Keeber's Kolumn

Library News, by Pamela Comello, Youth Services Librarian
Red Rock News
Date: AUGUST 24, 2007


It is hard to believe the month of August is more than half over, and school has started for most children in the area. Another Summer Reading Program has ended, and as I review the accomplishments of the summer, I am again amazed at the difference books and libraries can make in children's lives. Some 40 programs were offered this summer in which pre-school students, school-age children, and teens could learn new information and develop skills using common shapes and objects to create cartoon figures, composing and playing music and cooking to name a few. Programs held at the Library this summer gave children the opportunity to not only be enriched and inspired by professionals but to be exposed to new ideas and information through the performers and artists conducting these program as well as the books displayed during the various programs.

I can feel good that we have once again reached more children than previous years. The increase in number of participants may be due to the fact that more children with families now live in the area. As the Red Rock News reported in their August 17 front page article entitled Students head back to school, more than 1,500 kids enrolled in the Sedona-Oak Creek School District and some schools are still enrolling. The final numbers may show a 10-14 percent increase in student population from last year.

The number of participants registered for the 2007 Summer Reading program was 270 compared to 200 participants last year! This is a 35% increase in participants! The participants included 22 pre-school students, 26 home-schooled youth, eight students from Desert Star School, 33 students from Sedona Charter School, 70 students from West Sedona School, 75 students from Big Park School, and 10 students from Red Rock High. There were even 26 participants who live part-time in Sedona, in town for the summer months or visiting from out of state. Participants included children who registered to read to their siblings and parents who planned to read to and with their children. Registered participants chose a reader or a pre-reader log book to keep track of reading they did or a parent/caregiver did with them. Readers had some 50 activities in their reading log to choose to do. Readers were actively reading and doing reading-related activities like creating riddles, writing descriptive paragraphs or composing poetry or stories. “Read-to-me” readers enjoyed listening to books on tape or having stories in magazines or books read to them by a parent or older sibling. Prizes were earned upon completion of activities or minutes read and reported to staff at the Library. Participants also entered their names to win a new Powerlite mountain bike generously donated by Library Resource Managements Systems, Inc. of Sedona. Sedona Public Library very much appreciates their donation. The proud winner of the bike is Xavier Turnbull; a third grader at Sedona Charter School.

Over the years, some have questioned the need for children's programming, asking “Why is it so important for a library to offer a summer reading program and events for kids in the summer?” They have employed the thought that children should automatically visit the library, check out books and read during the summer for enjoyment. Are we wasting our time and money and efforts to attempt to"spoon feed" kids into doing an activity that they should naturally want to do? And is it the Library's job to provide activities for children, much like what they would receive at summer camp or pay to see for entertainment?

A survey in English and Spanish developed by a representative group of Children’s librarians across the State of Arizona was given to a percentage of six to twelve-year-old participants at our Library this year to determine if children enjoy reading and have a good time at libraries. From those surveyed, participation in the Summer Reading Program changed 34% of surveyed participants’ feelings about reading from thinking “reading is OK” to “I love reading”! This survey supports why we offer this type of program each year and shows how reading can change feelings and behavior and can contribute to lifelong learning.

I loved seeing the enthusiasm kids showed when they came to the Library to report their reading progress. It was so much fun to hear the creative poems and riddles and see the wonderful bookmarks and book covers children created. It was thrilling to hear kids express their feelings about what excited them about reading. Some comments they shared told how reading cured boredom and made them feel better and happier, helped them with spelling, made them feel good, helped them read faster, and helped them get smarter.

Many people were involved in the execution of the summer program this year. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who took phone calls, registered kids, and helped patrons find what they were looking for. Thanks to all the parents and grandparents who assisted children participate in the program. A special thank you to my assistant, Missy Wilkinson, who not only helped make the program go more smoothly but made it possible for me to accomplish so much more in the Youth department than I’ve ever before been able to achieve during a summer.