Josephine Community Library invites families to “V is for Voting” storytime for children and “Everyday Civics for Youth” for teens and young adults during Civics Week of the Summer Reading Program at the Grants Pass branch, 200 NW C Street.
Below is a schedule of events:
Everyday Civics for Youth in partnership with YMCA
Grants Pass | Wednesday, July 12 | 4–5:30 pm
During this event, teens and young adults are invited to learn how to communicate with elected and public officials, and have a chance to meet local elected officials from the library district, school district, and local and state government. This event is hosted in partnership with the YMCA Youth & Government program.
V is for Voting Storytime
Grants Pass | Thursday, July 13 | 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Children and their families are invited to learn about the power of voting during “V is for Voting,” a storytime featuring “The President of the Jungle” by Andre Rodrigues. After storytime, children will vote for their favorite book character and create their own campaign poster.
During Civics Week, all four library branches in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek are hosting “craftivities” for children and teens from 1–4pm. The “craftivity” for children is a cupcake liner “I Voted” badge and the “craftivity” for teens is an embroidered “I Voted” badge.
Through July 22, community members of all ages can also view the “Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights in the US,” a national traveling panel exhibition organized by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, at the Grants Pass branch. This exhibit covers topics including voting as a constitutional right, women’s suffrage, Reconstruction and Jim Crow era voting rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and the suffrage of Indigenous peoples.
The Summer Reading Program and related events are offered at no cost to participants. A library card is not needed to take part. To get a physical library card, community members can visit their preferred branch in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, or Wolf Creek during open hours. Annual library card sponsorship for children and adults who live in Josephine County, but do not live within the library district boundary are available thanks to funding from Josephine Community Library Foundation.
For more information about the 2023 Summer Reading Program and related events, visit josephinelibrary.org, email info@josephinelibrary.org, or call 541-476-0571.