Looking for something for your children or grandchildren to do this summer?
Look no further than the annual Summer Reading Program at the Columbia-Marion County Public Library.
Sessions kick off at 10 a.m. June 7 with Jerry Jenkins and his South African drums.
“He will have a bunch of drums with him. Kids will get to play them. He’ll go into storytelling with them,” Youth Services Librarian Brooke Powell said.
At 2 p.m. students will make their own drums out of coffee cans.
The drumming seems to fit well in this year’s theme, “Libraries Rock!”
“Each week, we’ll be doing something different,” Powell said. “On June 14, Sabrina from the Natural Science Museum will be talking about rocks and minerals. She will be there at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m.; we’ll be painting rocks. June 21 is Rock Star Day. Children will be able to dress as their favorite rock star.”
A big favorite each year is the library’s “Wet Down Day” on June 28 where the Columbia Fire Department will help cool down the children.
“The kids love it. We’ll also be having watermelon and maybe popsicles,” Technical Services Librarian Mona Swayze said.
But behind the fun and games is a serious side, reading, according to Powell.
“Each child will receive a reading record to keep track of the books they have read,” she said “For every 15 books or chapter they read, when they turn it in, they’ll get a free book. Their names will be entered into a drawing for some great prizes.”
Among the prizes the readers could get are a pair of tickets to Paradise Water Park in Collins, two tickets to the Hattiesburg Zoo and two gift certificates to the Marion Theater.
“We may also have some other prizes,” Powell said. “We will also have some activities during the first two weeks in July.”
Swayze said that other programs are also available including preschool programs on Tuesdays, which begin June 5. Family Thursdays will include sessions for ages 2-5 and ages 6-11. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Preschool story hour is at 10 a.m. each Tuesday and baby time, for expectant parents and parents with children ages birth through 24 months, will be at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
“We are planning to have a family dance party in July,” Swayze said. “We’re still working on the plans for that. We want to have things that families can enjoy, not just in summer, but year round.
For more information, call (601) 736-5516 or visit smrl.lib.ms.us.
