Summer reading at the library available for all ages
COSHOCTON – Summer reading at the library is almost here. The program kicks off on June 6 and will run through July 31, culminating with the ever-popular Lake Park Pool Party at the end on July 31. This year’s overall theme is sports with the theme “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” for kids, “Get in the Game” for teens, and “Exercise Your Mind! Read” for adults.
The theme is statewide as Coshocton libraries and others all over Ohio participate in the collective summer reading for the state of Ohio. Next year, instead of different themes for different age groups, there will be one main theme for the entire program.
Registration is required to participate in the program and can be done by visiting either the Coshocton main library or the West Lafayette branch. Kids will receive a “First Reading Record” with 16 baseballs printed on the form, each representing 15 minutes of reading. Once each baseball is filled in, representing four hours of reading time, kids can return the form to the library and register for a chance to win prizes. Every four hours qualifies for a home run and kids can place a baseball sticker on a display board at the library for each home run they hit during the summer. For the first home run, kids have the opportunity to win prizes including Renaissance coupons, a free trip to McPeek’s Mighty Maze, or a truck Pez provided by Auer Ace Hardware. Each participant will also receive a food coupon for their first four hours of reading. Those under three years old get a sippy cup.
For each home run after, kids can win other great prizes such as an American Girl Doll, a Kid’s Kindle, and other prizes. Teens have the opportunity to win a one-year teen pass to Kids America, a salon manicure and pedicure, a 24” smart HD TV, and other prizes. Adults can also win prizes which include book bags and Kindle Fires. Each age group has the opportunity to win six tickets for Coshocton Library Night with the Columbus Clippers, which will be Aug. 14. Everyone will be able to walk the track before the game and one winner will throw out the first pitch at the game.
“All library prizes are made possible by community sponsors,” said Jennifer Austin, teen librarian. “We start asking for funding in January and go around to different business in the community who give us funding. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have this program.”
Approximately 1,200 children and 200 teens are expected to participate in the program this year.
“The reason we are so excited about summer reading is because of the summer slide,” said Deborah Crowdy, children’s coordinator. “By ninth grade, there is a 52 Lexile point difference between those who read in summer and those who don’t. So we feel it’s vital for children to participate in reading. If you have a younger sibling and you read to them, those minutes count for you and for them.”
The libraries will also have activities throughout the summer as part of the reading program including Little Olympians, Champ Camp with fun crafts, the MadCap Puppets, Ben and the Dragon book reading, Plugged and Unplugged, Maker Teens: A Maker Space Club, a metal water bottle design shop, Hi Bounce Ball Lab, and many more. All programs are free, but registration is required. For more information on those programs and more, see The Beacon’s Community Calendar.
“Anything you read counts,” said Austin. “Comics, magazines, I’ve even had students from the Christian school ask if their devotionals count and the answer is, yes. The purpose is just to get them to read.”
Summer is the library’s busiest time of the year, and they start planning the summer reading program in January. People start asking about the program in late winter and always look forward to the free pool party at Lake Park.
“We see people during the summer that we don’t see any other time of the year,” said Crowdy. “It’s an opportunity to talk about the library and it’s just an exciting time to be at the library.”
Category: People & Places
