By SAMANTHA BEAL
Clarion News Writer
The Knox Public Library recently received $930 through a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to help with the library’s summer programs.
The money is part of over $7.1 million in grants awarded this year to over 900 schools, nonprofit groups and organizations in the 43 states Dollar General serves.
In Knox, the grant has reached over 130 local readers through the library’s eight-week summer reading program. “Build a Better World,” which started June 6.
The program, which ended July 20, aimed to encourage summer reading by incorporating books, media and crafts focused on…well, building.
“You can go different directions,” children’s librarian Erin Lloyd said.
While other libraries have focused on building better selves or building better environments, Lloyd has taken a physical approach. Her program’s participants have learned the mechanics of building structures of all sorts.
The program divided children into three groups. Busy Builders were 3-year-olds through second-graders; Creative Constructors were third-graders through sixth-graders; and Awesome Architects were teenagers.
This group, according to Lloyd has grown significantly. Seventeen teens participated in this year’s summer program. The oldest is entering 10th grade this fall.
While younger kids answered questions like, “What’s an architect?,” older kids researched “I.M. Pei” and “Burj Khalifa.”
To motivate Awesome Architects, Lloyd made a challenge out of researching: The first participant to find out the week’s topic won a prize.
Contests weren’t just for teens, though. The groups also competed against each other.
“We’re not required by the state anymore (to compete),” said Lloyd. “But the kids like the contest between groups.”
Each week, readers kept track of the number of minutes they read.
When they brought their records to Lloyd, she gave them a prize and recorded their totals. Each group’s total was marked on the library wall. The group with the most minutes won the competition.
As of July 7, kids had read 47,000 minutes. (That’s equal to 33 days of non-stop reading).
Each year, Lloyd orders books especially for the summer program.
“I’ve been concentrating more on the young adult books,” she noted, “Because our teen program is growing.”
The 17 kids participating this year may be graduating soon. But the plethora of younger readers (88 Busy Builders and 32 Creative Constructors) promise substantial future teen programs. Preparing for future teenagers – and a general growing audience – Lloyd’s program allowed her to add more than 75 new books to the library.
The Dollar General grant did not go directly to these purchases, however. Grant money is awarded to groups based on certain criteria, and the Knox Public Library used the funds to advertise Build a Better World and buy program “incentives.” (These included reward prizes and items for the program’s finale picnic.)
“Consistent with our mission ‘Serving Others,’” stated Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos in a press release, “We are excited to provide these organizations with funding to further literacy and education across the communities will call home.”
The program’s website notes since the Literacy Foundation’s 1993 conception, it has provided 7.9 million people with educational support through $127 million in grants.
Knox Public Library has benefited from such grants the past few years.
The library also received support from the Clarion County Library System. (Funds came largely from the system’s Cash Bash last November.) Organizations around Knox help, too.
“We get support from the Knox Civic Club, specifically for the children programs,” added library director Roxanne Miller.
When it comes to the reading program picnic, several businesses donate items. The event was held July 25 and is one of the program’s highlights.
“Last year,” explained Lloyd, “was the first time we had our final picnic out at Wolf’s Campground. Everybody had such a nice time that we did it again.”
Tom’s Riverside donates hot dogs and Sharp Shopper gives hot dog buns. Local Girl Scouts have donated cookies, too.
“There are four or five girls in that group that come to the reading program,” noted Lloyd. “And they wanted to donate something.”
Those who attend the picnic had access to the campground pool and arcade room. With special awards and free books, Lloyd makes the day memorable for kids.
“It’s special for them,” she noted.
The summer reading program is the library’s main summer event. But this year, other programs have been added.
One is Lloyd’s monthly block party.
Held Saturdays, children visit the library and learn to building with wooden blocks, Legos and magnetic tiles. Mostly, this program allows younger children to play creatively and constructively.
“I recommend 2 to 10 (years old),” Lloyd affirmed. “But we do have some younger, we have some older (kids).”
But “1,000 Books before Kindergarten” is geared entirely toward young children. Adopted this year by Clarion County libraries, it encourages children and their parents to read 1,000 before beginning school. For each 100 books read, kids receive a prize and have their picture posted on the library’s Facebook page.
“The kids are like, ‘Oh, I’ll be famous!’” Lloyd explained.
As of July 7, 30 kids were registered. The program, conducted through the efforts of the Clarion system and United Way, continues to receive new readers each month. Several students have read over 400 books in the last eight months.
Lloyd said, “I have one that just turned in their 700th (book).”
Elise is 3 years old. Her mother is a school librarian, and both Miller and Lloyd believe this has influenced Elise’s love for reading. She especially enjoys Arthur the Aardvark books.
The “1,000 Books before Kindergarten” program will continue through the year. Children are welcome to join the program any time.
A schedule of all summer events (including the library book club) is available online at www.youseemore.com/knoxpl.
Lloyd and Miller ask people visit the library’s Facebook page. They maintain this page regularly, offering library news and announcements.
The Knox Public Library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact the library at (814) 797-1054 for more information.