Happy Solstice!

The summer solstice arrived in the northern hemisphere on June 20, 2024 at 4:50pm, as the earth’s north pole reached its greatest tilt toward the sun. The result of this phenomenon is that summer solstice is the longest day (daylight hours) of the year. (Alternatively, winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in daylight hours, and is celebrated in the southern hemisphere on June 20.)

There are many traditions around the world for celebrating solstice. Perhaps most well-known is the annual pilgrimage to Stonehenge, in England, to welcome the new season at sunrise. The roughly 5,000-year-old circle of stones was built in such a way that the sun aligns with the monument during sunrise on the summer solstice and at sunset on the winter solstice. (https://www.space.com/)

Meanwhile in Bolivia, in the southern hemisphere, people celebrated the winter solstice in traditional attire to ring in the beginning of the year of the Andean Amazon calendar, also known as the Aymara calendar. (https://www.space.com/)

In Norway and other far northern lands, the midnight sun is a natural summertime phenomenon in which the sun never sets below the horizon. This happens due to the Earth’s tilt toward the sun, which peaks around the solstice. 

As we reach the summer solstice, we also mark the halfway point in the Summer Reading Program – Galactic Adventures. So, how is it going? Have you been logging your reading? What prizes have you earned? Did you know that the Summer Reading Program is for ALL AGES? Click here to sign up.

Summer at The Floyd County Library is our busiest season! In addition to the summer reading challenge, we also offer free Cultural Passes to patrons 21 and under, which offers free admission to many museums and fun events around the area. Additionally, the New Albany library is a “Free Lunch” site for children 18 and under, and we serve daily, Monday – Friday from 12-12:45pm. (As of this writing, 1328 lunches have been served to Floyd County kids!) There are also extra programs every week at all library branches to provide families with fun and engaging free activities to do all summer long. All of these special summer offerings are in addition to our already robust regular programming. If you have not made it to your library yet this summer, come check us out! Click here for a link to our Events Page.

Some of the highlights for July, (ALL FREE) include:

Jedi Mindfulness, July 2, 1pm, New Albany Library

Jamey Abersold Jazz Quartet, July 9, 5pm at Cultural Arts Center – Carnegie

Family Movie Night, Raiders of the Lost Ark, July 11, 6pm at Floyd Central HS

Professor Steve’s Excellent Adventure, July 12 at 1pm, New Albany Library

River City Puppets, July 17, 11am (New Albany Library), 3pm (Cultural Arts Center – Carnegie)

LEGO Robotics 3-day camp, July 22-24, 1-3pm, New Albany Library