Get ready to ‘Dig Into Reading’ on June 7

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Anna Cangialosi, marketing coordinator, for the information in this story.)

The Chelsea District Library’s summer reading program, “Dig Into Reading” begins Friday, June 7, and this year is going to be all about building a love of books.

Children of all ages, 0-17, are invited to sign up for the program and earn prizes all summer. For every five books read (or listened to), readers will get a small prize. Read 20 books, and children get a free book.

The library will host a “Construction Kickoff Party” on the library lawn on June 7 from noon-2 p.m. for registrations, and there will be games, crafts and activities, including a Bounce House and a Construction Zone.

Afterward, Mat Emerick, the Juggling Storyteller, will present a show from 2-3 p.m. in the McKune Room.

“After working so hard at reading during the school year, students can experience ‘Summer Slide,’ says Head of Youth and
Teen Services Karen Persello, who says summer reading can make a big difference for students next fall.

According to a report from the National Summer Learning Associations, students can actually lose almost two months of academic experience over the summer.

That means teachers have to spend more than a month re-teaching what students have forgotten when they return to school in the fall, according to the library press release.

“Summer reading, and participating in educationally enriching activities over the summer, like our new ‘Read to Your Library Buddy’ program, can stop the Summer Slide,” she says.

The library’s Read to Your Library Buddy program is part of a partnership between the library and the Chelsea District Schools to promote and support reading activities during the summer. Children will have the opportunity to read out loud to teens and adults in the library’s brand new Read to Your Library Buddy program.

They will also receive Summer Reading logs that they can keep all summer and turn in to their teachers in the fall, helping teachers see their progress during the summer.

Read to Your Library Buddy pairs readers with teen or adult volunteers, who will listen and encourage reading aloud in a stress-free environment.

Children can sign up for 15-minute reading sessions on Thursdays in June and July, and track their reading aloud activities for special prizes.

Edith Burney, youth and teen librarian and teen volunteer youth service group coordinator, says, “Teens are already getting a chance to practice leadership and community service through helping with library programs and at the library’s summer reading registration table, but now they will get a chance to have hands-on experience helping young children enjoy reading as much as they do.”

In addition to the library giving each Summer Reading participant a prize for the first five, ten and fifteen books they read, they will also receive chances to win grand prizes, including four tickets to Cedar Point, a bike from Aberdeen Bike & Outdoors, a 3-month pass to the TreeHouse, a waterproof digital camera and a collection of fun digging machine toys.

Teens will have chance to win a grand prize of two $100 Gift Certificates to Amazon.com.

“Dig Into Reading! can mean burrowing under the covers with a flashlight and a good read,” Robin Linkowski,  youth & teen
librarian says.

She organized a selection of board books for baby prizes.

“We also want to encourage parents to sign up babies, toddlers and preschoolers in our summer reading program, since reading to your young child is so important to their development. All ages are welcome to join”

The 2013 Summer Reading Program sponsors are Rick Taylor of Charles Reinhart Company, Chelsea Masons’ Olive Lodge #156, and the Friends of the Chelsea District Library.

For more information about summer events at the library, click here  or call the youth information desk at 734-475-8732, ext. 4.