Library to Launch Annual Summer Reading Program
Library to Launch Annual Summer Reading Program
The Grant County Public Library has been preparing to launch this year’s summer reading program designed to engage children with reading. Each program participant checking out a picture, easy read, or juvenile book will be given a registration slip for each book checked out during the program. Prize drawings will be conducted throughout the program.
Book bags offering a fun and more convenient multi-book check-out will also be available. Reading for the program starts on Sunday, May 31, with the last day to log being Saturday, July 11. This year’s program theme is Unearth a Story. As children are enrolled in the program, they are given logs, calendars and the information they need to easily navigate the program with ease.
The first summer reading program event was conducted on Wednesday, June 3, bringing program participants of all ages together. The opening-night celebration was at the 4-H grounds and joins the annual 4-H malt wagon fundraiser. The event featured a hot dog dinner and petting zoo for program families, followed by a performance from James Wedgewood that was open to the community. The program events continue each Wednesday through the finale.
Parents of the participants not yet having completed kindergarten, log the books they read to their children and attend story time sessions on Wednesday, June 10 and 17, and July 8, choosing a 10 a.m. session or the 1 p.m. session at the time of sign up. In addition, they may join the older group at special events that started on Wednesday, June 3 and 24, July 1, and July 15, at 1 p.m. This kindergarten and under group will be given prizes as they attend programs and complete activities given in their welcome bag.
Participants from first to fifth grade are given a bag with what the library staff dubs the six to seven pouch. It has six bookmarks for them to log their reading hours for the six weeks from Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, July 11, and seven weekly event registration slips to place in a drawing at each event they attend. The bookmark reading logs are turned in throughout the program as they earn book bucks redeemable in the summer reading program store opening on Monday, June 22, in the library.
The finale for the two younger groups, covering up to fifth grade, will feature fun in the foam and be staged on Wednesday, July 15 at 1 p.m. It will include prize drawings, and top reader’s awards with trophies for first to fifth grade participants.
Program participants going into sixth to ninth grades log their reading throughout the program and receive cash incentives for their time read, logged and turned in by Monday, July 13. They have weekly activity sessions on Wednesday, June 10, 17, July 1, and July 8, at 3 p.m. They will combine with the group at the events conducted on Wednesday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 24, at 1 p.m.
This group of teens and tweens will conclude the program with an after-hours finale on Wednesday, July 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. including food and games and the traditional and popular Nerf War. Top reader awards will be given at the conclusion.
A special community event is scheduled for the fourth week of the program for all ages on Wednesday, June 24, at 1 p.m. featuring the Magic Joe Show at the Library Gazebo. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the 4-H Grounds.
The community is encouraged to attend the special event planned for Wednesday, July 1, as the summer reading program takes time off from unearthing dinosaurs to allow the children to dig into red, white and blue cupcakes following a patriotic kid parade as America’s 250th is celebrated by youth. The Sons of American Legion Squadron Post Nine will be giving each child a small flag, showing them the correct way to fold an American Flag, as well as other flag etiquette.
The library staff offers a huge thank you to the summer reading program community sponsors who make the program possible through their generous donation of money, toys, and time.
