Summer Reading Program at library starts July 10

The summer reading program is quickly approaching. Every Monday from July 10 to August 7, children are invited to participate at the Odessa Public Library in the community center at 21 E. First Ave. Children up to second grade will meet from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and children in third grade to fifth grade will meet from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Registration forms can be picked up and returned to the library or clerk’s office during normal business hours. (The library is open Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The clerk’s office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but closed for lunch from 12-1 p.m.). Children can register at any time during the program, as well. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to complete registration on site. We will also be having an end-of-program barbecue and awards celebration on August 12 (time to be announced during program).

Our theme this year is “Build A Better World.” We will be concentrating on ways our children can contribute to building a better world for themselves and their families and important pieces of our world, as well. We will learn about gardening, wildlife, nature, recycling and ways to help our own small community (such as our law enforcement, fire and emergency medicine and food bank).

Each week we will have a guest reader, a craft/project and an activity/game that will coordinate with the theme. Some weeks will even include guest speakers who specialize in fields we are discussing on that particular day!

Should you have any questions, please contact Julie Jantz (librarian) at (509) 982-2654 during regular business hours or Ange Hayes (program director) at (509) 201-7802 (message or text).

We hope to make the reading program bigger and better than in previous years and thank all those who have contributed to helping us reach that goal. It takes many to make this program successful, from guest readers to helpers with crafts and games and even clean up! There is a way for everyone to help! To volunteer, contact Ange Hayes at (509) 201-7802.

Our goal is to encourage children of all ages to develop a love of reading and learning in a fun atmosphere! The barbecue at the end of the program is a reward for the children who attend the program. Throughout the summer they can earn tickets for various tasks, such as completing reading logs, book presentations, completing activities both on site and from home, bringing a friend, etc. Those tickets are then entered into drawings for all kinds of fun prizes! Last year the children really enjoyed this part of the program, and we hope our prizes will be even more exciting this year!

Watch our Facebook page for updates throughout the summer and announcements of upcoming events. Announcements will also be sent home with children attending the program. Thank you to all those who have contributed both time and donations of supplies and prizes. We couldn’t do this without the help of our wonderful little community!