Highland County Public Library Plans for Adventurous Summer Reading Program

The Highland County Public Library has been planning for a lot of fun this summer! Patrons of all ages can sign up for a summer reading program that brings a wide variety of performances and crafts, along with prizes for reading.

This years’ theme is Adventure Begins at Your Library. Whether you find your adventure through the pages of a book or schedule your summer out to have a blast at the programs, there’s something for everyone this summer!

According to the American Library Association, summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way to encourage school children, particularly those in urban areas and not needed for farm work, to read during their summer vacation, use the library and develop the habit of reading. The benefits to readers in a summer reading program include: encouragement that reading become a lifelong habit, reluctant readers can be drawn in by the activities, reading over the summer helps children keep their skills up, the program can generate interest in the library and books. 

Citing numerous benefits of summer reading programs, the ALA Council adopted the Resolution on Ensuring Summer Reading Programs for all Children and Teens at the 2010 Annual Conference  urging “Library Directors, Trustees, School Board members and supervising government bodies to insure that their libraries are provided adequate funding to ensure that their summer reading programs for all children and teens are maintained.”

The Highland County Public Library will have a total of four programs from outside entertainers this summer including Jim the Spoonman, The Bright Star Theatre, Didgeridoo Down Under, and Talewise Science, which was generously sponsored by the Cowpasture River Preservation Association. These will be intermixed with library programs that promote outdoor adventures such as a bird identification walk, sidewalk chalk and cupcakes, and mud painting for all ages, as well as a junk journaling session for teens.

Prizes for this year’s youth summer reading include: an Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet, LEGO Technic NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, LEGO Friends Farm Animal Sanctuary, KEVA Contraptions 200 Plank Set, LEGO Duplo Classic Alphabet Town, Long Range Walkie Talkies, Craft Crush Bracelet Making Kit, or Toy Rocket Launcher.

Visit Highland County Public Library on Facebook for more information on programs as well as a calendar of events. Registration is on the Beanstack app and each youth that participates will receive an adventure pack full of goodies for the summer.