Boston Public Library's Summer of Opportunities for Youth begins

Boston Public Library’s summer programs for youth (www.bpl.org/summer) begin this month, marking a summer of opportunity and imagining the future for young Bostonians.

All programs offered are free and are designed to educate and entertain young people while they are out of school. “The summer months are an optimal time to provide children and teens with opportunities to develop their interests and engage in programs that are both fun and educational,” said Jessi Snow, Youth Services Coordinator for the Boston Public Library system.

“Fizz Boom Read” programs for children include crafts, workshops, and games that explore science, nature, history, and books. Kids at Boston Public Library locations will receive visits from Boston Nature Center, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, ReadBoston, Countdown to Kindergarten, USS Constitution Museum, and more.

The 2014 theme for teens is “Imagine Your Future” and includes career exploration discussions throughout July that give teens the opportunity to learn about a variety of careers directly from adults in Boston. Panel guests include workers in industries ranging from sports to health care to politics. Teens can also participate in the Books of Hope creative writing program, learn how to navigate the city on a bike, explore careers in the music industry with the Record Company, and create art with Citi Performing Arts Center all while at the library.

Young people ages 5-17 may also participate in the annual Read Your Way to Fenway summer essay contest for the opportunity to watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park by reading a minimum of three books and writing an essay about their favorite. Contest details and more are available online at www.bpl.org/summer.

Boston Public Library’s 2014 summer programs for children and teens are made possible by the Boston Public Library Foundation, John Hancock, and the Red Sox Foundation. “Fizz Boom Read” is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 
Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit www.bpl.org.