Summer Newsletter 2026

June 1, 2026

Welcome to summer 2026!

With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and July 4th just around the bend, the Friends of the Augusta County Library Foundation are buzzing with summertime energy. Thanks to your continued support, library programs are thriving, offering fun, education, and enrichment for everyone. Whether you are looking to escape the heat in a quiet study nook, join our annual summer reading challenge, or join a book club, there’s something special waiting for you. Dive into this edition of the newsletter to discover what we’ve been working on, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

In this issue: 

• Summer Reading Program - Program kicks off June 1!
• Lucy the Dinosaur Book Now Available  - Lucy book on sale now; and was featured on local TV!
• National Library Week Was Fun - We always enjoy this annual celebration of our libraries. 
• Friends' Wins - Grateful for a donation from students, and a Grant to support summer reading. 
• In the Garden - Plant sales and more!
• What We're Reading - Delve into books about mysterious strangers. 
• Join a Book Club (or two!) - So many book clubs!
• Upcoming Events - Motorcycles, Oreos, pickles, horses, Presidents and more!

And, as always, we invite you to join us at our next Board Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 4 at 6 pm at the Fishersville location. We’ll be discussing sales of the Lucy the dinosaur book, the summer reading program, and ongoing fundraising efforts. Bring a friend!

Contact us at friends@augustacountylibrary.org 

Summer Reading Program

Running June through August, this year’s summer reading program focuses on growth, exploration, and the joy of reading. The “Plant a Seed, Read!” theme encourages readers of all ages to set their own reading and learning goals – without the pressure of traditional or online tracking.

Instead, participants will work through physical summer adventure journals. These booklets are filled with activities, reading logs, and creative self-paced trackers that allow readers to set and track their own goals for the summer.

Readers – from early literacy to adult levels – who meet all their goals will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Each completed page of the journal is equal to one entry into the grand prize drawings in each age category. Readers who complete their entire journal will receive a free book.

Pick up a summer adventure journal at any Augusta County Library location to participate.

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Lucy the Dinosaur Book Now Available!

Inspired by the real, handmade mascot that has called the Augusta County Library home for more than three decades, librarians Marcy Bridges and Beth Sweet have written and illustrated a 28-page paperback filled with library magic. Recommended for children ages 3-6,  Lucy the Library Dinosaur and the Big Day! will take young readers on a special behind-the-scenes tour as she ensures everything is just right for one of the library's most cherished programs: storytime! This book is for anyone who has fond memories of the big blue mascot that has been lovingly cared for at the Fishersville branch of the ACL for over 30 years.

Proceeds from sales of the $15.99 book benefit the Friends of the Augusta County Library Foundation, which directly supports programming, events, and long-running projects for the libraries of Augusta County Virginia.

Thanks to WHSV for their story on Lucy and her new book! CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Click to purchase the book today!

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National Library Week Was Fun! 

Thank you to all the library patrons who stopped by to chat with the Friends during our membership drive. Stationed at the Fishersville library entrance during National Library Week, April 19-25, Friends volunteers described the mission and programs that we fund, signed up new members, collected donations and launched the sale of the brand new childrens’ book Lucy the Library Dinosaur and the Big Day! 

Friendly reminder: you don't have to wait for National Library Week to make a donation or join the FACLF! Visit our DONATE page today to help support our work.

Friends' Wins 

The Friends are the grateful recipients of the generosity of the Cassell Elementary school theatre group. Each spring, the drama team at Cassell Elementary donates 50% of the concessions proceeds from their annual production to a non-profit. In keeping with the theme of this year's musical, The Enchanted Bookshop, the students decided to donate to a group that promotes literacy. Their $628 donation to the Friends will help support our funding efforts, including the Augusta County Library summer reading program. What a day-brightening gift to receive from a talented - and generous – group. Thank you, Hugh K. Cassell Elementary School!

FACLF was also awarded a $3,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for a “books on wheels” summer reading program. The grant will help expand equitable access to literacy by delivering books to struggling readers in elementary school when they don’t have easy access to library materials. Through personalized, bi-weekly deliveries to Augusta County public schools’ summer meals pick-up sites, the program fosters consistent reading habits, sustains literacy skills, and helps prevent learning loss while strengthening family engagement with reading and library services.

Are you part of a group that would like to support the Friends? Click HERE or email Kathleen at friends@augustacountylibrary.org 

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In the Garden 

Deerfield Plant Sale

Congrats to the Deerfield community, which hosted yet another successful annual plant and book sale Saturday, May 16. Eighty people attended to buy plants supplied by local gardeners.

Fishersville Ongoing Plant Sales

Don’t forget you can often buy plants at the front desk of the Fishersville library.

