The Altus Public Library is packed with activities this summer. From Chautauqua, living history performances to the "Summer of Champions," activity program, the library has it all!

"Summer of Champions" will kick off at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 3 with Hercules The Olympian. The program is being presented by long time puppeteer, John Hinkle.

There will also be a take home activity available each week at the library. All a child needs to do is stop by the library and pick one up. For children who continue to read during the summer months they can sign up for the reading part of the summer program. Just check with the circulation desk.

"From Sea to Shining Sea," the 2004 Chautauqua living history series will also begin on Thursday, June 3 at 6 p.m. with a communitywide tent raising and picnic. The first tent performance will be on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with scholar Jeffrey Smith presenting William Clark. During the day there will be workshops for children and adults held at the library. For a schedule of all the events being held during Chautauqua contact the library.

This will be the second year for the Children's Film Festival beginning June 1 at 10:30 a.m. The films are for pre-schoolers thru 2nd grade. The program will last approximately 30-45 minutes.

Story time for ages 31/2 and up will continue during the summer on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

Shortgrass Institute will be hosting several classes for adults and children during the summer. For adults there is a greeting card making class or a creative writing class and for the kids there is an art survey class, a beginning theater class and a rhythm band class. There is a fee for the classes and pre-registration can be done by calling the library.

Many of the programs and classes given by the library are sponsored by local and statewide funds. Performances for the "Summer of Champions" is funded in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council. Chautauqua is funded in part by the Oklahoma Humanities Council with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and private donors. Local sponsors include the Southern Prairie Library System, Main Street Altus, Shortgrass Arts & Humanities Council and Western Oklahoma State College.

Stop by the library and pick up schedules for all this summer's activities or call the library at 477-2890.