Summer Reading Opening Party

Storytelling, and experiencing a live animal show, as well as special merit trips awaited the children who tackled books during the 2006 Summer Reading Program at the Jersey City Free Public Library, whose statewide American Library Association theme is “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales.”

The program began on Monday, June 26th and runs until Friday, August 18th and is open to all children grades K through 8. Children read books and keep track of their progress in a Reading Record, which is supplied when they sign up for the Reading Club. Students who have required reading to do will be able to find titles from their reading lists at all of the library branches.

The Summer Reading Program at the Jersey City Free Public Library has long been a staple of summer library programming as a way to create a fun reading atmosphere. Children read more when not pressured and when they are enjoying the content. One way to create that atmosphere is to encourage children to read at their own pace and choose books that reflect their own interests.

Another way to making reading fun is by rewarding all children, in earning prizes as they read, with the most hard working and dedicated readers from each branch earning participation in the field trips that have been planned. To fit in with the SRP 2006 animal theme, there will be two merit trips: NY Aquarium and the Bronx Zoo.

In addition to the Reading Club, every branch offers weekly activities such as arts and crafts, computers, games and videos. The five Regional branches and the Bonetti Children’s Room at the Main Library will also be hosting two wonderful performers this summer: Jersey City resident Julie Pasqual, a well-known storyteller, and Snakes, Scales and Turtle Tales, an interactive, live animal show. These performances are open to all Reading Club participants.

Children who don't read over the summer lose their reading skills and are more likely to be held back. Those who do read keep on track and are ready to continue learning in the new school year. The Summer Reading Program helps children and parents by providing a fun and motivational way for children to enjoy reading and their library.