Local teens work on projects during the teen summer reading program in 2015 at a branch of the Marshall County Public Library.
School is out and local summer programs for children are in full swing.
The Marshall County Public Library is continuing its summer reading program for first grade through teenage kids, and if early registration numbers are correct, it’s an option that is gaining traction in Benton. Children’s Librarian Beth Kerrick said the Benton branch signed up more than 200 participants for this year’s programs, a marked increase from previous years.
Kerrick said the average participation rate at each branch reaches a little more than 100 kids, a difference she and Benton branch Director Lenisa Jones attributed in part to increased outreach efforts.
“They do a lot of outreach promoting at the schools,” Jones said. “They work with the school librarians, so there’s been a big buildup I think, and some kids were really excited and really encouraged to do it, too. … Promoting the signs at Lego night maybe as a kickoff may have been a part of that. There’s nothing new that’s some big awesome thing to really draw them in. … Now, the last two weeks – maybe it has something to do with like school being out – but we have been extremely busy; and the ones that didn’t get to come to Lego night have all been coming in, and it seems like they were very gung-ho about getting their reading challenges and stuff started.”
It’s an exciting development, Kerrick said. Library staff began registration at its Lego Night kickoff event May 22, and Kerrick said she looked forward to seeing how end of summer numbers would stack up to that registration.
“That’s going to be exciting,” Kerrick said.
The program is simple, divided up into age brackets for elementary school aged children and kids who are in middle school and older, though children in fifth and sixth grade may choose which age division they choose to pursue. Younger children are given a “Bingo” board on which to record reading and program achievements toward an incentive. For every five books a child reads, he or she will receive a prize – usually some type of ice cream – courtesy of a local sponsor business.
Tweens and teens accumulate points on a system based on the number of pages read or library programs attended. Teens receive book prizes or candy along the way as they meet goals. Teen programs culiminate in a final event for the summer: The ultimate fandom party, which is similar to a scaled down version of ComicCon. Young Adult Librarian Ashley Hayden plans the event, with prizes and fun to match.
“They’re kind of work toward that,” Jones said. “The amount of points they get, I think their name gets (put) into a drawing, so many times if they reach those incentives. So, the more chances your name is in a drawing the more chances to win a prize. … They come dressed up, and she gives away a lot of cardboard … cutouts. … She does a lot of fun little ‘Walking Dead’ figures.”
Summer reading initiatives have been in place since at least the early 1990s at all three branches, and have served to be more than just free fun for kids. Jones said the goal, in addition to providing assistance for parents who may struggle with finding an inexpensive activity for their children in the summer, was to continue education throughout the summer to combat “summer slide.”
“It keeps them reading over the summer,” Jones said. “But they’re having fun doing it, and … they don’t look at it as like ‘oh, I’m going to be caught up to where I’m not losing anything between May and August.’”
Combating summer slide is only part of the appeal for library staff, however. Kerrick said staff hoped to encourage a lifelong love for reading and the public library through its various community programs. Reaching those citizens in their youth made it more likely that they would grow to continue participating in those programs and eventually, perhaps, bring their own children.
“We want them to become lifelong readers and have a love of reading,” Kerrick said. “We’re hoping that by providing these programs, they will continue to be users and advocates of the library system, that they will … as get older they look back on their adventures in the library having positive memories, and they’ll take that with them into adulthood. And we’ll just keep on producing patrons of the library.”
Summer reading programs are free and open to the public. Participants may register at any point in the summer and attend programs at any branch of the Marshall County Library system. Events will be held weekly at each branch – Benton, Hardin and Calvert City – through July 31, with the heaviest concentration of activities taking place for younger children in July.
Regular Benton branch library programs such as Mother Goose and Story Hour, which are geared for children age 2-3 and preschool students, respectively, will continue throughout the summer, as well. Parents with children participating in both Story Hour and summer reading may bring their Story Hour kids to summer reading also, Kerrick said, though preference will be given to elementary aged students participating in summer reading.
For summer reading event schedules, visit here. For teen summer reading event schedules, visit here.
For more information on the summer reading program, contact any branch of the Marshall County Public Library or visit marshallcolibrary.org.