Derby Neck Library at 307 Hawthorne Ave.
DERBY – Summer is here! School is out, the days are long and hot, and people are looking for relaxation and recreation. Whether you’re trying to find fun activities for yourself, the kids, or the whole family, you can get the most out of this summer (without breaking the bank) by utilizing your local library!
The Derby Neck Library, at the corner of Hawthorne Ave. and Chatfield St. in Derby, is offering all kinds of extra programming and rewards to keep up with the summer rush. We’re starting with a huge kickoff party featuring:
Pony Rides and a Petting Zoo
Medieval Weapon Gallery
Foam Sword Sparring
Free Food, Drinks, and Ice Cream
DIY crafts for Adults
Video Games for Teens
Join us at the Derby Neck Library on Monday, June 23rd from noon to 5pm. Everything is free of charge! And that’s just the beginning …
Throughout the summer, we run multiple children’s programs each day, including storytimes, arts and crafts, music and movement, and other experiences. Or drop in any time to make use of our Children’s Room, which is stocked with toys, games, puzzles, art supplies, and, of course, books.
Checking out books and attending programs through our library earns rewards like plush Book Buddies and Achievement Bears. You can also use the ReadSquared website or app to easily track any reading your child does to earn points for prizes at our Summer End Games celebration on August 14th.
For our teen patrons, we are adding new clubs and programs to break up those long, boring summer days. You can explore a new interest or connect with friends on an existing one! Our new program themes are Magic: the Gathering card game, Manga, Taste Test Government, Game Developers Guild, Dungeons and Dragons, and Paint and Pixels. That’s all in addition to our already popular video game clubs, teen takeovers, and laser tag. But you don’t need to join a club to take advantage of our high-end gaming computers … stop in anytime! Bring a friend and play your favorite games!
Teen patrons will also have exclusive access to our Teen Tech Raffle! Teens earn raffle tickets by checking out books and attending programs at the library. The winner will be given an assortment of gift cards to stores and gaming platforms, but there’s a surprise… the value of the final prize will increase based on participation. So, the more teens attend our programs and check out books, the bigger the prize gets! The winner will be drawn at our Summer End Games celebration on August 14th.
But the fun isn’t all for the kids … we’re offering adults a gamified summer adventure, as well! Come down to the library to get a Summer Reading Bingo Sheet, which is formatted in the style of a Dungeons and Dragons character chart. There are different classes with different attributes to level up by completing the tasks listed, such as using library books and resources to increase your knowledge, or attending library programs to learn and practice new skills. Customize your experience to your own interests. Each challenge completed earns raffle tickets for more chances to win our assorted raffle baskets at our Summer End Games celebration.
For full information on our Summer Reading Kickoff, summer programming and prizes, and End Games, visit https://www.derbynecklibrary.org/summer-reading-2025. There you can find our calendar of events and sign up for ReadSquared to start earning points!
