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May 29, 2009

Start of Summer Reading

Kids, adults can be rewarded for reading this summer

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

The Corbin Public Library’s summer reading program got a sweet start Thursday during a children’s ice cream social kick-off event.

More than 30 children signed up during the first day of the program, which rewards children, teens and even adult patrons for every book they read from the library.

Library Services Coordinator Lisa Kersey said summer reading group events are held every Tuesday at the library.

“I know our program attendance has grown, because when I started (four years ago) they said there would be maybe 20 kids show up (each Tuesday), and now we have 100 show up,” she said. “Last year we had close to 400 people sign up, so we’ll probably have 200 kids (in the program). I’d say we’ll beat that this year because we’ve gone to all the schools and talked to 2,200 kids.”

Children up to second grade must read 10 books on their reading log, and third through fifth graders must read five books to collect a prize. As students continue to read, they will be eligible for bigger prizes.

“So when they read 10 books on their reading level, they’ll bring this log in, and it will correspond to a different section in the prize category,” Kersey said.

Teens fill out a short book report for every book they read, stating why they did or did not like the book, and in turn receive $5 in “library money” to be used toward an auction of prizes at the end of the summer.

For every book adults read, they can enter for a drawing for gift certificates from local businesses.

The summer reading program ends July 23. If by the end of the summer, at least 3,000 library books have been checked out through the program, area elementary principals have promised some special rewards for their students. Kersey said some have agreed to take a pie in the face, dye their hair pink and purple, or hold a rewards party for the kids.

“Every time they check out library books, they’ll get a jelly bean for that many books, and we’ll put jelly beans in a jar and that’s how we’ll track the progress,” Kersey said.

Tuesday’s summer storytime programs, which start at 11 a.m., will include a book reading and a program with the following topics and visitors:

• June 2, Fli-Rite Learning presents “Once Upon My Time”

• June 9, Corbin Fire Department

• June 16, Ronald McDonald

• June 23, Puppet making with Whitley County Extension Office

• June 30, Corbin Police’s K-9 Unit

• July 7, Touch a Truck

• July 14, Tammy Elza’s Wildlife Program

• July 21, Magician Randy Roberts

Library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 1-6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information on the summer reading program, call the library at 528-6366.

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