The Moniteau County Library @ Wood Place has planned a summer full of fun for children, while motivating them to keep up their reading skills until school begins in the fall. This year's program will serve babies all the way up through students in high school. The library has sponsored this popular program for many years with the goal to promote literacy.
To underwrite the cost of the summer reading program, a grant was submitted to the Missouri State Library. The "Reading Shapes Heroes" grant was awarded for $5,669, by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, which is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
This grant provides for special programming, collection development of books that relate to the hero theme, craft and program supplies and two part-time temporary positions to help with implementing nine weeks of programming. Linda Cable will be program leader for the Tween group and Emily Ziehmer will be program leader for the Infant and Toddler "Rubber Ducky Club".
The Rubber Ducky Club program will be provided at six area daycare facilities in addition to those programs held at the library. Two story times will be held each Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. beginning on June 3. There will be a baby and toddler program, and another for 3-5 year olds not entering kindergarten in the fall. The activities are age appropriate for the two groups and are planned using the five "Racing to Read" principles: Love Books, Talk & Read, Tell Stories, Play with Letters, and Sing & Rhyme. Parent cards will be given to help with implementing these skills.
Through the "Every Hero Has a Story" theme, programs will explore heroes, both real and imagined, during this nine-week Summer Reading Program. The Family Reader is tailored for children who are not reading on their own or just beginning to read, such as a child entering Kindergarten and First Grade. Those entering Kindergarten and First Grade will have special programs on Thursday evening with the second-fourth graders. The Independent Reader level is for students entering second-fourth grade in the fall. These children are encouraged to read on their own at least 15 minutes a day. Programs for this age group will be held each Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. beginning on May 28 upstairs at the library.
Children in the Family and Independent Reader levels earn tickets for reading, checking out books and attending programs. New this year, is the "Prize Plaza" that will be set up for shopping in the library, during the last two weeks of the summer program. In the past, there were families that were unable to attend the final party and often, those children didn't redeem their tickets. Hopefully by having the Prize Plaza open for two weeks, every child can reap the rewards of reading this summer. This year, there will be a $50 limit per child at the Prize Plaza, but children can read well beyond that amount of tickets if they choose to.
Complete information concerning rewards and programs will be available at registration.
Our Tween readers, entering Fifth-Eighth Grade have "Escape the Ordinary" as a theme. These students are encouraged to read 1500 pages over a nine week period. Students at this level will earn tickets for reading, checking out books, and attending programs.
Tween readers will be able beginning June 2, to enjoy special programming every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at the library. Complete information concerning rewards and programs will be available at registration.
For the third summer, there is a program for teens entering grades 9-12. They can earn cash prizes for reading for enjoyment over the summer. The reward for reading 4 books is $5; 8 books is $10; and 12 books is $15.
Registration for all levels will start Thursday, May 21, during library hours. (M-W-F 10-5; T-Th 10-8; Sat 9-1) Students will receive a booklet or folder to record the books they've read from the library over the summer. Complete information about the program will be in the booklets, as well as on the library web page: www.moniteaucountylibrary.org To promote good reading habits throughout Moniteau County, children who do not live in a library taxing district may have a free library card for the summer. For more information call 573-796-2642.
The library staff invites you and your children to enjoy the special reading program planned for this summer.