Marie Fleche Memorial Library inspires a love of literacy through its “Unearth a Story” Summer Reading Program.
This year, a dinosaur theme is featured in the children’s summer reading program, which began on Monday, June 22, and continues through Friday, August 14.
After registering at the library, each child receives a reading record to track their progress throughout the summer. Stickers are added to the reading record to track the number of hours spent reading or the number of books completed. Every child participating in the program fills out a ticket with their name, the number of hours or books read during the week, and their Summer Reading Program number.
Each week, participants can turn in a ticket to receive a small prize, and a weekly drawing is held for larger prizes based on the number of tickets collected the previous week. All tickets must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 14, for a chance to win the grand prize which is a basket of gift cards for local venues.
Erica Quiles, program coordinator, has worked at the library for nearly 10 years and enjoys the sense of community the summer reading program creates.
“In our summer reading program, I think it really builds confidence for the kids,” Quiles said. “I try to get to know as many of them as I can. Through the years, I’ve watched them grow, and I get to know their likes and their dislikes.”
“We do have some children that struggle, so we try to build them up and find things for them to read,” she continued.
Quiles said children are excited to participate in the summer reading program, and providing prizes gives them an added incentive.
“The kids meet other kids that they might go to school with, and they see friends they may not have seen over the summer,” she said. “So it gives them another chance to connect.”
Additionally, the library offers take-home craft projects throughout the summer for children. Other activities include a Lego Club, Play-Doh Play Date, the Play Patrol music program, and Jumpin’ Jamie, a music and puppet show. Older children can also attend an Edelman Fossil Park and Museum dinosaur presentation.
Mary Albertson, library director, who has served in her position for one year, shares Quiles’ enthusiasm for the summer reading programs.
“We make sure we partner with Berlin Community School (BCS), our local school, to make sure we have the books included on their summer reading list,” Albertson said. “We make sure we try to have all the books.”
This year marks the first Adult Summer Reading Challenge held at the library. It also began on the same day as the children’s summer reading program and concludes at the same time. Adult participants who turn in a completed bingo card receive a $5 Wawa gift card and a bookmark. Completed cards are also entered into a drawing for the grand prize, a $50 Visa gift card. All completed cards must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 14. Participants must be at least 18 years old to register for the Adult Summer Reading Challenge.
So far, 126 children and 37 adults have registered to participate in the Marie Fleche Memorial Library’s summer reading programs.
