Coordinators gear up for summer reading program

Times Reporter    

 

The summer reading program at the Strathmore Municipal Library starts in just two weeks, and the coordinators have been busy planning how to make it the best yet. This year’s theme is Go and is one that Krystal Easu and Heather Potter are excited about. Both girls applied for the coordinator roles out of a love for both kids and reading. 

“I have had previous experience babysitting and I just really love kids and doing crafts with them and reading with them,” said Potter.

“Last summer I worked at Camp Evergreen so I love camp type things, I love kids,” said Easu. 

The summer reading program itself consists of the kids coming into the library once a week. The summer reading program is for kids ages three to 17 years old. 

“In the past the teen program hasn’t had as high of a registration as we would like so we’re really going to try and improve that this year by kind of thinking of some really fun ideas such as art projects, different activities they’ll love and kind of just a casual environment (where) they can feel comfortable to come hang out with us and read some fun books,” said Potter. 

“We really want to empathize that school and the library are two different places. They can come here and have adventures, whether that is in books or real travel and we just want to hang out with them. I’m really excited about that age group,” said Easu. 

Programs like the summer reading program have been proven to help both maintain and improve a child’s reading skills. It really does come down to the ‘use or it or lose it’ theory when it comes to reading over the summer. 

Easu said she and Potter are really hoping to challenge the kids. One way they plan to do so is by setting weekly goals and a summer long goal. One of the challenges is to read more than the week before, and those who are successful will get a prize. 

There will also be a point system used. There will be a map in the meeting room where there will be a marker of some sort, either a car or a train that goes along a road or rail route. This will give participants something visual to show them their progress throughout the summer. 

“It’s not just about reading. We really want to encourage them to grow in reading, but we also want to provide a place where they can come each week and just have fun,” said Easu.

“A lot of times summer becomes just about TV and lying on a couch which doesn’t inspire much of anything let alone imagination, whereas books inspire us to get involved in our world, they let us escape it but they really let us kind of get involved.”

Easu and Potter are looking for volunteers to help them each week with the program. Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old and the commitment level will vary. The hours will be flexible, said Potter. 

“It would be a great way to spend your summer, fun filled, helping with the kids and being active as well,” said Potter.

On the final Friday, August 23, there will be a wrap up held for all of the participants in the summer reading program. 

The program will run Monday to Thursday and the girls are currently trying to come up with ideas on different events to host each Friday. Stay tuned to the Strathmore Municipal Library Facebook page to find out what they come up with.