If results from summer library programs across Niles Township are any indication, many children returning to school this month will not have to reacquaint themselves with the practice of reading.
Library officials report that participation in summer reading programs in 2017 was significantly up.
Reading programs have taken a more creative shape in recent years, librarians say. Many are no longer restricted to just reading books — other engagement activities are offered — although reading remains the heart. The programs are often family-themed and come with incentive prizes — although each library program has its own flavor.
The Skokie Public Library called its summer reading program Camp Imagine. When children and adults completed books or other activities, they could report to the Camp Imagine desk in the lobby to earn badges. They also were able to express their feelings about the books they read by writing letters and dropping them into the camp mailbox.
“You’ve inspired me so much since I’ve read the first book,” a Skokie fourth grader wrote to book characters she loves. “I trust you so much that I should tell you about myself.”
Kathy Sexton, Skokie Public Library readers services librarian, said more than 3,700 children and adults registered for Camp Imagine, which finished up in the middle of August.
About 65 percent of participants earned at least one of 15 badges and 61 people earned all 15 of the available badges, officials said.
“Every year was a different summer reading theme until last year, which was our first camp theme,” Sexton said. “Last year it was called Camp Curiosity. We really like it, and patrons seem to really love it, too. It gives a lot of leeway in the program for them to create it the way they want it to be.”
Mike Antwi-Nsiah, 19, volunteered this summer, handing out badges from behind the Camp Imagine desk.
“I did it last summer and it was really cool so I decided to come back and do it again,” he said. “I see how little buttons can make kids so happy. You don’t have to buy them really expensive toys. You give them a button and they’re super happy about that. I’m like Santa.”
Camp Imagine was only one way in which the library encouraged and promoted reading this summer. Its Booking With a Buddy program, which celebrated its 20th year, teams older children to seniors with children entering first to third grades to encourage reading.
Kristina Nickels said her daughter, Kassidy, 6, participated in the program for the first time this summer.
“I thought it would be a nice thing for her to do over the summer to just keep in the habit,” Nickels said. “She really likes to come in and pick out a bunch of books. I was kind of nervous she might not like it, but it’s been good.”
Mariah Ghouri has a child who has been in the program for two years and another who participated the first time this summer.
“I think this really gives them a good opportunity to read and share their thoughts and ideas with other students that are not their age,” she said.
Niles West High School sophomore Saeeda Noor volunteered as a “big buddy” for the first time this summer. She was paired with an 8-year-old boy, she said.
“We’ve been reading a chapter book together,” Noor said. “Every day we get through at least 20 pages. I read to him some and he also reads to me.”
Like Skokie, the smaller Lincolnwood Public Library offered a successful all-family reading program this summer, said library Head of Youth Services Sharon Levine.
“We’ve been doing summer reading programs for years, but this is the second year we’ve done it with a punch card,” she said. “People who participate love it. They love coming in and getting punches and raffle tickets.”
According to library head of marketing Chris Renkosiak, the program drew some 150 participants.
“We’ve seen some exciting activity since the completion of our renovation earlier this year, and this summer’s been one of the busiest for us on record, proving that folks are doing a large amount of reading and learning this summer,” he said.
The two-month summer reading programs at the Morton Grove and Niles-Maine District Public Libraries also showed a healthy participation increase from last year, their librarians say.
Morton Grove’s program offered three divisions — for children, teens and adults. Participants submitted entries after reading books or engaging in other activities for the chance to win prizes, said adult reference librarian Megan Rosol.
According to Rosol, the library received 1,810 entries for adults although that number included some multiple entries from the same participants.
“We absolutely didn’t expect as big of a response as we got,” she said. “We were pleasantly surprised.”
Courtney Schroeder, head of youth services at Morton Grove’s library, said the children’s and teen’s programs were also successful. The 907 participating children were about 200 more than last year, she said, and there were 720 older children registered for the teen program.
“It was an incredible year,” she said. “We had to buy more prizes before the program was over.”
Niles-Maine District Public Library Youth Services Assistant Program Supervisor Sarah Muskivitch said 1,389 people participated in the library’s reading program this summer — about 200 more than last year.
The Niles-Maine program allowed participants to earn tokens for reading books and other activities and to try to win prizes.
“The numbers were really big this summer,” Muskivitch said. “It didn’t matter which age group. Our numbers were up across the board. People were definitely reading.”
@SKReview_Mike
