Summer Reading Program

More than 1,000 children and teens registered for Bexley Public Library’s 2011 Summer Reading Program this year, which ran from June 9 through August 11. The library held 24 programs throughout the summer and nearly doubled its registration numbers from last year. This year the library had three distinct programs for pre-readers, readers, and teens. This is only the second year for the library’s pre-reader program and the first year for the Teen Summer Reading Program.

The 2011 Summer Reading Program theme, “One World, Many Stories,” encouraged children to learn about different countries and cultures through reading and attending the library’s special programming. The library’s most popular programs were no surprise. The Turtle Lady introduced her turtle and amphibian friends to a packed house of more than 120. Children of all ages came to see Jim Kleefeld’s Magic Around the World and MadCap Puppet’s Jack and the Giant Beanstalk.

Bexley area teens played an important role in the success of the library’s Summer Reading Program by donating 446 hours of service through the library’s new Volunteen program. The library’s 50 Volunteens received training to volunteer at the library and helped children sign up for the reading program throughout the summer. The Teen Summer Reading Program included a teen book club and two hands-on programs that explored different cultures through games and food.

Children who completed the Summer Reading Program received a variety of prizes including coupons for local food and activities, books, a reusable bag, and entry into drawings for a flip camera and an iPod. Connor McGlinchey won the IPod, and Kayla Schafhausen won the flip camera. Grant Halliday, Reed Schworm, Ray Duffy, and Brianna Swartz won Barnes & Noble gift cards. Also, participants had a chance to vote for which animal the library should adopt through Heifer International and the llama won in a close vote.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

FRIENDS OF BEXLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Bexley Recreation Center
• Bruegger's Bagels
• Chipotle
• Columbus Clippers
• COSI
• Drexel Theater Children's Film Festival
• Grinders
• Johnson’s Real Ice Cream
• Magic Mountain Family Fun Center
• Rusty Bucket
• United Skates of America
• Taco Bell