Pope County, Arkansas: Color Our World, the 2025 Collaborative Summer Library Program, begins in Pope County with a week-long series of Kickoff events. Dover Public Library will hold their Kickoff on Friday, May 30, at 4:00 pm with a reading of Ice Cream Disaster by local children’s book author, Tasia C. Taylor. Attendees will have the opportunity to make their own Ice Cream Sundaes.
Smokey Bear and Paula Hilliard from the Big Piney Ranger District Hector office will be special guests at Hector Public Library’s Kickoff on Tuesday, June 3, at 10:00 am. Families are invited to hear Ranger Paula read a story and to take their picture with Smokey Bear.
Atkins Centennial Library follows up with an All-Ages Crafting Extravaganza (and an animated movie) on Wednesday, June 4, from 2:00—5:00 pm. Patrons will make their own bookmarks and visit various crafting stations.
The Pope County Library in Russellville wraps up the week with their own All-Ages Kickoff on Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 am—12:00 pm. The library will celebrate with games and crafts for kids and Junk Journals and Origami for teens and adults.
Registration for the Summer Reading Program continues through July 11, and reading logs may be picked up beginning May 30. Registrants who complete their reading challenge will be eligible for a Grand Prize drawing for their age group, and door prizes will be offered at many events throughout the program. The Grand Finale, featuring a talk about Arkansas Dinosaurs, a fossil/artifact identification station, and colorful activities, will be held at the Hughes Center in Russellville on Saturday, July 26.
