By Khalida Sarwari
The summer reading program at the Santa Clara County Library is back by popular demand and in full swing. With a ghost-tracking demonstration and magic show among the featured events, this year’s program promises more than run-of-the-mill author panels and book discussions.
The family and community event aims to promote literacy and foster a love of reading.
“Studies have shown that children who participate in summer reading programs returned to school ready to learn and with improved reading skills,” said Gail Mason, library services manager.
This year’s themes are “Dream Big Read” for children under 12, “Own the Night” for those from 12 to 18 and “History–Read All About It!” for adults.
Participation in the program is not limited to people who hold library cards. Readers in the Santa Clara County Library District can sign up online and read or listen to books.
They can also rate books, create avatars, earn badges and keep logs of books they have read during the summer. Children will receive a free book at the library and teens and adults will receive a free USB flash drive for signing up and participating.
Two adults and two teen participants will also be entered in prize drawings for Kindle and Nook eReaders.
Each library will host a variety of programs throughout the summer. At the Campbell Library, The Corpse Bride will be shown to teens for free on June 20. Another teen event will be held on June 27, where Gloria Young will show how she uses her equipment and techniques to find ghosts.
On June 28, the first children’s summer reading club event will be held at the Campbell Library. School-age and preschool children can do crafts by making buttons, dream journals, star wands and paper “rockets.”
Stage magician D.W. Wilson will come to the Campbell Library on July 5 for a children’s magic show. On July 11, local chef Bernadette Reed will teach teens how to make easy and delicious snacks.
The food theme will continue at the Saratoga Library, where on June 19, Reed will teach teens how to make midnight snacks that will beat the munchies.
On June 20, WildLIFE Associates will bring along wild animals to show at the Saratoga Library. Teens are invited to the library on June 25 for a dreamcatcher and dream journal-making activity. For children in kindergarten through sixth grade, the Saratoga Library will host a crafts and activities program on June 27.
The summer reading program will run through Aug. 31. Most teen and children’s events will take place in the afternoon.
Last year, 6,334 children, 1,342 teenagers and 572 adults participated.
The Santa Clara County Library District serves the residents of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated area of Santa Clara County.
For more information about the summer reading program, visit www.sccl.org.
