Summer reading programs kick off
Published 10:01 pm Thursday, June 18, 2009
The sooner children develop the habit of reading, the better – and the Suffolk Public Libraries are here to help with that this summer.
“The summer reading program makes reading fun,” said Carrie Willis, children’s librarian at the North Suffolk Library. “It’s very inviting, it draws them in, it helps them associate fun, positive activities with reading.”
Suffolk libraries have a variety of activities and shows planned to enhance the children’s reading program. Magicians, storytellers and puppet shows are scheduled throughout the summer at all of the city’s libraries to create a multi-faceted learning experience.
To participate in the children’s summer reading program, children up to age 12 must sign up at any Suffolk Public Library branch, read for 20 minutes each day and mark the time on their reading log. To receive their prize, they can return the completed reading logs to the library Aug. 10-22.
For teens ages 12-19, participants are asked to write a review of every book they read between June 15 and Aug. 15 and turn in the reviews at their library branch. For each review, the teen’s name will be entered into drawings for an array of prizes. The grand prize is a 4GB iPodShuffle. Teens can sign up at their library branch or online at www.suffolk.lib.va.us.
The adult summer reading program is similar to the teens’, except that the grand prize is a portable DVD player. The teens and adults will have a party at the end of summer, catered by Olive Garden, for the prize drawings.
“We kind of feel like this is an opportunity for them to read for fun,” Willis said. “We feel like if they’re having fun reading all summer, they’ll be ready and excited for the next school year, and they’ll be that much more ahead.”
For more information about the reading program, visit www.suffolk.lib.va.us or call one of the following numbers: Morgan Memorial Library, 514-7323; North Suffolk Library, 514-7150; or Chuckatuck Library, 514-7310. Also check out the community calendar section of the News-Herald for special children’s events.
