The Joplin Public Library is gearing up for an exciting summer of mystery with Summer Reading Programs for all ages. The Children's, Teen and Adult Departments have all planned programs centered on the mystery theme. The library programs begin on June 4th and continue for 8 weeks.

"Get a Clue @ Your Library" is the theme for the Children's Summer Reading Club. Children of all ages will be helping the Children's Staff locate Inca, the Library mascot - a Siamese cat who's disappeared! Clues will be given at Summer Reading events and will also be available in the Children's Department of the library. Children who devote just 15 minutes a day to reading will earn two free paperback books during the program. Special family speakers and make-it-and-take-it craft sessions are scheduled throughout the eight-week program, with an ending celebration to be held on Saturday, July 28th from 10 a.m. to noon.

Teens (students entering grades 6-12) will participate in the "YNK @ Your Library" Summer Reading Program, which will feature cool programs and games including a murder mystery and Sustained Silent Reading (or SSR). If the teens can cumulatively log 1,000 hours of reading through the SSR by July 26, the Teen Librarian has agreed to dye her hair electric blue for 10 days! Programs for the teens will include learning about secret messages and codes, and a professor from MSSU's Criminal Justice Department who will talk about the real-life work of a CSI unit.

For the first time in many years, adults will also have a chance to participate in a Summer Reading Program. The theme this year is "Summer Sleuthing @ Your Library." Adults turn in a completed reading log for each four books they read to be entered into prize drawings which will be held at the final event, a Murder Mystery Night on August 3rd in the library. Only participants in the Adult Summer Reading Program will be admitted to the Murder Mystery Night. "Summer Sleuthing @ Your Library" is sponsored in part by a generous donation from Southwest Missouri Bank.

In conjunction with the summer reading programs, the ongoing Hollywood at the Library program of free movie showings will present mysteries during June and July on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The first Tuesday of each month is Family Film night, when a family-oriented film is shown. Teen Flicks are shown on the second Tuesday of the month, and the third Tuesday is reserved for Classic Cinema. Titles for upcoming movies are available by calling the library at (417) 623-7953.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Summer Reading Programs at the Joplin Public Library should stop by the library to register on or after June 4th. Adults must have or obtain a permanent library card in order to participate; children and teens may obtain a temporary card for the duration of the program at no charge with the signature of a responsible adult. For more details about the Summer Reading Programs, or information on obtaining a library card, please call the Joplin Public Library at (417) 623-7953.