Summer is here, the tree gardens in front of the South End Library are in full bloom --all maintained by the Friends of the South End Library-- and library summer programming for July and August is in place. The listings are below.

Regrettably, the BPL still closes its branches on Saturdays in the summer, just when the kids are of of school and we need Saturday hours the most. Call the BPL (617 536-5400), the Mayor's Office (617 635-4500) and the City Council (617 635-3040), if you would like to register your interest in seeing this changed. According to City Council President Stephen Murphy, in a June 18 interview with the Boston Globe's Andrew Ryan, "Boston has weathered the fiscal crisis better than other large cities and is facing its first “breathing room budget’’ in several years." Councillor Murphy, who came to the FOSEL sponsored candidates debate at the South End Library during his reelection campaign, has been a long-time supporter of library services, and would like to know about your support for better library hours.

While you have our representatives on the line, consider asking for an additional night the South End library can be open, just like eleven other BPL branches. There are 25 branches in the BPL system. Eleven are open two nights a week. They include Adams, Brighton, Charlestown, Codman, Dudley, Honan-Allston, Hyde Park, Lower Mills, Mattapan, South Boston and West Roxbury. Fourteen, including the South End library, offer only one late night a week. Among the fourteen are some of the busiest in the system: Jamaica Plain and West End. By contrast, the downtown Copley Library is open four nights a week, all day Saturday and five hours on Sunday (except during the summer). Most of Boston's library patrons who fund the public library through their taxes do not live downtown, however.

Below are the summer listings for the South End Library, put together by the dedicated staff. If you have any questions, please call Anne Smart or Margaret Gardner, the children's librarian, for further information. Phone: 617 536-8241.

The annual summer jazz concert and potluck by the fabulous jazz group Pat Loomis and Friends will take place at the South End Library on Tuesday, July 17 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. All are welcome.

Toddler Story Time: Mondays at 10:30 AM. Songs, stories and craft for youngsters up to age three.

Pre-School Story Time: Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. Songs and movement, stories, and a craft for youngsters age three to five.

Spanish in Motion with Jouveth Shortell: four Wednesdays in August at 10:30 AM.

Summer Book Club for children aged six to nine: read a book; do crafts, and more. Mondays from July 9 through August 20, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

Summer Book Club for children aged nine to thirteen: Choose books; do crafts and more. Tuesdays, from July 10 through August 21, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

For all readers all ages all summer long: pick up your summer reading at the library; read and earn rewards for every five books you read; register for the BPL-sponsored DREAM BIG summer reading program in the library or on-line.

Additional Summer Programming: call the South End branch at 617 536-8241 to register for three-star programs listed below.

*** Make a Beautiful Dream Catcher for Your Room. Tuesday, July 10 at 2:00 PM

** Storyteller Mark Binder spins adventure tales about Giants and Giant Slugs for children aged six and up. Thursday, July 12 at 2:00 PM

*** Animal Rescue League Tours. Wednesdays July 18 and August 8. Meet at the SE Library at 1:00 PM sharp.

** Teddy Bear Sleepover. Tuesday, July 31 at 6:30 PM. For young children and a parent. Bring a teddy who will stay overnight. Children pick up their teddy the next morning, Wednesday, at 10:30 AM story time, where a "treat" will await them.

**Storyteller and librarian Danielle Schulman will spin world tales for the BPL-sponsored 2012 Summer Reading Program, Dream Big. For children aged six and up. Tuesday, August 7 at 2:00 PM.

** Tide pools at the South End Library from the New England Aquarium. Thursday, August 9 at 2:00 PM.

** Museum of Science at the South End Library with Science Magic. Tuesday, August 21 at 2:00 PM.