ONE FOR THE BOOKS

Summer library programs help boost reading and creativity 

Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-born industrialist and philanthropist, funded many public libraries in the United States because he believed everyone should have access to books and literacy, not just the wealthy. He built 1,700 libraries across the nation before his death in 1919. In this digital age, we sometimes forget the vital role libraries play in our society, beyond just being a place to borrow books. Libraries are vibrant community hubs, offering programming and special events free of charge.

‘Color Our World’
Summer is the perfect time to engage with your library. With schools out of session, libraries offer a plethora of fun and free programming for children and adults alike. Research shows that children who read for pleasure in the summer do better and forget less when they go back to school. And it’s not just in reading. Kids who don’t read over the summer can slide backward in all subject areas. This means the summer months and other breaks from school offer great opportunities for families and caregivers to encourage academic success. 

Once again, local libraries have collaborated with the national nonprofit Collaborative Summer Library Program and the Library of Virginia to launch this year’s theme: “Color Our World.” The program is designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic expressions. 

For Cassandra Baldwin, Bedford Public Library’s Youth Programming Director, who serves six different branches, planning for the summer is one of the best parts of her job. “I get so excited when I present to the Board in the spring!” she says. 

Many of the programs and classes will cater toward art and creativity. Do Art Productions — a nonprofit whose mission is to “inspire creativity within everybody” — will be leading a comic book workshop. There will be a teen art night at the Bedford library and painting at the Forest and Moneta branches. Other popular programs that will be returning are The Larsen Family Reptile Show out of Waynesboro, Heritage Apiary’s Honey Bee Outreach out of Blue Ridge and Farmer Minor and his beloved pot-bellied pig Daisy hailing from Bristol, Connecticut. Mill Mountain Theatre from Roanoke will be presenting the musical “Rainbow Fish,” an adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s beloved story. 

Children of all ages are invited to join a long-standing reading challenge where they will register, read books of choice and do outside activities. The age groups for this challenge are 0-5, 6-11 and 12-17 years old. Participants can earn badges and win raffle tickets to enter for the grand prizes from local community businesses and restaurants, such as Sonic and Golden Corral. The libraries use the Beanstack platform (beanstack.com) for tracking, but paper logs are still an option.

Reading magic
Lynchburg libraries are also using the “Color Our World” theme and kicking off the summer programming with an all-ages magic show by Wes Iseli on June 10. Victoria Winfree, Youth Services Supervisor, says they have events every day during the summer “to maximize fun and learning all summer long.” There will be art activities, competitions and even art events for adults. Winfree is all about the fun, planning dance parties with bubble machines and a ’90s throwback party for teens and adults. 

The Lynchburg libraries also use the Beanstack platform for motivating students of all ages to read books of their choice and win prizes, with the grand prize being a Nintendo Switch or a Yeti cooler. 

Lynchburg libraries are offering, once again, a federally funded summer lunch program. They provide free lunches, no questions asked, three days a week (M/W/F). Last year, they served more than 1,400 lunches. They are also cooperating with the Virginia Cooperative Extension for mini farmers’ markets and activities. 

A library card is your free ticket to all events this summer. It’s simple to get one: present a valid photo ID and proof of current address. Make a weekly trip to your local branch a priority to ensure a fun, educational and inspiring summer. ✦