Activities at the Bluffton Public Library really heat up in July! The following update includes familiar services as well as special events including a hike at Motter Park and a Plant Swap.

Library Closed Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in observance of Independence Day.  Due dates will be adjusted accordingly.

Bluffton Public Library 2023 Summer Read Program
“All Together Now!” continues…through July 31! This year’s theme invites you to explore the power of community through reading, activities, and programs. Summer Read is open to all ages.  By joining in on the summer fun, you’ll earn tickets for prize drawings and have opportunities to connect with others. Paper Reading/Activity Logs will be available for children and teens when they register, and adults can enter to win prizes with every 3 books read.  Remember, the more you read and the more programs you attend, the more tickets you get to enter for the prizes, so come on in and get the whole family registered and involved! 

Food For Kids Drive: June 5-July 31
Join us this summer and drop off new, unexpired, shelf-stable, easy-to prepare foods at the Bluffton Public Library for Bluffton Area Food Pantry to distribute. These items will be specifically for children at home during the summer (think microwave-friendly!).  Suggested items: cereal, breakfast bars, toaster pastries, canned or microwave friendly boxed meals, cup meals (soups, noodles), crackers, cookies, and other snacks. You can help fight hunger! 

Get ready -- the 3D Printer will be back at the Bluffton Public Library in July!  The 3D printer is provided through the Northwest Regional Library System (NORWELD), of which Bluffton Public Library is a member. Suggested donations are 50-cents per hour of requested print to help cover the cost of the filament. Patrons are welcome to bring a flash drive with a pre-formatted file to print or choose from the selection of items available on the printer. For questions or more information, please call or email [email protected].

Noon Book Group (R) meets Wed., July 5, the group will discuss Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. The book that will be discussed on Wed., August 2 is West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutlege. Stop by the library front desk to register and pick up the book! Open to adults.  

Watercolor Workshop: Koi Fish (R)($) will be held Thurs., July 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Local artist Jeanne Beutler will teach on the lower level of the library. Walk away with your own watercolor piece of art, complete with mat! There is a $10 supply fee at the door (cash only please), and advance registration is required as space is limited. Open to adults and teens/children (with a participating adult).

Book to Movie Discussion Group (R): It's time to decide which is better: the book or the movie! Register at the library with your email to get reminders and updates on this Book vs Movie discussion series, pick up a copy of this month's book (yours to keep!), attend our scheduled movie showing OR watch on your own (DVDs will be available to check out), and attend the discussion, where we will talk about the book and the movie, and how they compare. We will take a vote as to which was better! Open to adults.

July title: The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
Movie Viewing: Fri., July 21 @ 2:00 p.m.
Discussion: Fri., July 28 @ 2:00 p.m.

Evening Hike at Motter Metro Park with Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District (R): Tues., July 25 @ 7:00 p.m. -  There is nothing quite like the prairie in full swing! We’ll join the Bluffton Public Library and enjoy an evening hike along a rainbow of blooms and a bustle of activity as the critters enjoy the flowers and grasses. Plan on a 1-1.5-hour hike, and be prepared for the weather and ground conditions. Register at jampd.com or at https://reservations.jampd.com/programs/358/ by Jul 24.

Bluffton Plant Swap: Activate Allen County is joining with Bluffton Public Library to host a plant swap, Thurs., July 13 @ 6:00-6:30 p.m.  A plant swap is where people bring a healthy house plant to exchange or swap for a new variety of house plant.  It’s a great way to expand your plant collection and meet new friends. For more information, please visit the event page on Facebook at https://fb.me/e/HHaSsud2, email   [email protected] or call 419-303-3387.

Family Storytime (Birth-Pre-K): Mondays @ 6:00-6:40 p.m. and Wednesdays @ 10:00-10:40 a.m. No registration necessary this summer! Storytime will be in two parts. Stories and Songs will be for 20 minutes. Extended Activities will be for the remaining 20 minutes. All Storytimes will be about reading, singing, playing, and socializing with peers.

Drive-In Movie (R) - Sat., July 15 @ 10 a.m.  Open to ages: Pre-K - 2nd Grade. Join in the fun of having a Drive-In Movie experience. All children will decorate their cardboard cars and then enjoy the thrills of a drive-in movie with popcorn. Please bring a cardboard box that your child can fit inside.  Registration required by July 12.

Allen County RTA: Coming Our Way (R) - Tues., July 19 @ 10 a.m.- Join the Allen County RTA in a fun filled morning. We will learn about public transportation and the Allen County bus system. There will also be a trolley to look and see inside. Open to families. Please register by July 12.

Learn & Create (R): Calling all K-2nd Graders! Attend the All Together Now: Learn & Create, a fun program for families with children going into grades K-2. Learn about ways we can all work together, enjoy crafts & stories, and spend some quality time together. Dates are Tuesday afternoons, July 18 & 25, at 3:00 p.m. Registration is required for each session individually.

3rd-5th Taskmaster (R): Tues., July 11 @ 1:00 p.m. - Compete against friends and classmates. You will be given a task to complete and your competition will also complete a task. Whoever completes the task the fastest or correctly will be given points to win Taskmaster. Registration required by July 7.

Teen Craft Hour: Every Thursday @ 2:00 p.m.  Bring a craft from home or make a craft with provided supplies. Enjoy a different space to craft and visit with friends.  Snacks will be provided.

Teen Taskmaster (R): Tues., July 11 @ 3:00 p.m.  Compete against friends and classmates. You will be given a task to complete and your competition will also complete a task. Whoever completes the task the fastest or correctly will be given points to win Taskmaster. Registration required by July 7.

Teen Game Night: Tues., July 18 @ 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Stop by with your friends for a fun evening of games - board games, card games, puzzles, and bingo. You can even bring your own D & D Campaign (needs to end by 7:30 p.m.). There will be prizes, earn summer reading tickets, and food. Registration by July 15 for snacks.

Mobile Health Clinic: Fri., July 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  All services are provided by individuals with the Ohio Northern University Healthwise program. This clinic includes free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol (please fast for 12 hours to participate in cholesterol or blood sugar screening) and osteoporosis. Participants may speak with ONU Healthwise students and staff about their results or concerns, and even receive referrals to area doctors.

Hummin' & Strummin' starts at 5:30 p.m. on every Monday that the library is open. This is a relaxed, song-circle style jam session and anyone is welcome to join. Bring your instrument, voice, or listening ears!

Bluffton Public Library Thank you! We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our donors for their donations toward the 2023 All Together Now Summer Programming and Reading Challenge. Alter Ego; Bluffton University Bookstore; Butterfly House; The Dough Hook Meat Market; JK Orchard & Farm, LLC; Kings Island; Lewis Family McDonald's; The Meeting Place on Market; Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island, Ohio; Ohio Renaissance Festival; Ohio State Fair; Ohio State Parks; Sara's Sweets; Texas Roadhouse, Lima; and Young's Jersey Dairy. Thank you! 

Services Update 

COVID-19 Test Kits
At-Home COVID Tests are available at the Library.  If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please call to schedule curbside pickup.