Wilson County Public Library engages the community and enhances the minds of all ages with programs, lectures, classes, and entertainment.
For more information about library programs, online or in-person, call 252.237.5355 or visit www.wilsoncountypubliclibrary.org.
Note: All library locations will close on Monday, July 5, 2021 in observance of Independence Day.
Summer Reading
The Wilson County Public Library Summer Reading Program, Tails and Tales, continues through August 7, 2021. Staff from all library locations has prepared a variety of virtual programs and reading incentives for children, teens, and adults. For continued safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, most programs will be offered online via the library’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel, or via Zoom.
Ages 0-12 are invited to join the Tails and Tales Youth Summer Reading Program. Summer reading is proven to fight the summer slide and to help ensure that youth are prepared for the new school year. Enjoy stories, crafts, and activities about a variety of animals! Programs will take place on Facebook or YouTube unless otherwise specified.
Main Library Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program: Mondays @ 1pm
Ages 3-10. Join us for fun animal themed stories and crafts on Facebook and YouTube.
- July 5, 2021 — Didgeridoo Down Under Show
- July 12 — Hungry hippo puppet craft
- July 19 — Animal mask craft
- July 26 — Pet necklace craft
Activity packets for crafts will be available for pickup at the Youth Services Desk on the Monday of each program, while supplies last.
Register and track your progress with READsquared through August 7, 2021. Paper registration forms and reading logs will be available for those that wish to participate offline. Exciting incentives and prizes will be awarded for participation in the program and for completed reading logs.
For questions regarding the Youth Summer Reading Program, contact Scott Houston, Youth Services Manager, via email or call 252.237.5355 ext. 5055.
Main Library Programs
The Wilson County Public Library’s main library is located at 249 Nash Street N, Wilson, NC. See hours here.
All-Ages Programs
Tails & Tails Walking Challenge: June 14-August 7, 2021
Walk as far as an animal does in a day! This walking challenge is open to all ages. Hit the finish line to be entered in a gift card drawing. Complete the stretch goal to gain an extra entry in the drawing! All distances walked between June 14-August 7, 2021, 6pm, may be counted. Visit www.wilsoncountypubliclibrary.org or stop by the library to register and track your mileage!
Didgeridoo Down Under Show: Monday, July 5, 2021 @ 1pm
Didgeridoo Down Under is a high-energy, Australia-themed show that combines music, culture, puppetry, comedy, character building, storytelling, and audience participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years and is known for its otherworldly sound. DDU is much more than music – it is interactive, educational, motivational, and super-fun – perfect for kids and families! Tune in to watch on the library’s Facebook page.
Going Batty!: Mammoth Cave’s resident bats and other creatures: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 @ 3pm
Join park rangers from Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky via Zoom to learn about the world’s longest known cave system, the resident bats, and additional inhabitants of this underground marvel. Registration is required. Contact Matthew Kleven at 252.237.5355 ext. 5074 or email to obtain a Zoom link.
Youth Programs
STEAM Programs: Tuesdays @ 7pm
Ages 5 and up. Activity packets will be available for pickup at the Youth Services Desk on the Monday before each program, while supplies last.
- July 6: Egg decorating craft
- July 13: Arctic animals and animal blubber experiment
- July 20: Animal tracks craft
- July 27: Hand grabber craft
Storytime: Wednesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021 @ 10am
Ages 0-10. Join us for an all-ages storytime with Mr. Scott! Each week we will explore a new theme with favorite stories old and new!
Pajama Storytime: Thursdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021 @ 5pm
Ages 3-6. Join us every Thursday for Pajama Storytime! This new program, presented by our branch librarians, will provide stories, songs, and other surprises to help our younger patrons have pleasant dreams!
Bilingual Storytime: Fridays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021 @ 5pm
Ages 0-10. Listen to favorite stories in English and Spanish with Ms. Camille!
Signing Storytime: Saturday, July 17, 2021 @ 5pm
Ages 0-10. Introducing a new storytime that partners with Barton College Deaf Education Students! This storytime will be in American Sign Language and Spoken English.
Young Adult Programs
Young adults ages 12-18 are invited to join the Young Adult Summer Reading Program. Log your minutes read and earn points by completing online activities via READsquared. Each participant that earns 300 points by August 7 will be entered into a random gift card drawing. Prizes will also be awarded for the most points earned. Get ready for a fun summer with the library!
Zoom Book Talk: Thursday, July 8, 2021 @ 4pm
Ages 12-19. Teens are invited to a Zoom Book Talk featuring The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Join us for a guided discussion on this novel and hear what your peers have to say about it! Please register to obtain a Zoom link.
Wild Things: Wildlife Trivia: Thursday, July 15, 2021 @ 4pm
Ages 12-19. Teens are invited to hop on Zoom and flaunt their knowledge of wildlife and nature! Can you tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? Do you know the name of the world’s largest rainforest? Then Wild Things: Wildlife Trivia is for you! Please register to obtain a Zoom link.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting: Thursday, July 22, 2021 @ 4pm
TAB gives teens the opportunity to share ideas and plan programs and services offered to their peers by the library. Members of TAB attend monthly meetings and assist in at least one teen program each school year. Participation may count toward school and National Honor Society service hours! Meetings will be held via Zoom. Please register to obtain a Zoom link.
