Summer Reading Program Kicks off June 7 at Chelsea District Library

The Chelsea District Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Dig Into Reading!” will roar to life on June 7th , and this year is going to be all about building a love of books!  Children of all ages, 0-17, are invited to sign up for Summer Reading and earn prizes all summer long, just by reading! For every five books you read (or listen to), you get a small prize. Read 20 books, you get a free book! The library will host a Construction Kickoff Party on the library lawn from 12-2pm on Friday, June 7th.

What’s happening at the Kickoff?  Registration for Summer Reading, of course, and there will be lots of games, crafts and activities, including a Bounce House and a Construction Zone. Afterward, Mat Emerick, the Juggling Storyteller, will present a show from 2-3pm in the McKune Room. Head of Youth & Teen Services Karen Persello explains that Summer Reading can make a big difference for students next fall.  “After working so hard at reading during the school year, students can experience “Summer Slide.”  According to a report from the National Summer Learning Associations, students can actually LOSE almost two months of academic experience over the summer.  That means teachers have to spend more than a month re-teaching what students have forgotten when they return to school in the fall.”

“Summer Reading, and participating in educationally enriching activities over the summer, like our new Read to Your Library Buddy program, can stop the Summer Slide. “The library’s Read to Your Library Buddy program is part of a partnership between the Chelsea District Library and the Chelsea School District to promote and support reading activities all summerlong.  Children will have the opportunity to read out loud to teens and adults in the library’s brand new Read to Your Library Buddy program.  Children will also receive Summer Reading logs that they can keep all summer and turn in to their teachers in the fall, helping teachers to see the progress the students have made over the summer. Read to Your Library Buddy pairs readers with teen or adult volunteers who will listen and encourage reading aloud in a stress-free environment.  Children can sign up for 15 minute reading sessions on Thursdays through June and July, and track their reading aloud activities for special prizes. The goal of the Read to Your Library Buddy program is to help children gain confidence and strengthen their reading skills by reading aloud to a trained volunteer. 

Edith Burney, Youth & Teen Librarian and teen volunteer Youth Service Group Coordinator, is excited about opportunities the Reading Buddy program offers to her teen volunteers.  “Teens are already getting a chance to practice leadership and community service through helping with library programs and at the library’s Summer Reading Registration Table, but now they will get a chance to have hands on experience helping young children enjoy reading as much as they do.”  

In addition to the library giving each Summer Reading participant a prize for the first five, ten and fifteen books they read, they will also receive chances to win Grand Prizes, including four tickets to Cedar Point, a bike from Aberdeen Bike & Outdoors, a three month pass to the TreeHouse, a waterproof digital camera and a collection of fun digging machine toys.  Everyone who reads 20 books or 20 hours receives a free book.  Teens will have chance to win a grand prize of two $100 Gift Certificates to Amazon.com. 

“Dig Into Reading! can mean burrowing under the covers with a flashlight and a good read,” Robin Linkowski, Youth & Teen Librarian said, as she organized a selection of Board Books for baby prizes. “We also want to encourage parents to sign up babies, toddlers and preschoolers in our Summer Reading Program, since reading to your young child is so important to their development. ALL ages are welcome to join!”

A big thank you goes to the library’s 2013 Summer Reading Program Sponsors: Rick Taylor of Charles Reinhart Company, Chelsea Masons’ Olive Lodge #156, and the Friends of the Chelsea District Library.For more information about summer events at the library, check out the Chelsea District Library’s website at www.chelsea.lib.mi.us or call the Youth Information desk at 734-475-8732, ext. 4.