By Samantha Beal
Staff writer
CLARION COUNTY – Libraries in the Clarion County Library System are open year-round. But in the summer, their missions are focused.
Each library has a free summer reading program, funded by donations and contributions from the community. Themes this year are sports-related.
Take a look at what they’ve been doing for kids on summer break.
Clarion Free Library
For the 150 kids participating in Clarion’s summer reading program, adventure comes in many forms.
“For the younger kids, it’s a story time,” said children’s librarian Jean Smith.
Kids in pre-school through second grade meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday mornings. They have crafts and activities after listening to a story. Third to sixth graders, who meet Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., have guest speakers.
They had the chance to participate in a butterfly program directed by Jerry Schneider in June. (Schneider currently works for the Vermont Butterfly Atlas Project.) Nutritionist Christine Lewis taught kids on June 14 about healthy eating. Self-defense by Gregg Smith and planting by Penn State Extension were the topics of other days.
But reading is still the priority. Every hour of reading earns a prize. Kids set their goals and work toward them each week.
Jean added, “The kids can read any books they want. It doesn’t have to be (about) the theme.”
For kids who attend local daycares and cannot get to the library, Jean takes summer reading to them. Every Friday, she brings books to Creative Kids and Kids Choice centers.
Kelsey Tillery is the young adult librarian, and directs the teen summer reading program. About 10 area teens are involved with the series, which means movie, board game and activity nights. The library has become a recreational haven for them.
“It’s a good place for (the) kids,” said Tillery.
They also mark reading hours. Teens usually meet Thursday evenings.
Clarion has other programs during the week that are largely attended by summer reading kids. Puppy Dog Tales on Wednesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. help kids to read by providing a furry audience. Movie and game nights are also popular.
Three library volunteers help Jean. But parents are also vital.
“The parents help a lot,” Jean said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”
A concluding family movie night and pizza party is scheduled for July 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Knox Public Library
With nearly 130 kids enrolled this year, the Knox program certainly is a marathon. The series began June 7.
There are three main sections. Dashing Minions are 3-year-olds through second graders who meet Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Speedy Sprinters are third through sixth graders who meet Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Marathon-aires are teenagers who gather Thursdays between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Keystone SMILES also sends students to the program.
Each day of the program has a topic tailored to every age group.
June 16 was “Dirt on Their Skirts.” Marathon-aires were educated on women’s baseball during World War II. Teens also discussed sports inequality during that era.
Digging deeper into other topics sets Marathon-aires apart from the other age groups. Teens don’t just listen to children’s librarian Erin Lloyd read stories. They discover things.
Lloyd said, “We do more history and having them look up stuff.”
For younger participants, “Dirt on Their Skirts” was an opportunity to play ball after Lloyd explained the game. The combination of reading, explaining and experiencing supports Pennsylvania’s science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics focus for the program.
“They’re using larger motor skills,” Lloyd stated. “Fine motor skills, listening and comprehension.”
Between program days, kids are responsible for reading. They record their reading minutes for prizes. Combined group time is also marked.
Lloyd noted, “It gets them excited about reading, because of the competition.”
Parents are encouraged to get involved, too.
“I’m very much into adult participation,” said Lloyd. “When the kids see you getting excited about reading, the kids get excited about reading.”
Interaction with kids is the thing Lloyd values most, both in the program and outside it.
She explained, “I love being recognized outside of the library and (kids) telling me what books they’re reading.”
The program ends July 19. A concluding pool party picnic with awards will be held at Wolf’s Camping Resort July 26.
Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library
Library director Rachel Campbell collaborated this year with summer reading coordinator Ginger Rodgers.
The program has over 100 children who participate in the weekly Tuesday events. The nine-week series operates on the volunteerism of six to eight helpers, a few of which are Friends of the Library.
“(They’re) just basically all-around awesome people,” Campbell noted about Friends. “They’re just there to help us out anytime we need.”
According to Campbell, the summer program is important for three major reasons. First, it creates positive kid-book relations.
“Just to foster that love of reading,” she said. “That helps them through their life.”
Also, it fights the usual summer loss of knowledge. It provides interaction between different generations, too-a valuable occurrence that is becoming less common.
The Rimersburg reading program will continue to encourage youthful reading through the end of July.
Redbank Valley Public Library
Redbank’s summer program has over 50 kids enrolled in two sections. Three or four helpers assist Amy Toth in running it.
Pre-K to second-graders meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Third through sixth graders meet Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.
A typical program day involves Toth, a library staff member, reading a story or two and discussing the day’s topic with participants. Either a game or craft follows. Shooting rockets was one day’s adventure.
Though the topic is the same for both groups, stories and discussions aren’t: Older children go deeper.
Upon signing-in each Tuesday, kids are entered into a drawing for the following week. Two names are picked for free fair tickets or ice cream vouchers at Sweet Delights.
Individual reading minutes are recorded.
“We provide a fun and easy way for kids to get excited about reading,” said Toth.
She believes the program is important for helping students retain reading skills over the summer.
The last day of the program is Aug. 2, and will be held in the Gumtown Memorial Park. A Chocolate Olympics carnival is set to conclude the series.
Foxburg Public Library
Over 30 kids were a part of Foxburg’s series.
Library director Brenda Beikert and three volunteers taught 4- to 11-year-olds about sports and fitness.
Foxburg’s program serves as an outlet for students to learn over the summer.
“It’s designed to help with the summer slide,” noted Beikert.
The program operates on a two-day system; kids can attend either Tuesday or Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Beikert reads stories each day, and directs activity centers. These consist of everything from yoga to hopscotch. Kids have a snack and check-out books before going home.
“They just have a personal goal to read 100 minutes,” said Beikert.
Having children check-out books works toward this. Reading 100 minutes each week warrants a prize, too.
Foxburg’s finale is July 20. Readers will enjoy a pizza party at the Knox bowling alley, where participation prizes will be awarded.