Summer Reading Program & More!

At the recent round table discussion held at NMRLS on February 27th, ideas were getting pretty wild as everyone is beginning to plan for Wild reads at your library and X-pect the Un-X-pected!

JoAnne from the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers reported that the Mountain Mushers will be presenting their program at 23 plus libraries this summer! JoAnne has coordinated all the library visits with Harry of Mountain Mushers. Other programs will include the ever popular Spoon Man, the Penguin Lady, a reptile show from the Museum of Science.

Clare from Amesbury is also going wild with some of the same programs like the Penguin Lady. Clare is relying on a lot of local talent such as someone who has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation. Both children and teens will be reading for the Merrimack Feline Rescue Society.

Penny in Dracut packs her summer in with lots of performances as well as some good and free local talent like her husband who has been to the Antarctica! “Dracut’s Got Talent” returns, a talent show where the performers have to audition. Incentives are relatively simple; Dracut kids love stickers! One of her young patrons will present a talk on animals. Grades 3-6 will count their reading towards the adoption of 4 different animals from the Wildlife Federation. Penny’s Junior Friends (5th -12th graders) help with Thursday crafts and games.

Janein Rockport kicks off with a wolf talk! Other events include the Storytrain on July 9th, Sparky’s Puppets, and Rainforest Reptiles. Some sort of wild animal cut out and posted on the walls will be used to track the progress of reading by the children.

Cathy in Georgetown is musing upon a large giraffe where the kids could track their reading by sticking spots on him! She is looking at having some favorite programs back now that she is in the new library such as Vehicle Day, Bubble Day, and Lunch and Munch on Fridays. She offers a free book at the end of the summer as an incentive. There will be a lot of crafts going on.

Lorraine in Hamilton-Wenham will also participate in the StoryTrain ride on July 9th. Other programs will include Vehicle Day, the Toejam Puppet Band, story programs every week. She’s looking at reading for a charity like many others. The mascot will return to travel around the town.

Jeanne in Gloucester reports a kick off with the Turtle Lady. They will also participate in the Storytrain and in the Whale Watch. They don’t hold storytimes in the summer but offer drop-in crafts. Cristy usually works with the kids to create in-library scupltures.

Sarain Manchester-by-the-Sea participates in the Storytrain Ride. For teens, with the X-Treme theme, she wants to offer an air guitar contest and something on extreme sports. She’s thinking of having the kids track their reading with tracking animal prints all over the library. She’s borrowing from Nancy in Beverly the idea of having a tent in the children’s room.

Diann in Littleton frankly admits to going somewhat crazy with this theme! From wild animal coloring sheets to placing lion cut-outs on the wall for each reader, there will be lots happening. Many programs are already in the planning stages such as opening the summer with the Allards. She’s also having the Mushers. There will be a Talent Show, weekly crafts, and 3 pajama storytimes led by Moms and then Dads.

Betsy in Ipswich is having the Mushers too as well as the Turtle Lady. The librarians are creating a booklet for the kids to track their reading and also discover some cool facts about animals. Ipswich window displays are always engaging and colorful. Also being planned is a “Wild Things” parade! Drop in crafts, Vehicle Day, and a Hot Dog Roast top the summer events.

In Newburyport, Donna is planning for a crafty teen program. She reviewed the popular programs of last summer like Leslie Doherty (stained glass art), Judy Klein (trash jewelry), and Pam Farin (making book covers out of found materials). Kim in children’s is planning some events like Curious Creatures,Rainforest Reptiles, and themed parties like pirates, Mardi Gras, and a wild rompus!

A few topics were generally discussed like school visits - how, when, and what. Georgetown offers a bookmark contest before summer begins where the kids create the bookmark for the summer!

Marketing was brought up. Summer Reading is marketed through flyers, newspaper articles, parent and friends groups in schools, web site, and signs.

I’ll add a few more resources to this blog. Anyone else?