Award-winning children’s author to visit Orrville library
Award-winning children’s author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand will visit Orrville on Wednesday, May 14. He will begin the day at 12:30 p.m. at the StoryWalk, located east of the dog park, with parking available off Ella Street, by reading one of his books. In case of rain, the event will be held at Orrville Public Library.
The visit will continue at 5 p.m. at the library, where Hillenbrand will read “The Voice in the Hollow” and answer questions.
Registration is not required for either program.
Story times
Registration will begin Tuesday, May 27 for Orrville Public Library’s summer story time sessions. These programs offer young children and their caregivers opportunities to enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, music and age-appropriate crafts. Two drop-in story times also are available without registration.
Story times run the week of June 9 through the week of July 21. There will be no story times the week of June 30. Register via the library’s website calendar at www.orrville.lib.oh.us or by calling the children’s department at 330-683-1065. Class sizes are limited.
Lapsit sessions are for babies not yet walking with a caregiver and will be held Wednesdays from 10-10:30 a.m. Baby sessions, for walkers up to 24 months with a caregiver, are available on Tuesdays from 6-6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10:45-11:15 a.m. Two-year-olds with a caregiver can attend on Mondays or Tuesdays from 10-10:30 a.m.
Three- and 4-year-olds may join sessions Mondays from 11-11:30 a.m. or Tuesdays from either 11-11:30 a.m. or 2-2:30 p.m. A drop-in session for age 3-4 (no registration needed) is offered Thursdays from 2-2:30 p.m.
Pre-K sessions, designed for age 4-5 who have not attended kindergarten, take place Mondays from 2-2:45 p.m. Story time plus for children K-2 is scheduled Tuesdays from 3-3:45 p.m.
Family drop-in sessions, which are open to all story time ages with a caregiver and do not require registration, are held Mondays from 6-6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7-7:30 p.m.
The same material is presented in each session, so children should be registered for only one time slot.
Study Lounge
Students in sixth grade through 12th grade are invited to the Study Lounge at Orrville Public Library on Thursday, May 15 from 6-7 p.m. Snacks, music and sensory activities will be available, along with a quiet space for studying. No reservations are required.
Seed Exchange
Orrville Public Library’s Seed Exchange is available through May 31. Community members can pick up free seeds or donate commercially packaged or saved seeds for herbs, flowers and vegetables. Seeds should be labeled with the variety, any growing notes and the year, especially if not in original packaging.
This is a self-serve display.
Brain Freeze Challenge
The Brain Freeze Challenge for students in fifth grade through eighth grade runs through May 31. Participants who read for 20 minutes a day — 300 minutes total — will receive a treat coupon or small prize, courtesy of sponsors including McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, Orr Valley Creamery, Taco Bell and Orrville & Chill.
Log sheets are available at the information desk. Return completed logs to draw for a prize. All spring entries are eligible for a grand prize drawing.
Summer Reading Program
Orrville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Color Our World,” will run May 31 to Aug. 9 and offer free activities for all ages. A family-friendly kickoff event will be held Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with games, activities, popcorn, cotton candy and local organizations.
Reading can be tracked using Beanstack, accessible at www.orrville.lib.oh.us or orrville.beanstack.org. The Beanstack Tracker app also is available. Paper log sheets are available upon request. All participants must register for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge.
Children will earn a small prize or a grand prize ticket for every 100 minutes of reading or being read to. Don’t miss Jim Kleefeld’s free show, The Colorful World of Magic, on Wednesday, July 16 at 2 p.m. Registration will begin July 2.
Teens will earn a grand prize entry ticket for every 60 minutes read. Additional prizes are available for every 500 minutes.
Adults age 18 and over will earn one entry ticket per book read or listened to. Those who register by June 7 will be entered to win four regular-season Akron RubberDucks tickets.
As part of the library’s summer service project, support The Salvation Army’s Back-to-School Supply Drive by donating three three-prong, two-pocket folders (solid primary colors preferred). Donors will receive reading log credit.
Visit www.orrville.lib.oh.us for updates and more information.