Children and teens are invited to participate in Harris County Public Library (HCPL) services this summer at Precinct 4’s Mercer Botanic Gardens.
The library will host Summer Reading Program activities Monday through Thursday, June 4 through Aug. 3 at Mercer Botanic Gardens, with each day’s activities targeted toward a different age group.
As part of the program, children can commit to reading a certain number of books to earn points and prizes. Unlike other popular reading programs, the library encourages participants to choose their own books to foster a love of reading. Children who are too young to read are invited to participate in Storytime in the Gardens every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Mercer.
Mercer Botanic Gardens will also serve as a host site for Houston Food Bank’s Kids Café Summer Program, which provides nutritious meals for children weekdays from June 4 through Aug. 4.
After Baldwin Boettcher Library closed last year due to flood damage, many feared the meal program would be discontinued. Instead, HCPL, the Houston Food Bank, and Mercer Botanic Gardens are working together to continue the popular summer meal program.
The program is meant to ensure that children who receive free meals during the school year don’t go hungry during the summer months. Anyone in need is invited to attend. No proof is necessary.
Both library services replace programs previously offered at Baldwin Boettcher Library, which closed after receiving repeated flood damage. While the library will no longer offer traditional services, HCPL is still planning alternative uses for the building and will continue offering library services at Mercer, which is located next door to Baldwin Boettcher Library. While all library services are free, space for some programs is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