Gardening Get-togethers at Fishersville (hands on!)

If you like gardening, learning more about flowering perennials and meeting fellow flower fans, join us Tuesdays from 9:00 till noon. For more information, contact friends@augustacountylibrary.org.

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What We're Reading: Mysterious Strangers 

Theo of Golden Allen Levi, 2023

A mysterious older man known only as Theo arrives in the small town of Golden and starts buying a local artist’s pencil-drawn portraits of residents hanging in a coffeehouse. He then gifts the portraits to the subjects and asks to hear their stories, slowly uncovering the secrets, regrets and connections among the community members. Through their interactions with a stranger, the characters learn the importance of generosity, wonder and the threads of kindness that bind them together. 

Galore Michael Crummey, 2009

Mixing a family saga with historical fiction and magical realism, Galore follows the interconnected lives of two feuding families on the Newfoundland coast from the late 18th century through the early 20th century. Featuring folk tales, ghosts and a pale, silent man delivered from the belly of a beached whale, the story spins a tale of the Paradise Deep residents who are woven together by love, secrets, fate and a mysterious stranger. 

Here One Moment Liane Moriarty, 2024

In an exploration of free will and fate, this novel begins with an older woman sitting at the front of a plane who starts moving slowly down the aisle, pointing at each passenger and predicting when they will die and their cause of death. A flight attendant eventually gets the mysterious woman seated, but the damage has already been done. First-person stories from a handful of those passengers coming to terms with these forecasts show how they cope with their greatest fears once her predictions start coming true.

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Join a Book Club (or two!) 

The only thing better than a good book is talking about it with other readers. Augusta County libraries host monthly book clubs where readers discuss the month’s book selection. Have a particular interest in science fiction or the classics? Just want to read books you might not ordinarily pick up? Interested in meeting other book lovers? You can find fellow fans at the library book clubs. Stop by your local library branch to register and pick up a copy of the book the group is reading.

Bookworms Book Club

Churchville branch library. Meets the first Tuesday of each month, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Deerfield Book Club

Join fellow readers monthly on the third Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m. to  8:00 pm.

Thursday Morning Book Club

The book club is full, but you can contact Keith Bell (Community Learning & Adult Librarian) to find out how you can participate kbell@augustacountylibrary.org or (540) 949-6354. Check out the tentative list of books scheduled for 2026 here. Fishersville Main Library meets the second Thursday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Mystery Book Club

Stuarts Draft Library monthly book club focused on mystery books. Participants discuss either the book club's selected book or other mysteries they're reading. Meets the first Tuesday of the month, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sci-Fi Book Club

Augusta County Library’s brand new sci-fi book club covers a diverse selection of classic and modern science fiction. Meets the last Thursday of every month at the Fishersville library, 6:30 - 7:30 pm.

Weyers Cave Adult Brown Bag Book Club

Bring your lunch and enjoy discussing each month's book selection. Meets the second Wednesday of the month from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Redbeard Book Club

In collaboration with Staunton Public Library and Augusta County Public Library, this 21+ book club for adults meets at Redbeard Brewing Company (120 S Lewis St, Staunton). Book club titles are available for pickup at the front desks at Staunton Public Library and Augusta County Library Fishersville. Meeting the third Sunday of the month from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Re-Reading the Classics

Stuarts Draft hosts a book club for those who want to revisit classic literature they never read or didn’t appreciate in high school and discuss why these books deserve to be called classics. Meets the third Tuesday of the month, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

Open Read Book Club

Bring whatever you are currently reading and talk about it! Not currently reading anything? Stop by to pick up some recommendations. The club meets the last Wednesday of the month, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Fishersville library and is available virtually via Google Meet:

Video call link:  CLICK HERE 

Or dial: (US) +1 352-453-0778 PIN: 974 507 543#

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Upcoming Events Summer 2026 

What do motorcycles, pickles, US presidents, horses and Oreos have in common? They're all featured in upcoming programs at Augusta County libraries! Check out the creative and varied events coming to a library near you this summer!  For full details and up-to-date information, check out the ACL Programs and Events PAGE. 

Library Lab: Lead Testing

Learn how to test items like heirloom china and thrifted glassware for lead. All materials provided. For ages 18 and older.

Thursday, May 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Churchville
Thursday, June 4, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm,  Craigsville
Thursday, June 25, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm,  Deerfield

Summer Science Lab

Love science? What about exciting hands-on experiments? Join us at the Fishersville library for the Summer Science Lab series, which includes a variety of easy and educational science experiments covering a variety of scientific topics.

