Ronan Library celebrates summer reading
Megan Strickland
Bella Smith eats and reads in Bockman Park during the finale of Ronan Library’s Summer Reading program
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RONAN – School was out for summer, but parents and children in Ronan kept hitting the books over the past couple months.
The Ronan Library celebrated the end of its summer reading program on Saturday with a barbecue and prize party. More than 430 people registered this year, with 252 people logging more than 13,022 hours of reading.
“That’s a lot of time,” Librarian Michelle Fenger said.
In addition, the library participated in the Usborne Books Reach for the Stars program this year. The program partners children who pledge to read more than 30 minutes per day with sponsors who pay for the reading in credit for Usborne books. Summer reading raised $406 in book spending money for individual children and $406 for the Ronan Library.
“It fit perfectly for our program,” Fenger said. “It’s a great thing.”
Fenger said summer reading is important because it keeps children engaged during school vacation, when students aren’t routinely required to read.
Sisters Anya and Bella Smith were so hooked on books that they each had one with them and were lost in a story as people lined up for barbecue at the weekend celebration.
“We always read a lot so I filled up our entire first reading log and then I filled up part of my second one,” 15-year-old Anya said. “We do a lot of reading.”
Eleven-year-old Bella said she enjoyed the reading.
“It’s fun because you don’t have to worry about school.”
Their mother, Judy Smith, said it is easy to get her children to read and that she is a fan of the program.
“We love it because it encourages them to keep reading throughout the year,” Judy said.
