Library wraps up summer reading program

More than 330 people read almost 3,000 books as part of the summer reading program this year, including 67 adults and 34 teens, children’s librarian Ellen Farwell said. The numbers of adults and teens are up, she said.

The summer program ended with a pizza party on July 19. Farwell explained that the library ends the program a few weeks before school begins to give both the library staff and the patrons a break. In September, book clubs for school-age children and the elementary story time return to the schedule.

“The community support for the library has been amazing,” Farwell said. Businesses in the area donated $3,500 worth of prizes. A few businesses out of the area contributed too, she said.

There were also four children’s events for summer reading with an average of 65 people in the tiny event space in the back of the library. The shows ranged from juggling to a mobile aquarium.

With the library foundation preparing to break ground on an addition to the building, this may be the last summer that events will have to squeeze into the small space, Farwell said. The plan is to have the addition complete in time for summer 2019.

If construction is delayed, it won’t bother summer reading, she said. The program is online and readers can log in from any computer to record their accomplishments. That way families who travel during the summer can still take part.