With school out and the days growing hotter and longer, the Big Sandy Public Library has launched its always popular summer reading program. The theme for this year's program is Oceans of Possibilities. Pirate ships, buried treasure, and various sea creatures adorn the building to set the mood, and the calendar has been filled to overflowing with a treasure trove of activities for children, teenagers, and adults.

Historically, the library has been a gathering point for kids after school and during the summer. This year is no different. The first two Wednesday Craft Activities drew 47 and 50 kids. Activities were facilitated by teenagers from the community. Wednesday crafts and story time take place at 10:30 in the morning. At 11:00, a bagged lunch is served to kids. The lunches are provided in partnership with Backpack Buddies, a program through the Chouteau County Coalition. Big Sandy received a $1000 grant to make sack lunches for children in the community. 60 lunches are served every Wednesday for 7 weeks during the summer. The library offers other activities throughout the week for children. On Mondays, movies are being shown with the projector in the large room at the back of the library. Thursdays are "Thinking Thursdays" named because kids aren't allowed to use the library computers that day and must read or engage in other activities. This helps quiet the atmosphere for the adult activities that take place on that day. There is a board game time for kids at 1:30. On Fridays, kids have a time for building with legos and doing sidewalk chalk art throughout the day. In addition to the scheduled activities, the children have been divided into book clubs where they read books to compete for prizes. Each student receives a bookmark where they record the titles they read.

Tuesdays feature special activities aimed at teenagers. Tavie Wortman facilities those activities. There is also teen book club time from 10 to 2 on that day. For adults, there is a reading competition, where they are able to add a ticket to a drawing for a prize whenever they complete a book. There is also adult Sip and Paint every Thursday at 10 AM. This is a time for adults to paint, drink coffee, and visit at the library.

For additional schedule information, visit the Big Sandy Library Facebook Page or stop in and pick up an event calendar.

Each week during the summer has its own "Oceans of Possibilities" theme, which affects the crafts and activities during the week. The theme is set 3 years in advance by the Montana State Library Commission. They provide ideas for activities and other materials to aid local libraries with the program.

Much of the reason the summer reading program is so successful in our community has to do with the library's growing status as a community center of sorts. With so many locals living out of town, the library provides a central location for people to gather and spend time together. In addition, the young people around town are able to gather and have something to do with their time during the summer. Darlene Cline and the staff at the library have done an excellent job of creating a welcoming environment and developing fun programs and activities for locals to participate in. All of this has helped make our local library the not-so-buried treasure of our community.