« Public libraries can change children's lives | Main | New Sea Bright Library wing opens »

June 21, 2009

Summer reading clubs' exciting season starts

By Nancy Shields • COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU • June 21, 2009

Hey kids, we know that Wii game is mesmerizing, the swimming pool is beckoning, and if your family has any extra money at all, you're going to get out of town for a little vacation.

But there's someone who wants to see you — the librarian down at your town's public library, hoping you'll sign up for the summer reading club. It's a real summer deal, free for you, thanks to taxpayers. And it's something kids have been doing since the days of your great-grandparents.

Most of the programs start soon after school gets out, or at least by July.

You'll be reading books, keeping a list, getting a certificate, a prize. And most libraries have a lot more activities and programs, from crafts to movies.

"The schools here encourage the summer reading club," said Marlboro head librarian Robyn Miller. "Reading is just a healthy skill and about the best thing to do in the summer so that when you hit school in September, your mind is still working."

Marlboro, part of the Monmouth County Library system, has separate clubs for kids still being read to and children reading independently. If you read on your own and complete at least eight hours of reading, you'll get to take part in a science event on Aug. 19.

If you listen to someone read 20 books to you, you'll be meeting Ronald McDonald the clown at the library on Aug. 18.

At the same time, there are movies for teens, a Monopoly tournament, and classes to learn origami and how to draw a superhero.

At the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library system, principal librarian Suzanne Maley said children at all 21 branches this year will be logging on to list their books and can write reviews if they want.

"We attract from babies to teens," Maley said. "We have all kinds of programs, activities and contests for different age groups, all different times of the day."

"We also put together recommended reading lists because lots of time, parents want that kind of information," Maley said. "We kind of match the book to the child and the child to the book."

Maley said the hot books continue to be the "Diary of A Whimpy Kid" series by Jeff Kinney.

Asbury Park Public Library's summer reading club starts in July. Although it is on a smaller scale than the county library branches', children can check out books, keep their lists up to date, do arts and crafts twice a week and have a special party, said Linda Keane, Asbury Park's children's librarian.

"We usually get the elementary school students and maybe some middle schoolers," Keane said. "Just come in beforehand. Parents have to sign for children under 18."

Posted by tumulty at June 21, 2009 1:14 PM

Comments

Post a comment