The Siskiyou County Library system is transforming its branches into bustling hubs of summer activity this June and July, rolling out a countywide slate of programming that promises something for every age and interest—from live reptile shows and gardening workshops to senior driver safety courses and a rare author appearance celebrating the region’s western literary heritage.
The season kicks off this Friday, June 12, at the Yreka Library, where John Jackson of Bugs R Us will present a live show on reptiles and amphibians from 1 to 2 p.m. at 719 Fourth Street. The event doubles as the official launch of the Yreka Summer Reading Program, and attendees will be entered into a free drawing. For details, contact Bethany at (530) 340-0680.
The following day, Saturday, June 13, the Yreka Library continues its green-thumb programming with “Gardening Fun” from noon to 2 p.m., inviting participants to paint a pot and plant a flower. Sign-ups are available at the front desk or via text to Bethany, though the original June 5 deadline may have flexibility for latecomers. Meanwhile, down the mountain, the Dunsmuir Branch will host Angel Gomez for “Tales of the Siskiyou Trail” at 2 p.m. as part of the Voices in the Canyon series.
For the youngest readers, the county’s weekly rhythm is already well established. Every Wednesday, the Dunsmuir Branch hosts First 5 Play Group and Story Time from 10 to 11:30 a.m., while the Yreka Library holds its own First 5 Storytime and Playgroup at 11 a.m. The Fort Jones Branch also welcomes littles every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for story time paired with crafts and activities.
The Etna Library hosts Story Time every Friday at 10:30 a.m. Story times vary from crafts to music.
Adults and seniors have their own steady gatherings. The Yreka Library’s Fiber Arts Meet Up convenes every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., inviting crocheters, knitters, and sewers to bring their projects. In Fort Jones, the “Feed Your Head” library group will not meet on June 19 due to the fair. The group will resume its regular schedule on July 17.
Several branches are hosting standout special events this month. On Tuesday, June 23, the Mt. Shasta Branch will partner with the California Highway Patrol for “Age Well, Drive Smart,” a free senior driver education class from 10 a.m. to noon at 515 E. Alma Street. The course targets drivers aged 65 and older with safety tips on how aging affects driving performance.
The Siskiyou Golden Fair will feature a library history display from June 24 through June 28, celebrating the county’s 250th anniversary with historical exhibits and information. That same week, on Wednesday, June 24, the Dunsmuir Library Book Club will meet at 4 p.m. with a timely theme: members are encouraged to read from the branch’s “Rainbow books” selections—titles that appear on frequently challenged books lists—or works reflecting the African American emancipation experience.
Montague’s monthly Fun Family Game Night returns on Friday, June 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Montague Branch, 230 S. 13th Street, offering card and board games, a Lego corner, and pizza and drinks donated by Courtright’s Market & Deli. The Dunsmuir Library will hold a fundraiser with live entertainment at the Cornerstone Restaurant on Saturday, June 27, at 5 p.m.
One of the summer’s most anticipated events arrives Tuesday, June 30, at the Fort Jones Community Room, where author Mark Paine Fisher will discuss his book, *The Paine Protocol*, at 2 p.m. Fisher’s visit carries extra local significance: his grandfather, Lauran Paine, was a prolific western genre author whose body of work spans more than 500 books in the library system. The event is being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for western literature fans.
Looking ahead to July, the Dunsmuir Branch will host its monthly Family Friendly Movie and Game Day on Saturday, July 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., while the weekly story times, play groups, and fiber arts meetups continue their regular schedules across the county.
From reptiles to reading, driver safety to western lore, the Siskiyou County Library system is making clear that summer learning isn’t confined to a classroom—it’s happening at branch desks, community rooms, and restaurant fundraisers from one end of the county to the other.
