SEARCY — Avid readers know that one of the best ways to beat the heat of a summer day in Arkansas is with a comfortable chair and a good book. Staff members of the White County Regional Library System hope the libaries’ summer programs will help instill a love of reading to a new generation of White County residents.
“Summer is the time when kids can find fun books to read about things they are interested in,” said Lisa Boatman, children’s librarian for the library system. “When we talk to teachers, they are very supportive of the program because they don’t want kids to have three months of downtime. Reading is like everything else. If you don’t use it, you’re going to lose it.”
The Searcy Public Library’s program includes a children’s session for ages 6 and younger that will meet at 10 a.m. Fridays, June 5 through July 17. There is also a tween group for ages 7 to 11, and a teen program for 12- to 18-year-olds. The tween and teen groups will meet on Wednesdays, June 10 through July 29, at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. A special finale program featuring
animal “underdogs” from the Natural History Education Council of the Mid-South will be held at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. July 22.
Libraries in the White County towns of Bald Knob, Beebe, Bradford, Judsonia, Pangburn and Rose Bud will hold summer reading programs as well.
“One of the great things about the library program is that you don’t have to make a commitment to just [the Searcy library]. If there is something fun going on at Judsonia or Bald Knob, you can go there, too,” Boatman said. Registration is free and can be completed at the first session.
The Searcy program is held in Spring Park, located literally right outside the library’s doors. Although the outdoor setting is ideal for the event, the park was chosen in large part because of the popularity of the program, which has been known to attract 200 to 250 children on Friday mornings. Approximately 1,000 kids usually take part in summer library programs in White County, Boatman said.
The theme for this year is “Every Hero Has a Story.” Superheroes, community heroes and those of the four-legged variety will be featured during the sessions. Magic shows, children’s concerts, a petting zoo and a visit from “the world of reptiles” will all be included in the programming at various times during the summer.
A highlight of the Searcy tween program will be a presentation from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Museum about the first black U.S. marshal in the United States. The event will wrap up with a screening of the movie The Incredibles on July 29.
The teen group’s meeting on July 1 will feature Marvel illustrator Jerry Decaire. The last session will feature a showing of the movie Sky High.
Besides the obvious advantages of keeping the mind sharp during the summer break, summer reading programs also offer a fun alternative to keep kids occupied in a safe, entertaining environment.
“Not everyone takes a summer vacation, and it’s nice that there is this free event for the community,” Boatman said.
For more information on the White County Regional Library System’s summer programs, visit whitecountylibraries.org or Facebook, or call (501) 268-2449.