The NM Museum of Natural History and Science visited the Magdalena Public Library last week. Photos courtesy of Ivy Stover.

Kids were able to learn about Mars rovers and ocean fossils at a Magdalena Public Library summer reading program last week.

The library had 25 people come by to participate when the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science visited last Monday. The museum had stations on New Mexico ocean fossils, making your own crinoid, an underwater collage and the Mars rovers and the evidence of water on Mars.

According to Magdalena librarian Ivy Stover, the event was a lot of fun.

Both Socorro and Magdalena have summer reading programs ongoing. The Magdalena summer reading program includes weekly reading logs, weekly story and craft times and larger events and presentations from speakers. Kids keep track of how long they read every week and can turn in their reading logs for prizes. At the end of the summer, the library will give out bigger prizes for things like best reader, most enthusiastic reader and craft time champion. The best readers for each age group will win a Kindle Fire tablet, donated by the Socorro Masonic Lodge.

At craft and story time, held every Friday at the library, Stover reads a book or two aloud to the kids, then guides them on a craft related to the book. The crafts range from things like paper weaving to sock puppets to slime-making.

Upcoming events include movie night at the library on June 24 and a Teddy bear Workshop on July 23. The library will also have July activities presented by Explora, Wonder on Wheels, ABQ BioPark’s Aquarium and New Mexico Acequia Association.

El Defensor Chieftain