County is kicking off Journey Across Delco reading program

Children are encouraged this summer to grab their reading passports to explore a fun and learning environment throughout the county.

Delaware County Library System Director Cathy Biddle and county council Chairman John McBlain Monday morning officially kicked off Journey Across Delco at Norwood Public Library. It’s a summer reading program that asks school children to visit as many of the 26 branches of the Delaware County Library System as they can to promote summer reading and participate in various activities in each library.

“We hope that kids in preschool and elementary school all across Delaware County will participate and get their passports,” said McBlain. “I’m excited that we’re going to start this program.”

A child starts off with a passport booklet available at all DCLS libraries and for each branch they visit they receive a stamp. Each page of the passport is dedicated to a library branch and children can participate in a certain activity at that branch and write about what they learned. Activities include crafts, the sciences, making musical instruments, making a flip book and many more. Of course, children are encouraged to check out a book and keep reading through the summer break.

Children receiving five stamps in their passport will be invited to a special party in early August at Rose Tree Park. Whoever gets all 26 stamps from the libraries will receive a special prize.

McBlain heard from students attending a summer camp about how reading increases their vocabulary, students who want to check books out at every library, and those who have recently picked up their first library cards.

“It’s the best deal going being able to get a book from the library,” said McBlain to one young reader. “Getting your library card from Delaware County is the best deal any Delaware County resident could ever do. There is probably not a fact in the world that you wouldn’t be able to get by using your Delaware County library card and accessing the internet.”

Journey Across Delco runs through July 27. Children are asked to drop off their passports at their home library by 5 p.m. on that date. If five stamps have been placed in their passport they will receive a ticket to attend a picnic at Rose Tree Park on Aug. 7. from 1 to 3 p.m.

KEVIN TUSTIN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dozens of students learn about the county’s summer reading program for the season. Children are invited to grab a passport at their library and try to get it stamped by up to 26 libraries in the Delaware County Library System to expose them to fun and...

KEVIN TUSTIN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA This is the passport that area children can pick up at their local library to start the Journey Across Delco program through July 27. If the passport gets stamped at five different libraries they will be invited to a party in early August.