By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The summer reading program at the Wood County District Public Library has been a longtime favorite of local children.
They are inspired to read as many books as possible in the summer and about any topic they choose.
The program covertly encourages them to maintain their reading skills from school and build other foundational skills.
Most importantly, they get to know the joy of reading and visiting the library. And in doing so, they get the chance to earn rewards for reading and participating in the program.
Now, adults have their own opportunity to win prizes in a summer reading program. This summer the library has instituted an adult program with some of the same goals as the kids’ program, plus a few adult-focused outcomes.
A kickoff party for the adult program was held June 5, complete with mocktails, crafts and a display of possible good summer reads.
“People kept asking us for a summer reading program,” said Kristin Wetzel, information services coordinator. “That’s when everyone is thinking more about reading anyway.” With vacations and longer days, it’s easier to fit in a beach read or an evening read outside.
Though children’s summer reading programs have been a staple for decades, this is the first time in at least 16 years that an adult program was offered, Wetzel said.
The plans for a summer program moved forward after the success of a winter reading program, said WCDPL Deputy Director Michelle Raine. More than 200 people submitted 1,339 etnries as participants in the winter reading program and
The idea of the fun kick-off party was designed to bring more visibility to the program.
“We want people to read year-round. We want families to read. And we know by promoting overall literacy, that adults model that for the kids,” said WCDPL Board President Ken Frisch.
“This truly is a community-driven initiative,” he added.
He called the library “a community resource” that responds to the community’s wishes.
Because of that, the library’s circulation numbers are up compared to a year ago, which is contrary to the downward circulation trend that other libraries in Ohio and across the nation are experiencing.
Reading offers “a tool for lifelong learning,” said Raine about the value of adults continuing to read throughout their lives. “It is also a stress reliever and a way to keep one’s mind sharp.”
The library is also a central community gathering place. “The summer reading program was a way to bring people together,” she said.
For Ivan and Kim Work, the library was a perfect place to gather on June 5. They were nestled in two of the comfortable reading chairs in the library’s atrium when the kickoff party started.
The Marysville, Ohio, couple had landed at the library to pass the time waiting for a grandson to complete a non-residential engineering camp at Bowling Green State University. Because they had to check out of the rental house in the morning, they opted to spend the time reading in the comfort of the library.
Though strangers to the town, they were warmly welcomed to partake in the festivities that included mocktails, popcorn and crafts.
Mike Sibbersen, a library board member, stopped in to support the event and check out some of the book titles for his voracious reading habit that “runs the gamut,” he said. He reads everything including nonfiction, fiction, biography and history.
Somewhat surprisingly, he was an Ann Patchett fan, having read most of her books. His favorite, “Bel Canto,” is one he has gifted several times. “I just think that not everybody’s going to enjoy it, but the potential for enjoyment is pretty great there, I think.”
His love of books started at a young age from his mother reading books like “Robinson Crusoe” and “Swiss Family Robinson.”
Mother and daughter Danielle and Malachite Margison signed up for the summer reading program because they already read a lot of books. “Why not,” Danielle said. “Besides, it also encourages me to read Yeah, I know. It’s a different time of year, isn’t it? So why are you doing it this for summer?
Danielle prefers horror stories, after growing up in a family that liked “spooky,” she said.
Malachite is more of a mystery buff. They were excited to participate in the kick off and the summer reading program to vy for the prizes and read lots of books.
Kid’s summer reading is ‘roaring good’
This summer’s youth summer reading program is all about dinosaurs, said Maria Simon, youth services director at the library. The themes come from a collaborative group that identifies themes a few years out.
Many of the activities, displays and books reflect the dinosaur theme, from a giant dinosaur 3-D puzzle, a special display of materials from the American Museum of Natural History, and plenty of scavenger hunts within the children’s space at the library.
All of the activities incorporate little skills along the way, but in a fun way.
“It’s still early in the summer, but we’ve already given away 500 one-day passes to the Bowling Green City Pool,” Simon said, explaining that the pass is an incentive when they register for the program.
The teen volunteers help them keep track of their reading, and this year, the teen volunteers is among the biggest groups ever with 93 individuals helping.
“We love to hear stories about the success of our programs,” Simon said. “I just had a grandma who told us, ‘I’m so grateful for the excitement of the summer reading program because now she (my granddaughter) is tearing through books.’”
“Because they get to make a choice,” Simon said. In school, a lot of the reading is guided towards certain kids of reading, certain levels. “So here, the choice is theirs. We are encouraging lots of dinosaur, science and history books, but they can explore the entire collection.”
The collection, which includes Bowling Green and Walbridge libraries, is 163,000 items strong.
One of the most-used, widest circulated collections is the picture book collection.
“That really speaks to the importance of early literacy and it speaks to the importance of picture books and how words, pictures, and illustrations work together,” Simon said.
