Vail Library summer reading program finale set for Tuesday

VAIL — Join the Vail Public Library on Tuesday for readers of all ages. The day begins with story time, continues with the final Summer Reading Program event and then later in the evening a special concert with Barb Ryman.

Story time for babies is at 10 a.m. At the 11 a.m. story time for preschoolers children’s author Elaine Pease will read some of her children’s books. Since 2000, Pease has published three early childhood picture books, “I’ll Never Leave”, “Even Sharks Need Friends” and “Tallie’s Christmas Light Surprise,” as well as a historical fiction novel for elementary-aged readers, “Ghosts over Boulder Creek.”

The finale of the 2013 Summer Reading Program “Dig into Reading” begins at 1 p.m. A pizza party hosted by Blue Moose Pizza of Lionshead has become a tradition at the finale. Readers will be awarded their final reading awards and treated to two interactive programs. During the first hour, summer readers get to meet and work with Boulder children’s author Elaine Pease. Beginning at 2 p.m. Vail Public Library continues its collaboration with Walking Mountains Science Center as scientists present a program entitled “Animals That Dig.”

Wrapping up the day is an “Evening of Engagement” with acclaimed musician, Barb Ryman, who will play a concert at 5:30 p.m. A natural storyteller with a deep compassion for the lost and forgotten voices of our culture, Barb Ryman expects music to be more than entertaining. With a crystalline voice and skillfully played guitar, she delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, drawing from country blues, Celtic balladry, old-time gospel and bluegrass. Ryman is distinguished for her ability to write music that heals. Having lost her father, a navy pilot, when she was four, Ryman was intuitively drawn to the healing professions and became an accomplished speech-language therapist who has helped children with special needs develop communication skills. Ryman went on for her masters in counseling psychology, facilitated grief groups and delved into other spiritual pursuits. This background seamlessly integrated itself into her music, making her concerts both entertaining and restoring. Besides an unaffected sense of humor, Ryman possesses a sharp eye for social criticism and a truly moving compassion for human struggle.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 970-479-2187 or visit http://www.vaillibrary.com.