Yellowhead County libraries ready for TD summer reading club
For many children, summer means lots of time spent at the park. Swinging on swings, playing in the sand and sliding down the slide. Unbeknownst to most children and many parents, there’s a different kind of slide that can happen over the summer months. “The Summer Slide is the idea that the reading skills a child learns throughout the school year can deteriorate over the summer” says Robert McClure. “Upon returning to school in the fall, they will then have to spend time relearning and reinforcing skills obtained the previous spring, delaying their progress as readers” As the Director of Library Services, McClure oversees the public libraries in Evansburg, Niton and Wildwood. He believes he and his colleagues have a solution to this Summer Slide.
“As the name suggests, the primary focus of the TD Summer Reading Club is to provide a way for children to maintain, or even improve their reading skills over the summer months. Secondly, it’s a great chance for children to develop their social skills, learn about a variety of subjects and experience some of the programming our libraries have to offer. Thirdly, but most importantly, it’s a ton of fun” McClure says. Terrie Stone, the manager of Wildwood Public Library, agrees: “We encourage kids to keep their reading, comprehension and positive social skills sharp throughout the summer while staying active and having fun. We cover a variety of themes such as cooking, farm safety, science, and nature”
The theme of this year’s TD Summer Reading Club is feeding your passion. In addition to various literacybased programming, Evansburg Public Library has obtained two plots in the Evansburg Community Garden and participants will have the opportunity to plant, raise and harvest various vegetables throughout the summer. Likewise, Niton Public Library plans to feed a passion for technology through various coding, digital literacy and video game programs. Wildwood Public Library will also be hosting a youth reading challenge in which youth ages twelve and up can read to earn prizes.
All three libraries will be hosting kick off parties to celebrate the start of the club. Evansburg’s will take place on July 28 at 4 p.m., Wildwood’s will be at 5 p.m. also on July 28 and Niton’s party will
take place at 10:30 a.m. on July 10. A highlight of the summer at all three libraries promises to be a performance from FizzBan The Wizard on Wednesday, August 15. FizzBan performs amazing bits of magic and comedy that are sure to lighten the faces of all in attendance. He will be performing in Niton at 10 a.m., in Wildwood at 2 p.m. and in Evansburg at 6 p.m.
The TD Summer Reading Club will take place at Evansburg Public Library from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, at Wildwood Public Library from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and in Niton on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Hours of operation, more information about the TD Summer Reading Club and contact information for all three libraries can be found at http://www.evansburglibrary.ab.ca/, http://www.wildwoodlibrary.ab.ca/, and https://nitonlibrary.ca/.