Autauga-Prattville Public Library packs early June with events

The busiest item on the Autauga-Prattville Public Library calendar was its Summer Reading Program Kick Off, which ran June 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the main library on 254 Doster Street in Prattville. The event marked a push tied to America’s 250th, with Colonial Days-inspired games, a 11:00 a.m. story time with Smokey the Bear, hot dogs from River Bank and Trust, Sweet Sips lemonade and goodie bags.

That kickoff was aimed at the broadest possible summer crowd, but APPL’s early-June schedule was just as specific about who else it wanted through the door. The homepage listed a Puzzle Swap on May 30 at 10:30 a.m. and Cook the Book Club that same day at 2:00 p.m., then Teen Book Club on June 1 at 4:30 p.m. Later on June 2, the Adult D&D Club was on the calendar for 5:00 p.m., giving teens and adults separate reasons to stop in the same day the summer reading campaign opened.

The rest of the first week of June was built around younger children and families. Circle Time for Toddlers was set for June 3 at 10:30 a.m., followed by Let’s Go Legos! at 3:00 p.m. On June 4, Write & Bite was listed for 11:00 a.m., STEAM for 3:00 p.m. and Teen Writing Workshop for 4:30 p.m. Taken together, the schedule read less like a simple library calendar and more like a free, indoor community lineup for parents looking for summer activities, teens needing structure and residents who want a place to spend time without adding to a family budget.

APPL has also been selling itself as more than a room of books. Residents of Autauga County or the City of Prattville can get free library cards, and active and retired military members and their immediate families are also eligible for free cards. The library also promotes Hoopla, Libby, digital borrowing and streaming, Wi-Fi, printing and a Library of Things, all of which make the building a practical stop for readers, students and anyone needing a cool place to work or wait out a long day.

The library’s history helps explain why it plays that role. Autauga County and Prattville formed the system by joint resolution on December 17, 1974, and on January 2, 1986, the Prattville Public Library began opening 60 hours a week with a staff of 15 county-wide. The system was designed to combine city and county positions to save money, and APPL remains one of the few Alabama libraries with one director serving both city and county. Lindsey Milam is the current director. A similar summer reading kickoff in 2025 drew more than 200 families, a sign that APPL’s early-June calendar can still deliver the kind of turnout that makes it one of Autauga County’s most useful no-cost public spaces.