Summer Reading Program Kicks Off At The Library

On the last day of school, as the last bell of the semester rang out, signaling the end of another school year, kids from area schools raced to the library for a good reason.

A hot air balloon was being inflated on the annex lawn of the Park County Library in Cody, kicking off the annual Summer Reading Program.

A “cold inflate” is used to inflate a hot air balloon on the annex lawn at the Park County Library. (Photo courtesy of Mac Watson).

This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins At Your Library,” with reading challenges and scores of activities children can sign up for, first come, first serve, like Lego Club, Yoga for Kids, How To Build a Boat, among other fun activities.

The goal of the program is to keep kids engaged in reading as well as offer creative outlets during their summer vacation.

Park County resident Marci Bernard answered a Facebook post calling for anyone who would supply a hot air balloon to kick of the event. (Photo courtesy of Mac Watson).

The idea to have a giant balloon that kids could explore after the cold inflate was the idea of librarian Holly Baker because it fit the theme perfectly.

“I came up the idea and put out a call for anyone who owned a balloon on Facebook,” said Ms. Baker as she pointed to her t-shirt with the words, “Adventure Begins At Your Library” across the front with a colorful white-and-blue striped cartoon balloon with children beaming as they float in the basket underneath.

Reading programs have been synonymous with the summer break at not only the library in Cody, but all over the country.

Reading programs are designed to have the most impact on a child’s learning when they are not in the classroom, according to the American Library Association.

Some of the benefits of a Summer reading program include:

• encouragement that reading become a lifelong habit
• reluctant readers can be drawn in by the activities
• reading over the summer helps children keep their skills up
• the program can generate interest in the library and books

And since it is summer, and kids don’t have to go to school, the program can just be good fun and provide an opportunity for family time.

Also, studies show that students, especially those from low-income families, experience a decline in academic skills, according to the Boys and Girls Club of America. In fact, kids can lose an average of two months in reading achievement over the summer, causing them to fall almost three grade levels behind their peers by the time they reach fifth grade.