With 234 signups, the summer reading program had a record-breaking season
The summer reading program at the Monroe Township Public Library came to a close with a concert from local performer Joe Consiglio, known as “Silly Joe.”
Library assistant Nicole Veit, who is in charge of children’s programming, said her summer reading program was for kids 12 and under and has been around for a couple decades.
“Libraries have been running summer reading programs for as long as I can remember,” Veit said. “I was born and raised in Williamstown and participated in the summer reading program when I was a kid.”
Veit was pleased with this summer’s turnout for the program, saying this was the most signups she’s ever seen.
“This was a great year for our summer reading program! We had more signups than ever before with 234 kids signing up and continuing to visit the library over the summer,” she said.
One of the things that makes this program successful is that Veit is flexible when planning the program.
“Over the years, different people have run it and each of them has put in their own personal touch. It’s a combination of all of the successful ideas we have tried over the past 10 years,” she said. “Every year we tweak it and add to it.”
This year’s theme was “Libraries Rock!” To play into the theme, Veit had opportunities for the kids to make musical instruments in their craft sessions, and they read books about all different kinds of music. They even had musical performances from the African Drum and Dance Ensemble and Silly Joe.
The goal of the summer reading program is simple in the eyes of Veit — she wants kids to come to the library. While she wants kids to read, the endgame is to get kids into the library.
“The purpose of the summer reading program is to get kids into the library,” she said. “For me, and my library, we just want them to come to the library. We want them to feel welcome, to view the library as somewhere they want to visit. We want them to get comfortable here, ask us questions, find out what kind of events we have going on, figure out how to find the books they like. We try to have something for everyone.”
The summer reading program rewards kids for reading. Per Veit, it doesn’t matter what the kids read — it could be a summer reading book from school or a comic book. She stressed the importance of grade schoolers to practice their reading skills.
“It is important for grade schoolers to keep practicing their reading skills,” Veit said. “Younger children learn a love of reading while being read to by their parents making learning easier once they are in school, There is an academic benefit to the summer reading program, but there is also a social benefit. You can meet your friends there or even make new friends. It gives kids a break from the ‘screens’ and gives the parents a break from the parks and pools.”
As a further incentive for reading, the summer reading program offers plastic coins for every hour they read and for every event they attend.
“At the end of the summer, we have a shop where the kids can spend their coins to get a little prize,” Veit said.
For more information about events coming up at the library, visit www.monroetpl.org.
