I would like to take a moment of your time to thank everyone who helped with this year's Summer Reading Program at the Beverly library.
This year's themes were "Dream Big - Read" and "Own the Night." Most of our programs at the library were based on night. We had a family night every Monday. At these events children and parents were invited to play games (such as night animal bingo), watch movies (such as "Monsters vs. Aliens"), and do a craft that they could take home (such as the glowing candles). Also at this program there was a drawing for a family meal that had been donated by a local restaurant. On Tuesday nights we invited speakers to come in and teach the children. The Friends of the Beverly Library sponsored these events. The speakers included Don Keating, a Big Foot hunter, The Astronomical Society of Southeastern Ohio, The Mid-Ohio Valley Ghost Hunters, and a speaker from the Soil and Water of Washington County, who taught the children about nocturnal animals. On Wednesday, there was story time for the pre-readers. At story time the children listened to many stories being read, did crafts and ate yummy food. On Thursdays the school-aged readers had a craft hour. They learned about bats (a kit was borrowed that had many things for the kids to look at, including a bat skeleton), astronauts, night animals, stars and they had a campfire inside for the last one. The teens had their hour on Fridays. They learned about night photography and the Beverly Police spoke to them about being street smart. On Saturdays there were book discussions for the adults that included a free meal made by a staff member. Every one who finished the program received a prize. To be considered finished the children had to complete a reading log and activity sheet. The activities included reading a book they had never read before or reading a non-fiction book. The teens and adults had hourly reading goals to complete. The teens received a candy bar for every hour they read. The gift bags included school supplies, toys and food. It also included a chance to win big prizes and a ticket to the pool party.
This year's pool party had to be moved to another date because of rain but that didn't seem to affect the children's enthusiasm. At the pool party the children had a chance to win other prizes with a guessing game. There was also a drawing for "big" prizes. The "big" prizes were for everyone who had finished their program. They included telescopes and binoculars, moon night-light, a 3-D constellations projector, donations from the banks, and backpack full of yard games. Also at the pool party there was watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh squeezed lemonade.
The Summer Reading program at the Beverly library is a total group effort: from the staff working almost year round on these programs, to the parents and guardians bring the children into the library, to the community pulling together to help out however they can. If one of these groups didn't help out, the program would not be as much of a success as it is. So thank you for helping the library and the children who use it.
Susan Chipps
Beverly
