Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Decatur library rolls out reading programs
DECATUR — The City Council decided to close not only City Hall but the library, as well, as part of the ongoing pandemic protection measures.
But Patsy Allenan-Hickson and Karen Jones, librarians at Iva Jane Peek Library, researched ideas to get library patrons back into the library via the online world.
In the past several years, the library has had a summer reading program for kids ages 6-12. But now the program will extend to adults as well.
“Since the covid-19 thing happened this year, we are doing our program totally online,” Hickson said. “You can get on your iPhone or computer and go to “readsquare. com” and it has a drop-down list of libraries. Scroll down to Iva Jane Peek Library and click on it and set up an account. It’s totally free to our patrons. We want Northwest Arkansas to feel free to have something to do this summer whether you are a patron of our library or not.”
Library patrons can earn points for completing certain types of reading projects, depending on their age.
“Each project earns a certain number of points,” Hickson said. “If you finish a chapter book you can earn 200-500 points. Each paragraph read from a newspaper earns points. Different age groups have different point systems, with children earning up to 1,000 points, and adults who read more can earn 5,000 when a project is completed.”
But more than the reward of reading a book, magazine or newspaper and finishing a project, each patron can earn certificates and even prizes.
“The patrons can earn virtual badges. So if you reach the 400- or 500-point milestones, you get a completion certificate,” Hickson explained. “You can either email it to me or show it on your phone and you can say I did it, and we send you prizes. For the adults, we have free books; for the children, we have stickers or activities books. Karen and I have discussed doing gift cards as well. We want a wide range of prizes so that each age group can be happy with what they get.”
Library patrons have free games applications as well. There is also a list of places online where library users can go to access free ebooks and audiobooks and other projects available to fill those rainy-day voids.
Another service the library is setting up is a virtual storytelling time scheduled for each Thursday afternoon throughout the summer (check the library website for days and times).
“I talked to my patrons and asked them if they want storytime from 1 to 2 or 3 to 4. I let them pick the times,” Hickson said.
Different members of the community, from police and firemen to civic leaders, will volunteer to read various books and other things via Zoom, an online videoconferencing service. Hickson, Jones or the guest will read about two or three items in the hour-long session. Children who have certain favorite books can let Hickson know ahead of time and she’ll work them into the program.