs, arts and crafts, and storytimes all summer long! 

Teens are always welcome at the library. Join us for D&D, anime, movies, Magic: The Gathering, creative workshops like metalsmithing and stamp-making, our Super Smash Bros. tournament, cooking (even make your own ice cream), or just hang out and relax with friends.

Adults deserve whimsy, too! Enjoy workshops on fermentation, sashiko mending, and gardening, a Spike Lee film fest, crocheting, drawing, painting, and yoga classes, along with author talks on a variety of engaging and thought-provoking topics.

And our summer reading program invites readers of all ages to enjoy reading and library events and win amazing prizes. (I can’t think of anything more whimsical than a magical map to track your reading progress!) Please visit our Summer Reading Page to learn all about our offerings and events. 

This summer, OPL invites you to celebrate the unexpected, discover small moments of magic, and be on the lookout for joy. You just might find it at your local library!