THREE RIVERS AREA — During the summer, children lose about two months of grade-level equivalency in mathematical computation skills and reading achievement, according to the National Summer Learning Association website. That’s why most libraries offer free summer reading programs for children and teenagers.
The Independence County Library at 368 E. Main St. in Batesville will offer prizes and craftmaking for children and teenagers who participate in the program, which will begin Friday and run through July 28.
“Children can come in and pledge to read so many books and write them down,” said Vanessa Adams, county librarian. “There will be prizes each week for accomplishing their goals, and they’ll get T-shirts at the end.”
The program will also include crafts and the Batesville Community Theatre coming in to act out books.
Adams said she is also trying to get a teenbook club started through the library.
“I’m encouraging teens to fill out a survey about what they like to read,” she said. “Ever yone has a different perspective about what they read.”
The Independence County Library has scheduled the following activities: At 2 p.m. Mondays, first- through sixthgraders will meet, and at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, preschoolers will meet. At 2 p.m. Thursdays, teens ages 12-16 will gather for movies.
For more information on the Independence County Library, call (870) 793-8814.
The Nixon Library in Jacksonville and the White County Regional Library System willinclude more than reading in their programs. Attractions such as magic shows, petting zoos and speakers will come to the libraries.
Using the theme Dream Big - Read, the Nixon Library at 703 W. Main St. in Jacksonville will offer its summer reading program from June 11 through July 16. The library will also incorporate family reading into the program.
Shanna Howard, library assistant at the Nixon Library, said magic shows and sign-language presentations by the Museum of Discovery, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Little Rock Zoo, the Arkansas National Heritage Commission and Pinnacle Mountain will also be a part of the Summer Reading Club 2012.
“When they register, they’ll receive a book bag with abookmark and a reading log to keep up with their reading,” Howard said.
At 10 a.m. Mondays, a story time will take place for 6- to 8-year-olds, and at 2 p.m. Mondays, all ages are welcome for a family reading time.
At 2 p.m. Tuesdays, 9- to 12-year-olds will meet, and at 5 p.m. Tuesdays, teenagers will meet. At 10 a.m. Wednesdays, there will be a story time for 3- to 5-year-olds.
For more information on the Nixon Library, call (501) 457-5038.
All libraries in the White County Regional Library System will offer reading programs with the same Dream Big - Read theme from Friday through July 20 at all the library locations.
From 9:30 a.m. until closing time on Friday, the library will have all-day drop-inregistration for the program.
“You can register at one location and go to all of the branches,” said Lisa Boatman, children’s librarian for the White County system. “Come to whichever one you want. If you’re going to be gone for a couple of weeks during the summer, it doesn’t matter.”
Following are the White County summer reading program’s weekly event locations and times:
◊Pangburn branch, 3:30 p.m. Mondays, June 4-July 16;
◊Beebe branch, 10 a.m. Tuesdays, June 12-July 17;
◊Judsonia branch, 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, June 5-July 17;
◊Rose Bud branch, 11 a.m. Wednesdays, June 6-July 18;
◊Bald Knob branch, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, June 7-July 19;
◊Bradford branch, 1:30p.m. Thursdays, June 7-July 19; and
◊Searcy branch, 9:30 a.m. for children up to 12, and 1 p.m. for teenagers, Fridays, June 8-July 20.
For more information on the White County Regional Library System, call (501) 268-2449.
The Ward Library has already begun its annual summer reading program, which will run through June 18 witha story time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays for infants to 5-year-olds, and at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays for 6- to 12-year-olds.
There will be a program for teens at 10:30 a.m. Fridays. The library is at 405 Hickory St., Suite 100, in Ward. For more information, call the library at (501) 941-3220.
Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com.
Three Rivers, Pages 49 on 05/31/2012