Kiwanis Provides Picnic: “Dream Big - READ” Chatham Library 2012 Summer Reading Club

The annual Library of the Chathams Summer Reading Program picnic was held on August 23, 2012 in hot summer weather. Photo shows Kiwanians grilling hot dogs. Food and workers were provided by Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club.  Kiwanis picnic organizer Tom Mullin reported that 160 hot dogs were served.  He also reported that about thirteen Kiwanis members were on hand to grill and serve hot dogs, chips, fruit juice and ice cream.

“Dream big - Read” was the theme for the Summer Reading Club at the Library of the Chathams this year.  The program ran from June 25 to August 23 and was open to all children living or attending school in the Chathams. Children, including pre-K youngsters, participated in the summer reading program by reading books or by having books read to them.

Children’s Librarian Laura Weinbrom reported that 126 teen volunteers, with backup from the library staff, listened to book reports made by participating children.  337 children who read and reported on enough books were invited to enjoy the food.  Weinbrom said that 644 children read and reported on 13,589 books.

Summer readers were grouped into four teams with Carnival names: Tight Rope Walkers, Ring Masters, Trapeze Artists, and Jugglers. The Jugglers team read the most books.

The picnic at the end of this year’s program also had a Carnival theme with lots of fun things to do: a bounce-house with slide, three balloon sculptors, and 20 teen volunteers who did face painting and applied patches. The Chatham Women’s Club sponsored prizes for readers and the Friends of the Library sponsored the bounce-house and balloon sculptors.

The Summer Readers really liked the Carnival activities. Kiwanians were very happy to play part in this celebration of reading.