Summer Reading Program 2010 ends on Saturday, August 7! That leaves one more week for children and teens to bring in their reading logs to the Hamilton Branch for their Make A Splash prize and T-shirt. Adults can still put reading entries into the Beach Blanket Bingo box to be eligible for the drawing in August.

It is still not too late to register for the Summer Reading Program!! All books read (or listened to) from June 12-August 7 count towards the 8 minimum books required for the children and young adult program. Ask to sign up today!

 New computers are coming to the Hamilton Branch as we get a major technology upgrade!  To facilitate the installation of so many new machines, the branch will be closing early on Wednesday, July 14, at 2:30 p.m. (after the Hot Diggity children's program is over).  We will reopen on Tuesday, July 20.  Come visit us to see the exciting new changes!

A mural will be going up on the exterior of Hamilton Elementary/Middle School near the school garden for the whole neighborhood to enjoy!  The mural is being funded by a $72,360 grant from Kresge Arts, administered by the Baltimore Community Foundation.  Other grant recipients include the Griot's Eye Program, Parks & People Foundation, and the House of Ruth Baltimore.

Share ideas and help design the mural along with other members of the community at one of three planning workshops.  Come to the Hamilton Branch on Monday, July 12 at 6 p.m. in the meeting room on lower level to get involved with the mural!

The first full week of the Summer Reading Program is in full swing at Hamilton!  Nearly 500 children and teens have signed up and received goodie bags with a bookmark, reading log, sticker, and other treats.  A few daycares and summer camps have signed up for the group program.  You still have 7 more weeks to catch the reading wave, until August 7!  

For the first time, this year the Summer Reading Program has also expanded to include adult readers with "Beach Blanket Bingo."  Pick up a reading log at any Pratt location and record all the good books you read (or listen to) over the summer.  Also, you are invited to write mini-reviews to post on our branch blog to let everyone know about what you are reading!

The Tuesday Market returns to the Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood starting on June 1 at its new location on the 3000 block of Montebello Terrace at Harford Road.  Visit local farmers, food vendors, artisans, and community group booths from 4-8 p.m. every Tuesday through October 26!

Sponsored by the Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street, the first season of the Tuesday Market met with overwhelming success, and the organizers anticipate strong community support for its second season.  Nationally, there has been dramatic growth in farmers markets in the past few years.  From 2008 to 2009, new markets increased by 12.6% due to concern for food safety, demand for healthier foods, and a desire to support local economies. 

Want to learn more about farmers markets and the locavore movement?  Look for the following books at your library:

	The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
	Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
	Food Matters by Mark Bittman
	Worldchanging by Alex Steffen