Week three of summer reading at the Stillwater Public Library is filled with colorful activities, featuring a jump rope show for kids and a fiber laser activity for teens, both at the Stillwater Community Center. Note that there will be no family field trip on Thursday, June 19, as the library will be closed for Juneteenth.

On Tuesday, June 17, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. “Jump Rope Master” features an exciting jump rope and unicycle presentation from seven-time World Jump Rope Champion and 12-time Guinness World Records holder Peter Nestler, who has performed in all 50 states and over 35 countries. 

“Jump rope is a fantastic exercise that is great for the heart and has taught me so much about setting goals and overcoming challenges,” Nestler said. “At my show, you will learn about the importance of working hard to achieve goals.”

Children’s Librarian Elizabeth Murray wants to remind parents and caregivers that the library recently started providing sensory support items at summer performances.

“We recognize that larger programs can be difficult for some children,” Murray said. “The goal is to provide some extra support to make the summer reading experience fun and enjoyable for everyone.”

Items available include wobble cushions, fidgets and headphones. They will be available at all children’s Tuesday shows for the remainder of the summer.

Then on Wednesday, June 18, from 2-5 p.m., teens will learn how to create designs using fiber lasers.

Traver Fencl, lab manager at Tulsa Fab Lab, will teach teens about digital tools and software, enabling them to create customized keychains.

“Using software to create complex parts or art with precision and speed is why I fell in love with this topic,” Fencl said. “It’s important to understand how things are made so we have a way to understand how to repair, reproduce or even upgrade something.”

Fencl will also give away two 3D-illustrated night lights that he will create during the program in a demonstration.

Librarians will be at the community Juneteenth Picnic on Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southern Woods Park. Community members are invited to enjoy free food, entertainment and activities for all ages, including crafts, bouncy houses, games, music and more. Southern Woods Park is located at 600 W. 12 Ave.

Also, on Saturday, the Friends of the Library are holding a “Collector’s Cookbook Sale” in the library parking lot next to the Farmer’s Market from 8 a.m. to noon. The pop-up sale will feature hundreds of cookbooks from the best chefs, cooking schools and restaurants in the world, priced from $1-$5. The Friends accept cash and checks only, and shoppers should bring their own bags or boxes. The sale will be canceled if it rains.

Visit stillwaterok.gov/LibrarySummer to register for summer reading, track reading time, earn prizes and discover more events for all ages throughout the summer. Major sponsors for the summer reading program include the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. 

Contact the library with questions about summer reading by phone at (405) 372-3633 x8106 or via email at askalibrarian@stillwaterok.gov.