Reading encouragement
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on June 17, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Kate Rains, children's library assistant, paints a fireman's hat craft in preparation for the summer reading program at the Wayne County Public Library. The program will feature visits from local heroes, such as police officers and firemen.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
The Wayne County Public Library is decorated and ready for the summer reading program.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Superheroes are everywhere in the children's department of the Wayne County Public Library to promote the summer reading program.
"Pow" says Superman and Captain Underpants. "Kapow" say The Incredibles and Wonder Woman. "Krackbooom" says the Incredible Hulk.
Visitors to the Wayne County Public Library will see posters like these throughout the children's section in preparation for the summer reading program.
This year's theme is "Every Hero Has a Story." Programs will be held at the downtown library, as well as the branches in Mount Olive, Fremont and Pikeville.
The purpose of the summer reading program is to keep children reading throughout their school break.
"It's a great time for kids to read because they don't have to read any particular books like they have to do when they're in school," said Penny Dawson, children's librarian at Steele Memorial Library in Mount Olive. "They also don't have to read at a certain level, and they don't have to worry about taking a test after they read."
Reading during the summer is just for pure fun and pleasure, but it's actually helping children, Ms. Dawson said.
"Studies have shown that kids lose drastically over the summer what they have gained during the school year if they're not continuing to read," she said.
"And it's important to keep children's love of reading active," said Lisa Stevens, branch manager of the Pikeville and Fremont libraries. "It does help keep them on their reading level."
Reading will help children throughout their school years, as well as into adulthood.
"You have to read to succeed in all facets of life," Ms. Stevens said.
"That's a cliche, but it's true. Later on in life, if you're well read, you're more well rounded. You can communicate easier with people. Your knowledge can be limitless."
It doesn't have to be a book.
"It can be anything," said Laura Rachel Barwick, head of children's services at the Wayne County Public Library. "If they just want to read a comic book, at least they've got their brain active.
"And a lot of kids want to look at a device. They can get a subscription to Tumble Books at the library through our website at wcpl.org. It's eBooks for kids, and it's free. So they can still read."
All three librarians agreed that it's up to parents to get their children reading at home.
"Parents should be models for their children," Ms. Dawson said.
"Some children have never been around an adult who reads. I encourage parents, especially in the middle school years, to know what their kids are reading and read along with them. And talk about what they're reading. Ask them questions; it makes it so much more interesting."
The summer reading program is free to children throughout Wayne County. Programs are held once a week.
At Steele Memorial Library, the reading program will take place each Thursday at 10 a.m. June 25 through July 30, with the exception of the third and last weeks, which will be at 1 p.m. and the next to the last week, which will be at 10 a.m. on a Friday.
Throughout the program, there will be special guests, such as storyteller Sharon Clarke, the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina Aquarium. The reading program kicks off June 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Pikeville Community Center for the Pikeville and Fremont libraries. After that, it will be held Wednesdays at the Fremont Library at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at the Pikeville Library at 10:30 a.m.
At the Wayne County Public Libary, the reading program will run from June 22 through July 3.
For a complete schedule for all four libraries, log onto www.wcpl.org.
To further encourage children to read throughout the summer, both at the library and at home, all the libraries will be giving away incentives for the first hour a child reads, then every five hours after that.
When a child has read for 20 hours, their name will go into a drawing for a kindle, one to be given away at each of the four libraries.
"The main thing is to keep the kids active," Ms. Barwick said. "Yes, they're having fun, but we're also keeping their minds active and working. That's the main thing."
"I will guarantee that if you bring your child the first day, they will want to come back again; it's fun," Ms. Dawson said.