Library Reading Programs Foster Community Connections

Once school lets out for the summer, and each day starts feeling hotter than the last, parents start looking for children’s activities that don’t involve sunburns, large price tags or expensive equipment. Summer reading programs can be a godsend, especially as they come with the added bonus of keeping up kids’ reading skills during the summer.

“It shows them the fun side of the library, which is not so much on the forefront of kids’ minds these days,” stated Liz Norman, the Youth Services Coordinator at Edgecombe Memorial Library.

Jennifer Stearns, the Manager of Youth Services and Children’s Outreach at Braswell Memorial Library, agreed. “I think it has a huge impact.”

Summer reading programs plant the seeds for children to love books and connect with their local libraries. They also get kids involved in their hometowns, giving them the opportunity to build connections during events and try new things.

“We give them little goodies and stuff they can use in the community,” stated Kristin Stilley, a librarian at Edgecombe Memorial Library.

She listed a series of events which can be found on the library website, as well as a number of prizes children get in a goodie bag upon enrolling in the program, among them rewards from Barnes and Noble, Chuck E. Cheese, Pizza Hut and Panda Express.

Liz Norman added that keeping the program accessible to everyone is her highest priority when planning Edgecombe Memorial events. “One thing that’s important to us because of the population and community we serve is that everything is free.”

This year, both Braswell and Edgecombe County Memorial Libraries are holding dinosaur themed summer programs which last until July 31st. Harold D. Cooley Library’s summer program (also dino themed) will have wrapped up by July 10th, but they will continue holding story time twice a week on Mondays from 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

“They look forward to it every summer,” stated Jennifer Stearns. “Coming in and getting their little reading logs. And so it’s fun for us and fun for them.”