AMHERST – How many books will you read this summer?
The Cumberland Public Libraries are hoping children, teens and adults will read lots between now and Aug. 31, and they’re running book clubs for each group as encouragement.
“Last year we had around 350 kids (across) the county,” said Chantal Taylor, the youth services librarian. Two hundred of those were just in Amherst.
“We have summer reading clubs available for everyone above the age of three years old…and they’re all completely different.”
For example, teens get a prize ballot for every two hours they spend reading, while adults and kids are rewarded for each book completed. Draws are conducted throughout the summer, and there’s an end-of-summer draw, too.
Taylor said the kids program is the biggest one of the three. It’s run nationally with sponsorship from TD. The theme this year is ‘Imagine’.
Taylor said studies indicate kids who read in the summer retain more of their learning from the previous year for the coming September.
Denise Corey, the deputy chief librarian, is running the adult program.
“She’s got different categories,” said Taylor. For example, ‘Get Crafty’ encourages reading a novel or how-to book about arts and crafts.
“It’s been increasing every year,” said Taylor in reference to adult participation.
The library’s stats on the program indicate last year 98 adults read 831 books, kids three to 12 read 2,704 books and teens read for 1,398 hours.
Prizes were donated by local businesses, or bought with money they donated.
esparling@amherstdaily.com
