AUBURN — Within this summer’s theme, “Libraries Rock,” teens at Auburn Public Library will focus their attention on music — whether it be reading books about music in the Pizza & Pages Book Club, watching (and singing along to) musicals, or attending programs involving singing and dancing.

The kickoff event this year takes place at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, at 49 Spring St.,  when APL will host the local group, Chicks with Sticks Steel Drummers. Chicks with Sticks is an off-shoot of the Tinpanic Steel Band, a popular 12-piece orchestra. The members are a small combo from the Auburn area that plays steel drum music for parties, festivals, receptions and other special events, or whenever a group of people are looking to enjoy island-style music. 

Weather permitting, this concert will take place on the library lawn. Although this program is the official teen kickoff event, it is open to all.

This summer’s Teen Reading Program will run for six weeks, from June 26  to Aug. 9.

In addition to reading, programs and activities will include a DIY Music Workshop with musician Aaron Wardwell on Friday, July 20; and a tour of local radio station WEZR-FM (Maine’s Big Z) on Tuesday, July 24. Pizza & Pages Book Club will return again this summer, where it will read and discuss three books related to music: “Solo” by Kwame Alexander” and “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell, and “Beautiful Music for Ugly Children” by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. 

Due to space limitations, registration is required in the music workshop, the radio station tour and each of the three book club sessions.

During the six-week summer reading program, for each book read or for each program attended, teens will have a chance to enter into a weekly drawing. The grand prize this year is a guitar and lessons, which will be awarded to the top reader (books must be completed between June 26 and Aug. 9). For program participation, the award will be a gift card bundle. These two awards will given at the finale party on August 9.

The Teen Summer Reading Program is just for teens, ages 12 to 18 entering seventh through 12th grades.

For more details on this and other upcoming teen programs and to register (if required), visit the Auburn Public Library calendar at www.auburnpubliclibrary.org, call the APL at 207-333-6640, ext. 4, or email dwallace@auburnpubliclibrary.org.

Chicks with Sticks will perform at Auburn Public Library’s June 26 kickoff event for the teen Summer Reading Program, themed “Libraries Rock.” The event will be open to the public.