SUMMER 2011 “ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES”

ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES: the 2011 West Warwick Public Library summer reading program is underway! We’ve decorated with maps and globes. world landmarks, a travel trunk and even a hot air balloon – we’re ready to travel and  learn more about cultures around the world.

Sign up started Monday, June 20, the day West Warwick schools got out of school. Be part of the West Warwick reading club which is also the RI state and national reading club! Weekly summer programs start July 11 and end August 6.

Why should children read during the summer? Because it’s fun! You can read anything YOU want! But most importantly, reading skills actually improve so students are more ready for school in the fall.

Who joins the summer reading program?  Little Explorers preschool to Gr K color hot air balloons every time they read with someone for 10 minutes.  Passport Readers Gr 1-5   promise to read for at least 5 hours this summer.  “You Are Here” Teens are signing up to read and report on their reading for four weeks.  Preschoolers get stickers for reading, Passport Readers get coupons to visit RI museums and attractions, and teens get McDonald’s and Ronzio coupons. And the adults have a summer reading program too! They are looking for Novel Destinations - ask at the Reference Desk!

Animal Experiences with Dave Marchetti kicked off our summer Tuesday night June 21  for almost 100 children and adults. There were lots of turtles, snakes, lizards, a frog, a chinchilla, a baby bunny and a huge alligator to learn about and TOUCH!

Westie the Library Bear left the  building on Tuesday, June 21 – he’s on his summer vacation with WW families. Lots of kids signed up to take him home. We hope he’ll have  lots of stories and pictures to share for his summer “One Bear’s World, Many Stories”

Other summer activities planned: storytimes for toddlers, age 2-5 and for gr k-2. World Travelers for grade 1-6 will meet Monday mornings and we’ll have a Fiesta, a Luau, a Chinese Celebration, and a Tea Party. Plus there will be a computer club and a chess club.

Join a  book discussion group! Gr 3-5 are reading “Where the Mountain Meets and Moon” the Kids Read Across RI book. Gr 6-8 are reading The London Eye Mystery, and Gr 8-12 are reading The Hobbit.  The groups will meet weekly at the library to discuss the books for four weeks.

New things we’re doing this summer: Drop in Crafts, Puppet Troupe for grade 3-8, Westie the traveling Library Bear, and A Library Playgroup. We’re also reviving Chess Club on Thursday afternoons – an 8th grade student from a school that’s won lots of chess tournaments will be in charge!

Special events coming up: Loren Spears of the Narragansett people will share her culture on Tuesday, July 12 at 7 pm for children age 4-10 and their families. Diane Edgecomb will share Around the World stories on Tuesday July 19 at 7.pm  And August 9 we will have a magic show with The Great Baldini. Funding for these programs comes from the West Warwick Public Library, and the RI Office of Library and Information Services.

Reading Tutoring: every summer we have Free reading tutoring for grades 1-3 with volunteer tutors.  Sign up is required for this weekly program on Tuesday evenings or Friday mornings.

Check out our summer newsletter in the Youth Department – and online on the Children’s web page http://wwlibrary.org/newsite/children/2011SummerNewsletterYouthDept.pdf (it takes awhile to load!)

Happy Trails! Have fun traveling and reading this summer.

P.S. . The voice of democracy worked this spring! Many library supporters contacted the town council and town manager and made their voices heard about the library services they value.