• Balloon Rockets - Monday, June 15, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
• Paper Airplanes - Monday, June 29, :00 - 4:00 pm
• Catapults - Wednesday, July 15, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
• Pizza Box Solar Ovens and Solar Energy - Wednesday, July 29, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
• Messy Science Lab Demo - Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 - 3:30 pm

For more information, visit the appropriate date on our program calendar. All ages. Registration not required.

Webshooting Demonstration and DIY Webshooters with SWallCrw4ler

Interested in seeing what it takes to be a superhero? Join SWallCrawler, your friendly neighborhood web-slinger, at the library for a webshooting demonstration. Learn how to make your own pen webshooters and use Spidey’s own design to spray paint a superhero-themed picture! All ages. Supplies provided. Registration not required, but encouraged for estimated attendance.

Monday, June 22, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Fishersville

Wildlife Center of Virginia

All ages will enjoy learning about animals and wildlife conservation with The Wildlife Center of Virginia. This program will be hosted outside, weather permitting. Inclement weather will move the program inside.

Tuesday, June 23, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Fishersville (limit attendance to 130)

Thursday, June 25, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm,  Weyers Cave

Motorcycle Mania

Love the rumble of motorcycles? Interested in learning more about them? Motorcycle Mania will feature a large variety of motorcycles that participants can view, with local bikers on hand to answer questions. Refreshments will be available from Chaddie’s Food Truck. This event will be an open circuit that can be easily walked around; please do not touch or hop on any featured motorcycle without permission from the motorcycle owner. All ages. Registration not required. Interested in boothing at the event and showing off your motorcycle? Email Keith Bell at kbell@augustacountylibrary.org or call (540) 294-5103.

Wednesday, July 1, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Fishersville

Library Lab: Fermented Pickles

Join traveling programmer Ben for a hands-on lesson about fermented pickles. All materials provided. For ages 18 and older.

Thursday, July 9,  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Weyers Cave

Thursday, July 16, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Churchville

Thursday, August 6, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Craigsville

Thursday, August 27, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Deerfield

On the Road with Virginia Presidents

Love history? Want to learn more about Virginia's presidents? Join local author, historian, and publisher Heather S. Cole for an engaging armchair travel presentation about the eight Virginia-born presidents and the sites that shaped their lives.

Thursday, July 23, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm,  Fishersville

Ice Cream Day

Come celebrate summer's favorite treat with all things ice cream. We will have ice cream themed activities and treats. Hope you can make it!

Saturday, July 25, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Middlebrook

Oreo Taste Testing

Ever wanted to try that new Oreo cookie, but didn’t want an entire box? Taste test assorted Oreo cookies at the Stuarts Draft Library and vote on your favorite flavor.

Thursday, July 30, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm,  Stuarts Draft

Garden Produce Swap

If you are harvesting more zucchini, tomatoes or beans than even your extended family can eat, stop by the Stuarts Draft Library to share your garden's abundance with your neighbors and pick up fresh vegetables others have shared.

Friday, July 31, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Stuarts Draft

Horse Drawn Heritage Day

Join in Middlebrook’s second-annual Horse Drawn Heritage Day to celebrate all things old-time horsey. On Thursday,  the Frontier Culture Museum will present a program focusing on horses and their importance to the early Americas. Saturday will feature displays and activities along with horse drawn vehicles and farm implement show at the Middlebrook Community Center. Fun for the whole family!

Thursday, August 27 2026 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Middlebrook

Saturday, August 29, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm,  Middlebrook

Click on the ACL PROGRAMS button to check out the Augusta County Library's website for more details and the latest programs. *Note: schedule can be subject to change, so check back frequently.

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Join us!

Next Board Meeting:

Thursday, June 4, 2026

at 6 pm at the Fishersville branch

Don't Forget to Donate!

Thank you for being a FACLF member, but don’t let your contribution be a one-and-done donation. Sign up to be a sustaining member, and you can schedule a monthly, quarterly or annual recurring donation to the Friends.

More About the Friends

The non-profit Friends of Augusta County Library Foundation was formed in January 2023 through a merger of the Friends of the ACL and ACL Foundation to provide additional financial support for library programming and resident services.

FACLF is also dedicated to keeping the community informed about library-related news and developments. This newsletter will keep you up to date with the Friends’ current and upcoming work to ensure Augusta County residents have easy and continued access to the vital services our libraries provide.

Join the Friends by signing up online, or pick up an FACLF brochure at your local library checkout counter.

Thank you for your support! Together we can make a difference in our community.

Connect with Us

We look forward to hearing from you!

Visit our website at friendsofacl.org

Email us at friends@augustacountylibrary.org