Summer fun is in full swing at the Leach Library, which recently kicked off its popular summer reading programs and busy summer schedule of children’s programming and events.
The theme of this year’s summer reading program and events is “Every Hero Has a Story.”
“We want kids to be excited to come to the library,” said Senior Children’s Librarian Jennifer DelVillar.
In addition to offering incentives for reading to children, the library launched five years ago a summer reading program for adults after much demand from patrons.
“This is a highly intellectual, educated community,” Library Director Barbara Ostertag-Holtkamp said. “We figured we would offer the program until no one was interested anymore, but it has been so popular we have continued bringing it back each year.”
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses that donate gift cards, Ostertag-Holtkamp said the library is able to award desirable prizes to those who participate in the young adult and adult reading programs.
Registration for the summer reading programs opened in June and will continue through the summer. DeVillar said children and adults set reading goals for themselves, and have until Sept. 5 to turn in reading logs.
“We expect a young child reading picture books will read more books over the summer than a young adult,” she explained. “Children can pick their own goal – that’s between themselves and their caregiver.”
In addition to the summer reading programs, the library offers a different children’s program or event every day through the summer, starting July 23 and running through Aug. 13.
Special, themed events will be offered on Mondays at 11 a.m.; a themed, drop-in reading program on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; an outside performer or entertainment on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.; a craft activity on Thursdays at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.; Who’s Your Hero, an opportunity for children to earn a prize when they stop by the Children’s Room and share their hero every Friday; and a scavenger hunt on Saturdays, which will feature a raffle with prizes.
“We really make an effort to bring in all new performers each year to keep it fresh,” said Ostertag-Holtkamp, who added the focus is on providing educational performances that entertain and pique children’s interest in the topics.
Ostertag-Holtkamp urges parents to register for all events and programs – last week, the library’s Turtle Power reading program had a waiting list after it reached its capacity of 90 attendees.
“It’s pretty competitive to register for these events, being that they are so popular,” she said.
On Monday, children enjoyed playing Patriotic Bingo – a picture version of the popular game accessible to all ages, with book prizes for everyone who played, even the adults.
Other special programs scheduled in July include Legend of Marshmellow Island: A Musical Adventure, a journey with Mystic Drumz featuring instruments such as the Nigerian Talking Drum, the Brazilian Quica, Vibraslap, Flextone and Chinese Gongs on July 15; Badger Meets the Fairies Puppet Show with Margaret Moody on July 22; and Heroes and Villains Animal Show, which will explore myths surrounding animals and include animal visitors – live animals may include a bat, snake, alligator, hedgehog, hissing cockroach and armadillo – on July 29. All the special performances and educational entertainment on Wednesdays this summer are from 11 a.m. until noon.
“That they have something planned every day is really nice,” said Summer Tremblay, who homeschools her two children and has found the library to be a valuable resource. “They always have something different, and the programs are always educational. We love coming here.”
In addition to appreciating the free programming, Tremblay said she loves that the staff are so inviting and warm toward the children.
“They call the kids by their name and they’re really caring,” said Tremblay, who has had staff put aside additional books related to a topic she was researching after she left. “It makes you want to come back.”
And that’s exactly what DelVillar said her staff is working to accomplish, particularly through their summer reading programs and events.
“A child who loves to come to the library and read grows into a young adult who loves to come to the library, and they grow into a parent who loves to bring their children to the library,” she said.
For more information about the library’s summer programs and events, pick up an informational packet at the children’s desk, or visit the library online at www.londonderrynh.org .