In this week’s O’Fallon Weekly, Teri Rankin, Youth Services Manager, formally announced the theme of this summer’s reading program: Reading by Design.  The 8-week program begins with a Kick-Off Carnival on June 3, 10AM-12PM at Katy Cavins Community Center and runs through July 30.   With balloon artists, face painters, simple science experiments, food and games there is something for every member of the family to enjoy.

Reading by Design has been extended this year by two weeks to help combat the ‘summer slide’ that can occur if students do not read regularly.  This slide can mean a loss of up to two months of progress when returning to school after break.  That is why the Youth Services Department has put so much creativity and effort into planning exciting activities such as a weekly Kid’s Coding Club for both 7-9 and 11-12 year olds.

Each week of Reading by Design is titled “Let’s Explore…” and the activities, stories, and entertainment focus on topics such as food, animals, ,play, water, make-believe, science, and books.  And that’s not all!  Miniature horses will visit the library; kids will visit a local farm, participate in the library version of Project Runway, and have a change to create Little Golden Books in honor of the 75th anniversary of those beloved children’s books.

Registration for kids two-years-old through eighth grade opens on May 30 and is required to participate.  The cost is free for O’Fallon Public Library cardholders.  For non-cardholders, the small fee of $10 covers registration materials (calendar of events, program descriptions, reading logs, goodies, coupons) and weekly incentive prizes. You may register online or at the library.  The Coding Clubs require an additional $10 refundable deposit.

We are looking for some student volunteers (those entering 7th or 8th grade) to help us prepare for the reading program.  During the two weeks prior to the kick-off carnival, junior volunteers will prepare program handouts. Throughout the 8-weeks, they will help set up, clean up, prepare craft projects, and tutor younger students in simple math and reading.

To volunteer, students should pick up or download the packet, complete it and return it to the library by May 9.  Tutor training is also required.

And thanks once again to the O’Fallon Weekly for giving us a space to share all the exciting happenings at OFPL.

• The Librarian’s Guide to Notable Nonfiction
• Managing Your Mental Health One Day at a Time 
• Ashley is history
• Coming Soon!
• Fun Finds on the Holds Shelf