Oskaloosa Area Find More Options For Enjoying The Library

Oskaloosa Public Library Director William Ottens welcomes local teens to movie night at the library.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Enjoying a movie at the Library seems a bit different, but the Oskaloosa Public Library has been doing just that every Monday evening at 7pm.

The movie selections range from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz to one of the more contemporary Harry Potter movies.

During the summer months as many as 18 teens have enjoyed the presentations, with free popcorn served during the movie.

Library director William Ottens said the inspiration for the movie night was used to compliment the adult summer reading program called “Take Back The Summer.” “In order to go along with that, I wanted to do some all-ages programming,” Ottens said of the family friendly movies.

The program is about two-thirds of the way through now, with only three more Mondays to go. Next Monday, July 29th, the movie will be Space Jam.

There will be a prize drawing on August 16th for the adult and teen and children’s summer reading programs. This happens after the final fling garden party on the 15th of August “to celebrate the whole summer of reading.”

Ottens said that the summer reading programs have been “pretty successful” with nearly sixty adults turning in reading logs, and with thirty teens participating.

Ottens hopes to increase the libraries reach so that teens know that the library is a place to enjoy, much like Smokey Row or the urban park. “We just want to become another place for them.”