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Cure for summer boredom

I cracked open a Latin/English Dictionary this morning (that’s just one of the crazy things we do at the library!) and the word that caught my eye was taedium. Which was translated as “boredom.” Interesting bit of serendipity because I was earlier going over some of the oodles of programs and draws and activities we have planned here for this summer.

I cracked open a Latin/English Dictionary this morning (that’s just one of the crazy things we do at the library!) and the word that caught my eye was taedium. Which was translated as “boredom.”

Interesting bit of serendipity because I was earlier going over some of the oodles of programs and draws and activities we have planned here for this summer.

Summer boredom is a condition that is 100 per cent preventable!

From birth to Kindergarten, we have a “Read to Me” Summer Reading Club – children colour in squares on their Reading Record and at the end of seven days of reading, they can come into the library for stickers and prizes. And so much more!

From Kindergarten to Grade 6, our 2011 Summer Reading Club has lots of great prizes as well! Children are encouraged to gobble up some great reading (this year’s theme: Savour Each Word) and read a minimum of 15 minutes a day.

Then come into the library with their Reading Records for weekly stickers, draws and prizes. Check out the Kids’ Summer Reading Club website at http://www.kidssrc.ca for reading activities, games and tips.

We’ll be having book draws and candy counts here at the library. And so much more!

From Grade 7 – 12, the Teen Club rewards summer readers with chances to win one of several amazing FVRL prizes, including laptop computers, digital camcorders and eBook readers.

Teens can win more prizes and share with teens across Canada by participating in the online Teen Reading Club by registering online at the Teen RC website at www.teenrc.ca .

From Grade 12 to everyone else, the Adult Reading Club “Read for Luck” will run all summer with readers eligible to enter prize draws as well as test their book knowledge with the “First Lines” contest.

So I’ve talked about all the prizes and draws but the biggest change in this year’s Summer Reading Club here in Hope is that we are having six free entertainment programs in only eight weeks of summer!

We’ll have a magician, a pet parade, a “critter” guy, a comedian, musician, and a storytime in the community garden. All the dates and times are available at the library or on-line at www.fvrl.ca

At the end of the summer (on August 29, to be precise!), a well-earned Recognition Ceremony and Ice Cream Bash tops off a summer of reading. Medals will be awarded to those who have completed their Reading Records and there will be face-painting, music, and more.

Why all this, all summer? Because regular reading during the summer helps kids to maintain or even improve their reading and literacy skills. And for the adults, well, it’s just fun!

Staff pick:  (with many thanks to a regular library patron who came in just to share how much she enjoyed this book):

Crazy About Lili by William Weintrab

Fabulous! Set in the late 1940s, it’s the coming of age story of a young man in Montreal. The title character is based on the legendary stripper Lili St. Cyr but the story is more about innocence, phoneys, and fools.