Music coming to Henrico libraries this summer

Henrico County Public Library's summer reading theme – "Libraries Rock!" – will bring concerts, community partners and musical learning to county libraries to promote reading in Henrico.

While visitors will find plenty of quiet spaces in Henrico libraries, they'll also find opportunities to play, listen to, read about, and otherwise enjoy music all summer. Participants also can win prizes when they log their reading online.

“Libraries may not ‘Rock’ in the traditional sense,” said Henrico Library spokeswoman Patty Conway, “but we should think of the phrase as meaning, ‘libraries are awesome.’"

The Library's Summer Reading Club runs June 1 through Aug. 31 and is sponsored by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library.  Early registrants will be eligible to win a four-pack of tickets to see a Richmond Flying Squirrels game, and beginning June 18 there will be weekly drawings for $25 gift certificates to major retailers every Monday through August for participants who have logged at least some reading.

Readers who reach their goal, defined as 20 days of reading for children and teens and five books for adults, are eligible for valuable, music-related prize drawings, and the grand prize, a $500 gift certificate to Great Wolf Lodge.  Visit henricolibrary.org/src or your local library for more information and to sign up on or after June 1.

Summer Reading Kickoff Parties in June will see musician Chris Campbell playing family-friendly songs for children and their caregivers from June 19-21 at all Henrico County Public Library locations.  Families can expect music-themed storytimes and crafts throughout the summer months.

Concerts at Sandston, Twin Hickory, and North Park Libraries will bring free music to communities in Eastern, Western, and Northern Henrico.  North Park Library will host a film screening series of musicals during the month of July.  Fairfield Library will have an instrument petting zoo for teens with local nonprofit Girls Rock! RVA on June 16, and a Vinyl DJing Workshop for teens with DJ Ant Boogie Aug. 9.

At Tuckahoe Library July 24, Code VA will present an overview of EarSketch, a free programming environment that mixes computer science concepts and music technology, teaching teens to use Javascript and Python to create original space compositions.  Teens can combine music appreciation and space science at Varina Library Aug. 8 at “Interstellar Contact,” a program about the Golden Record sent into space by NASA on the Voyager 1 & 2 launches in 1977.  These programs are two of the many Space Science programs hosted at HCPL locations this summer as the NASA @ My Library project continues.

Patrons are encouraged to visit events.henricolibrary.org to view and search the HCPL events calendar, or call their local HCPL location for more information.  Readers can ask a librarian or request a Custom Book List online to get recommendations for books and movies about music and musicians, or any topic of interest (in person, or online at henricolibrary.org/recommendations).  Library cardholders can stream music for free using Hoopla through HCPL (hoopladigital.com).

"The most awesome thing about any library is its patrons," Conway said. "We hope everyone will come read with us this summer."