TGIF: Teen Book of the Week: Thursdays, July 8, 22, 2021 @ 11am
TGIF is a bi-weekly book review show featuring Teen Librarian Kate Brittain. Listen to book reviews and recommendations for readers of Young Adult literature and learn background information on each title. Tune into Facebook or YouTube every-other Friday at 11am for a brand-new episode.
For more information or to register, contact Kate Brittain at 252.237.5355 ext. 5073 or via email.
Adult Programs
Adults 18 and up are invited to join the Adult Summer Reading Program. Log your minutes read and earn points by completing online activities via READsquared. Each participant that earns 300 points by August 7 will be entered into a random gift card drawing. Prizes will also be awarded for the most points earned. For more information, contact Amanda Gardner, Assistant Director, at agardner@wilson-co.com or 252.237.5355 ext. 5072.
Hoarding and the Older Adult: Monday, July 12, 2021 @ 1:30pm
In this Zoom webinar, mental health professionals from Therapeutic Alternatives will discuss hoarding, including the causes, risks, effects, and possible intervention methods. Registration is required. Visit bit.ly/3pzrgGX to register. For questions, contact Therapeutic Alternatives at 919.523.5120.
Local History and Genealogy Programs
Hackney Brothers: a Wilson business tale: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 @ 7pm
When Willis Hackney opened a wagon and buggy shop in 1854, he had no idea he was starting a business that would last over 140 years. After surviving two world wars and The Great Depression, the company closed its Wilson plant in 1996. Join us as we look back at one of Wilson’s oldest and most successful businesses. This program will air on Facebook and YouTube.
For more information, contact Tammy Medlin at 252.237.5355 ext. 5029 or via email.
Branch Libraries
Branch Summer Reading
Community members of all ages are invited to participate in the Summer Reading Program at any library location and online. Registration forms and activity packets for branch-led programs may be picked up from the specific branch location. As supplies are limited, these will be available on a first come, first-served basis.
Storytimes
Branch Storytime: Thursdays @ 10am
Ages 1-10. Join us for special summer programming featuring stories, songs, and crafts, presented by our branch librarians.
- July 1, 2021: Beaver/Possum Storytime and Craft with Ms. Mary, Stantonsburg Branch Librarian
- July 8: Where Do Animals Sleep? with Ms. Camille, Elm City Branch Librarian
- July 15: Animal Origami with Ms. Maria, Black Creek Library Assistant
- July 22: Creatures of the Sea & Animals in the Wild with Ms. Pam, Lucama Branch Librarian
- July 29: Peafowl Storytime and Craft with Ms. Mary, Stantonsburg Branch Librarian
Black Creek Branch Library
103 Central Avenue, Black Creek, NC
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm
Phone: 252.237.3715
Tails and Tales Craft-to-Go Kits
Kits are available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
- July 12-16: Origami Animals — Ages 12-18. Create four different colorful origami animals!
- July 19-23: Safari Scavenger Information Packet — Ages 6-10. This fun kit includes a safari newspaper, coloring pages, and educational info.
- July 26-30: Folded Book Animals — Ages 12-18. Fold the pages of a book into a life-like animal!
Elm City Branch Library
114 N Railroad Street, Elm City, NC
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm
Phone: 252.236.4269
Tails and Tales Craft-to-Go Kits
Kits for ages 3-12 are available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
- July 6-9, 2021: Frequent Flyers: Birds, Butterflies and Bats — Create an animal kite.
- July 12-16: Animal Mashups: Zonkey, Liger and Grolar Bear — Create a DIY animal journal.
- July 19-23: Forest Animal Adventures — Create deer, fox, rabbit and raccoon masks.
- July 26-30: Dogs with Jobs — Sew your own felt puppy craft.
Participants will be entered into a drawing for prizes and gift cards.
Lucama Branch Library
103 E Spring Street, Lucama, NC
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm
Phone: 252.239.0046
Tails and Tales Craft-to-Go Kits
Participants Ages 5-12 will receive grab-and-go information and activity kits containing a variety of information about sea creatures and animals in the wild, along with the people that studied their behavior, including Jacques Cousteau and Marie Tharp. Kits are available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
- July 12-16: Out to Sea
- July 19-23: Message in a Bottle
- July 26-30: Wild Thing
Crocker Branch Library (Stantonsburg)
114 S. Main Street, Stantonsburg, NC
Hours: Monday-Friday, 2:30-6pm
Phone: 252.238.3758
Tails and Tales Craft-to-Go Kits
Kits for ages 5-12 are available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
- July 12-16: Prehistoric Tails — Create ancient dinosaur crafts.
- July 19-23: Fluttering Tails — Make crafts featuring peafowl and other birds.
- July 26-30: Buzzing Tails — Enjoy crafts featuring butterflies and other insects.
The Tails & Tales Summer Reading Program is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Wilson County Public Library and the following donors: Belk, Bojangles, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cups of Joy, Five Below, Flo’s Kitchen, Food Lion, Hibbett Sports, and Target.
For questions about the Summer Reading Program, call 252.237.5355 or visit www.wilsoncountypubliclibrary.org.
Source: Amanda M. Gardner, Wilson County Public Library
