The Pearl River County Library System is preparing for another year of summer reading adventures at its two public libraries, Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library and the Poplarville Public Library.
The library system has held some form of a summer reading program since it was established 53 years ago, Library System Director Carol Phares said.
Each year, about 450 children participate in the various programs offered during the summer, Missy Ellis, the summer reading and story hour instructor, said.
This year’s program will focus on the theme of “Building a Better World.” Children will participate in activities geared toward science, technology, engineering and math, Ellis said.
The weekly activity program for those who have finished second through sixth grade will feature a different presentation every week focusing on STEM topics, she said.
For the first week, funding from the Friends of the Library provided guest speaker and magician Amory Hermetz, Ellis said.
During the following weeks, children will participate in activities like gardening with the MSU Extension office, storytelling with “Ms. Chocolate” and building with Legos in Poplarville.
For children between the ages of 3 and 6-years-old, Ellis holds a weekly story hour on Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Crosby Memorial Library.
The first summer story hour will begin June 9 where children are invited to “Blast off to Reading.” Ellis said she’s picked out several books for the program about ways to build and reinvent the world.
Whether they’re reading one hour a week or 15, the program is about setting goals and meeting them to inspire a love of reading, Ellis said.
“Studies have shown that if they’re not reading over the summer they lose reading skills,” Phares said. “We also try to inspire reading for fun. Children can choose whatever they want to read here, even if it’s the back of a cereal box.”
Many times grandparents bring their children to the program as a fun and free way to keep them entertained and learning, Phares said.
“The kids always have a good time,” Ellis said.
It’s about having fun together, she said, adding that she plans to have a “beach day” this year where children bring in their favorite books and lie down on beach towels to share stories.
Picayune’s programs are held Tuesdays starting June 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Poplarville’s programs are held Thursdays starting June 8 and will occur 3 to 4 p.m.
Registration is underway at both libraries during regular hours. There is no cost to attend.