Yorktown Library Launches Summer Reading Program

(June 16, 2022) – The John C. Hart Memorial Library will begin its summer reading program on June 24.

The free event runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and it includes a bouncy castle, fire truck, sports combo, craft table and popcorn. Children will be able to sign up for a summer reading game called “Oceans of Possibilities.”

“We have so many exciting things planned for you,” said Marca McClenon, head of children’s services at the Hart library. “Get ready for pirate school, ocean experiments, stories and summer crafts, as well as animal programs such as a meet and greet an alpaca.”

Other animal experiences through the summer involve a falcon, goat, bees, and a dog.

The summer reading game requires children to sign up and keep a reading log, in which they keep track of how many hours they spend reading. Children who have read two hours or more can return to the library so that they can put a sticker on game boards that remain at the library. The children are also entered in weekly raffles to win a free book and a prize from a treasure cart.

Children who complete their game boards receive coupons for free ice cream or pizza from a local store. The reading game ends on August 13.

A video describing the game rules is posted on the library’s YouTube page.

Educators and researchers recognize the “summer slide,” the loss of learning that can take place during the summer months if students do not engage in educational activities. In a recent study, Professor Richard Allington of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his colleagues found that giving kids 12 books to read over the summer was as effective as summer school in raising the students’ reading scores.

Contact:  Yvonne Cech, 914-245-5262 or ycech@wlsmail.org