Libraries gear up for Summer Reading Program
By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN/mmcelwain@reviewonline.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
Wellsville
The Wellsville Public Library's "Get Creative at Your Library" runs 10-11 a.m. each Tuesday. For more information call the Library at
330-532-1526.
Chester
The Lynn Murray Memorial Library's reading programs run Wednesdays - "Express Themselves at the Library" is for grades 5-7 and runs 10:30-11:30 a.m., while "Be Creative at the Library" is for grades K-4 and runs noon to 1 p.m. For more information, call the library at 304-387-1010.
Like all librarians, Kim Blevins hopes to help spark a child's imagination.
The events slated this summer at Carnegie Public Library and other libraries in the area are designed to do just that.
The theme this year for the Summer Reading Program is "Be Creative at your Library," and libraries across the country are banding together to introduce the library, and the joy of reading and learning, to children everywhere.
"I go to schools every year to promote the Summer Reading Program," Blevins said. "This year, I visited the schools and took a skit with me as a sample."
The Summer Reading Program covers every age up to 12. The library also has teen and adult reading programs.
At each school, Blevins did a skit with one or two of the teachers. The videos were placed on YouTube, and the kids and anyone can go see the videos and vote for their favorite presentation. The voting deadline is June 30.
The skit's dialog is the same for each video. Teachers include Linda Miller and Nancy Welling from LaCroft Elementary, David Ferrebee and Pam McDowell from North Elementary, Tina Muscari from Calcutta Elementary, Quin Carter from East Liverpool Middle School, Anne Chamberlain from the American Spirit Academy-ELCS and Heather Zernich from St. Aloyisus.
Blevins said reaching out and using new technology like YouTube, for example is not something unusual for libraries.
Links to the videos and the form to vote can be found on the library's www.carnegie.lib.oh.us Web site.
Blevins appears in each video and has her own, personal, favorite but only smiled and refused to divulge her favorite so she would not influence the voting.
The Summer Reading Club is open to all people using the Carnegie Public Library in East Liverpool. Club members are generally youth or pre-schoolers. A $2.00 donation is requested for each participant at sign up, according to Blevins.
There are several privileges to being involved with the club:
- Programs are hosted every Wednesday. They will be held upstairs at Kent State's Slak Shak. The programs last one hour with guest librarians, special events and door prizes each week. Pre-schoolers should be accompanied by school aged friends or family. Others may be left. Adults must be accompanied by children.
- Craft Days will be held in the library community room every Thursday at 2pm. Students age 7 and up are welcome. Group size is limited so you must sign up to attend.
- Coupon Game is done in the children's room. You pick up a coupon in the children's room, take a look at the picture and guess the funny insects name and hand in your answer. These go into a drawing to be held at the Wednesday programs.
- Book Bucks are tabulated for club members who attend programs and read this summer. Book Bucks can be spent only at the Book Buck Bazaar held at the end of the summer. Library staff will record program attendance and the number of books returned based on slips you fill out at the circulation desk.
New this year is something Blevins calls "Family Fun on the Lawn" slated for 7-9 p.m. June 25.
"We will meet on the library lawn and the children and their families can bring blankets and join in with the fun and singing," Blevins said. Smores and crafts will be included and a neighborhood scavenger hunt is also on tap.
Blevins said the scavenger hunt forms can be picked up at 6 p.m. and will involve families walking through town looking for clues among the architecture.
A $1 per family donation is requested for Family Fun on the Lawn. The event will be held at the Salvation Army in the event of rain.
On June 1, the Carnegie Public Library also started its Teen Summer Reading Club called "Express Yourself at Your Library."
Teens can still sign up and fill out a coupon each week with the number of books read. A name will be drawn each week for eight weeks for various prizes like movie passes, golf outings or for pizza.
For the adults, anyone over 18, a separate Summer Reading Club initiative is also underway. Just like the teen club, coupons are dropped off showing the number of books read and a drawing takes place each week for prizes like gas cards, dinner certificates and overnight stays at local attractions.
The chance for teen and adult prizes ends July 27, and the finale for the Summer Reading Program happens with a July 29 pool party at Thompson Park.
Blevins has been involved with the Summer Reading Program for 16 years.
"The theme is national, but I'd say the goal of the summer reading program in East Liverpool is to make reading fun over the summer so children will want to read for a lifetime," Blevins said.
Carnegie Library Schedule
Here is the listing of the programs slated for the 2009 Summer Reading Club. All events will be held at Kent State Slak Shak unless otherwise noted:
* June 17 Let's Sing Cheryl Kelly from Salem will lead the group in a musical extravaganza.
* June 24 Music Everywhere Library staff members will share music from a variety of settings.
* July 1 Game Day Games with an artistic flair will be featured with a chance to win a library medal.
* July 8 Variety Show Sisters Carrie and Amy from Columbiana will perform Vaudeville-style skits.
* July 15 Create a Story Toni Lloyd will come from Wellsville and help those attending be creative.
* July 22 Spark the Imagination Lindsey from Leetonia will demonstrate ways to spark ideas.
* July 29 Pool Party A Family Fun Night will take place at Thompson Park to wrap up the sessions. The cost is $1 per person.
