Library wraps up summer reading programs

The summer reading program ended on Tuesday, July 27. Kids headed to Eva Horning Park for a picnic, awards and a pool party afterwards to wrap up the seven week program as well as the summer reading contest.

"The kids had a great time," said Guna Chaberek, librarian at the Mineral County Library. "It was a little rainy at first, but it cleared up and they all had a good time."

Chaberek said that she was very thankful to Leslie Heppe, who coordinated the entire program throughout the summer and lined up activities every Tuesday for the kids.

"Leslie Heppe coordinated all three age groups all summer long and she did a marvelous job. It went very well," Chaberek said.

Throughout the summer, kids gathered in the parks on Tuesdays for the summer reading program with the theme of "Make a Splash." Each session focused on different aspects of life underwater and the world of water. The meetings featured fun learning activities for the kids as well as brought in special guests from throughout the community to read a book to the kids.

The reading program hooked right in with the free lunch each Tuesday and Chaberek said that they had anywhere from 20 to 30 kids during a given week.

"It worked well," Chaberek said.

Along with the summer reading program, the library also offered a reading contest to kids of all ages. The goal is for students to read as many books as they could and garner points. The top individual in each age group with the most points at the end received a $50 cash prize. Weekly winners also received $10.

"This was the best the reading contest had ever done," Chaberek said. "We had offered large prizes in the past, like an iPod, but kids didn't really get into it. But they wanted the fifty dollars."

Students received five points for books that the library recommended, thicker books were worth three points and a regular book was worth two points. Chaberek said that also offered an additional two points for nonfiction books that were read.

"Nonfiction is something that they don't usually read and we have a lot of nonfiction books and we're trying to get them to read them," Chaberek said. "And when they read them for the contest, they were all of sudden saying ‘hey, look at this,' so I think it helped. Maybe some of them noticed that they could read biographies and learn a lot of history."

The winners of the three $50.00 prizes for the most points for books read were Alexea Kelsey, in the kindergarten through third grade age division, Kaylie Schoolcraft, fourth through sixth grade, and Merlyn Osborne, seventh through eighth grade.

Chaberek said that she was impressed by the girls' efforts. She said that Kelsey alone read an amount of books that were worth 282 points.

"I had a stack of book reports from her that were over an inch thick," Chaberek said. "It was unbelievable. Students would start thinking about things and writing them down."

Of course, the intention of the summer reading program and the reading contest is to keep students reading throughout the summer. Chaberek said that often when school gets out, students may not read as much. Gayle Lebar, who sits on the Friends of the Library council, said that they wanted to encourage kids to read all summer long and that they shouldn't stop "just because they're not in school and not having to read for class."

Chaberek said that she hopes that the kids will gain an appreciation for what books have to offer and hopes that just because there aren't any incentives that they will continue to read until school starts.

"I hope the kids that read a lot this summer will come back and read some more without the incentive," Chaberek said. "It's important."

Chaberek said that she suspects often when the kids go back to school and August and if they haven't been reading the teachers have to back track a little by getting them back on track with reading. She said that hopefully by reading throughout the summer, the teachers can stress other things.

Alberton also held a shorter summer reading program as well to encourage students to find a love for reading. Chaberek said that books offer a lot to students, which includes giving them insight on things that they might not necessarily be exposed to living in their community.

Chaberek said that she believes that around $300 was awarded in prizes throughout the summer and that students have the Friends of the Library to thank as without their support it wouldn't have been what it was.

"It was a substantial sum I thought," Chaberek said. "And the Friends of the Library are to thank."