Summer Reading, Crafts and Activities Come to Your Library

Each summer, hundreds of parents are faced with the same two questions:

1. How can I keep my kids occupied this summer? AND
2. How do I make sure my child doesn’t lose the skills gained during the past school year?

The has the answer.

Get them reading by signing up for “Reading is So Delicious!,” the Alameda County Library’s 2012 Summer Reading Program.

According to the American Library Association, numerous studies have shown that reading over the summer prevents the “summer slide” of learning loss that can happen when children are not in school, practicing their skills every day.

Free, voluntary reading is essential to helping children become better readers, writers and spellers.

During the summer, local libraries emphasize that the only rule is to read for fun.

“The best thing about summer reading programs is the child is in the driver’s seat.,” says Dublin Children’s Librarian Rebecca Maher. “ We give them permission to read whatever they want and it all counts.”

Starting June 11, pre-readers/children/teens and adults can pick up their game board at the KidPower Desk at the Newark Library. The game board helps them keep track of their reading over the summer, and they earn prizes along the way. Readers have until August 11 to complete the library’s reading game.

In addition there are many fun, summer activities at the Library planned for all ages:

MOVIES! for school-age (children 5 years and older): Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
June 19 - The Muppets
July 3 - The Adventures of Tin Tin
July 17 - Hugo
August 7 - Kung Fu Panda 2

Backyard Chicken Basics: A Quick-Start Guide to Keeping Chickens: Tuesday, July 10 at 7 p.m

Animals from Oakland Zoo:

Wednesdays, June 6  and August 15 at 10:30 a.m. to noon: Oakland Zoomobile is visiting! Small live animals and animal artifacts will be used to encourage participants to learn and care about our natural world.

Crafts:

Thursdays, June 28, July 12, July 26 and August 16 at 3:30 p.m.

Family Storytimes for All Ages:

Fridays, July 6 to August 10 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Carnival:

Thursday, August 2, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Youth ages 13 and up may volunteer for a variety of duties at the Library. There is the KidPower program. Volunteers help everyone sign up and play the Summer Reading Game. Interested teens should attend our orientation meeting on June 9th from 3-4 PM in the Library Meeting Room. Bring your calendar to this meeting. We will be scheduling hours for the entire summer and you will want to get your pick. Contact: Kat Blair (510) 795-2627 x 23 or email kblair@aclibrary.org

There is a Reading Buddies program only held on Wednesdays from 3-5 PM. Teen volunteers act as “reading buddies” to younger children by listening to them read, or reading to them for ½ hour. This program is designed for children in preschool through grades four. Summer Reading Buddies Volunteer Orientation will be held on June 6th from 4-5 PM in the Library Meeting Room. Contact: Kathleen Hannon (510) 795-2627 x 18 or email khannon@aclibrary.org.

We will also need teen volunteers to help with a number of our programs for children. To volunteer, contact Tracy Dodge at 510-795-2627, extension 15 or email her at tdodge@aclibrary.org .

To be a volunteer you will need to fill out a Volunteer Application, please write what you are interested in at the top and turn it in at the Information Desk or at the Orientation Meeting. You can find a PDF copy above.

Download the movie