Sign-up for the 2008 Summer Reading program, “Catch the Reading Bug!,” which starts Tuesday, July 1, and continues through the month of July. Children select the number of books they will read, or have read to them by a parent, sibling or friend. When they reach their goal, they merely tell the librarian on duty and receive a prize - a free book at the Hazard Library Book Sale.

In addition, this year we are offering a special drawing for middle and high school students. They will be eligible for a special drawing for an MP3 player.

Also in July, we will be offering a special series of five musical programs for the whole family.

• Tuesday, July 1 - Singing Bees and Jumping Beings with folk singer Cathy McGrath. “Bug” on over and join Cathy in a rollicking program of cherished songs with links to storybooks.

• Thursday, July 10 - American Gumbo with the Hill Brothers. This lively concert will celebrate the multicultural stew that is America.

• Thursday, July 17 - Montana Jack-Tall Tales and Folk Songs of the Wild Wild West with Brian Coughlin. With his bedroll, guitar and harmonica, Montana Jack will entertain us with tall tales (and even ghost stories) as well as folk songs from the wild West.

• Thursday, July 24 - Book a Trip: Around the World in Story and Song with Dan Duggan on hammered dulcimer, yang quin, guitar and banjo. Dan will take us on a trip with stories and songs from many cultures.

• Thursday, July 31 - Fin, Fur and Feathers with story singer Chris Holder. Wild songs and tales about bears, crabs, frogs and more animals will keep us entertained.

All of our programs start at 10:30 a.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 1868 Poplar Ridge Road in Poplar Ridge. These programs are free and open to the public.

Thanks to the Friends of Hazard Library, Mandel Therapy Group and the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program (administered locally by the Phelps Art Center & Phelps Historical Society) for the funding which makes these programs possible.

Mark your August calendar for the annual Hazard Library Book Sale. The sale is held at the Poplar Ridge Fire House. The dates/times for this year's sale are: from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9; from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3; and from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 5 and 7. The last day, Aug. 9, is “bag” day where there are bags of bargains.

We are also still accepting donations for the sale. Hazard Library will be open in July and August from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays; noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Join the CayugaConnect libraries at Falcon Park Sunday, July 27, for a baseball game. If you would like to eat on the deck with us please call your local library for details. Deadline for the buffet is Saturday, July 13. The cost for the buffet is $14 per person. If you only want tickets for the game, call your local library as well.

If you have any questions about our programs, please stop at the library or call 364-7975.

Sally Otis is a librarian at Hazard Library.