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Idaho Enterprise

Summer Reading kicks off at library

The library recently began its annual summer reading program, which encourages kids to keep their reading skills sharp over the long break from school.  The program has been extremely popular over the years, bringing in hundreds of kids to the weekly activities and working hard for their end of summer awards.  Over 200 kids were reported to have signed up for the program as of its first week.  

This summer, the reading program is all about Monster’s University.  The theme is “When you read you succeed.” Continued reading has been shown to have a significantly high correlation with academic, and even eventual financial success for all age groups but especially those of primary school age.  Summer is also often a time when academic habits, most notably reading, problem solving, and communication tend to decline.  The program not only allows kids the chance to engage with reading in a number of ways, but also to socialize with peers in a fun outdoor environment.

Kids ages 0-11 meet at 12:30 p.m .every Tuesday in the Malad City Park, and the teen group meets Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. at the park pavilion. This week and next week will feature a demonstration by the ISU Science/Physics department, which is designed to encourage continued education in STEM subjects over the summer.

 Library director Kathy Kent explains, “through a grant from Future Fund East, through the Idaho Community Foundation, we are giving each participant a book every week on the genre we are spotlighting. Elizabeth Kent is giving the background and interesting facts about the genres we are presenting and then we are having an activity.  It’s been a lot of fun and we love giving the books away.”

Kids of all ages are invited to attend the free program for fun and a great way to spend some time learning over the summer.  

The Summer Reading program will run every Tuesday until the Summer Reading Party  on July 12 when the library will hand out the prizes for the program. 

 For adults who are interested in their own ongoing education throughout the summer, the library will also continue hosting its adult education classes at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.  This Thursday, June 22, is the next “After Hours” Adult Class.  Sherrie Thomas and Jeni Sperry will be explaining to those interested how to plan a money-saving, fun vacation to Disney World or Disney Land. 

The “After Hours” series has provided a number of classes this year on various subjects, from InstantPot and Air Fryer cooking, to the Folklore of Ireland, to Zero-scaping and gardening.  The program aims to provide practical and interesting topics for adults interesting in expanding their horizons.

July 26 will feature members of the Oneida Quilters Guild discussing and demonstrating quilting.