Reading Buddies slated to begin

It’s fall! Okay, well its fall in the library. I waited patiently for Sept. 1, the day my friends and our patrons told me that was a reasonable day to start decorating for fall. It is such an appreciable time of year. Football, cozy comfortable clothes, warm blankets with great books, and the colors, the colors outside are astounding!

Okay, down to business. Reading buddy program!!! Paperwork was sent home last week to 75 Intermediate students that are a part of the RTI program. The paper work, will give them an opportunity to come to the library Monday and Wednesday to meet with a High School volunteer and practice reading and comprehension. If there is a boy who loves to play football then my hope is to find a high school football player to read with him, showing him that reading is cool. Same for cheerleaders, band, etc.

My hope for this program is to make an impact in our Intermediate RTI students, and give our high school students an opportunity to obtain volunteer hours for scholarships, college applications and employment, as well as, serve in the community. This session will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 to Nov. 21 and then a new session will begin in January. I will meet the Intermediate students at the school and we will walk together to the library. All high school students will need to walk or car pool to the library. Sadly the school buses are packed full and can’t accommodate dropping off the high students at the library. I need your help on getting the word out, making sure the paper work gets in, and giving a sweet little nudge to the high school student in your life!

Don’t forget about story hour from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The theme this week is picnics! The craft is going to be very stylish!

Update on our new Friends of the Pea Ridge Community Library. Things are moving forward. A huge thank you to Nadine Telgemeier for the help on pointing us down the right road of hoops that we need to jump through to receive a 501(c)(3). If you’re interested in the future of our dear library you can attend the next board meeting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 22 or our Friends meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 28.

••• Editor’s note: Megan Bryant is the director of the Pea Ridge Community Library. She can be reached at the library at 451-8442.