Library summer program is full of adventure

July 03, 2009|By ABIGAIL YEAGER / Special to The Herald-Mail

Creativity is the theme of this year's summer reading program for children ages 10 and younger at the Washington County Free Library, as well as other branches.

The club kicked off this year's program, Be creative @ your library this summer, Friday, June 19, at WCFL's Central Library in Hagerstown. The party included balloon art by balloon sculptor Jim Greer, outdoor games, wool spinning by local 4-H alpaca club members, and a bookworm-making craft. Participating kids also saw snakes, spiders, turtles and an iguana, brought by Wildlife Adventures.

The club runs through Monday, Aug. 31, but those who finish by Friday, Aug. 14, will receive tickets to that evening's Summer Reader Night with the Hagerstown Suns baseball game.

Reading clubs aren't only for small children, however. Tweens and Teens are invited to join a book club geared toward young adult readers. The theme is Express Yourself @ your library.

Also, adults can join a summer reading club and qualify for weekly prizes.

Surprisingly enough, increases in technology have not decreased library usage by teens, according to Catherine Hall, children's librarian at the Hagerstown branch.

"There are so many ways to communicate," said Hall, who is in charge of the children's reading program. "(Technology) is helping with the reader. Because of blogging and Facebook, it is easier to get book recommendations from friends."

The library also has downloadable books and audio books available, Hall said, which might appeal to the tech-savvy crowd.

Programs will continue throughout the summer at all county library branches. Wildlife Adventures' live animal shows will travel to branches in the library system in July, and during July and August, children's librarians will present a puppet show at library branches.

The library will throw an end-of-the-summer party at Doub's Woods Art Pavilion, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. This event will feature live music from children's musician Uncle Pete, as well as crafts and a snack.

Reading club members will earn prizes by completing reading activities and coming to library events.

Events at WCFL libraries include jeans decorating at the Keedysville branch, an anime club at Smithsburg, a teen coffee house in Williamsport and basket weaving in Hancock. For a complete schedule of tween and teen events, go to www.washcolibrary.org .

For more information about the summer reading clubs, call Catherine Hall at Central Library at 301-739-3250, ext. 132, or call your local library.

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