Live Oak Public Libraries will kick off its annual 2023 Summer Reading Program for children and adults of all ages. From June 1 through July 31, local libraries will offer reading challenges, performances, workshops and more, all completely free of charge and open to the public.
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge asks kids ages 0 to 18 to read 10 hours this summer. Once 10 hours of reading are complete, participants will get a free book and will be entered for grand prizes like an iPad, a Nintendo Switch and more.
Kasey Haessler, Regional Youth Services Librarian, explained that the point of summer reading is to encourage kids to read during the summer months to prevent learning loss.
“Those two months between school years can be critical,” Kaessler said. “We really want to make sure kids are engaged with reading and learning and being curious. We want to make sure they’re keeping up with their reading skills. We’re still seeing a lot of catch up that needs to be done post-COVID.”
There is no reading list created by the library, as librarians want kids to explore topics they’re naturally drawn to.
“Summer is a great time to encourage kids to read books that they want to read and encourage them to develop a nice relationship with reading, guided by their own interests and their own passions,” Kaessler said. “We want them to have fun with it and grow a nice relationship with books for the rest of their lives.”
Kaessler said the libraries highly encourage adults to participate in summer reading, both for the children in their lives and for themselves.
“The reason why we make adults such a big part of the Summer Reading Program is that reading as a family, or when kids see their parents or caregivers or adults in their lives reading, they associate it with good things,” Kaessler said. “It becomes part of their routine. If they see reading as a part of their family life, the higher chance they will be drawn to reading independently. Reading as a family, or making time to read daily, is one of the best things caregivers can do for kids at a young age.”
She went on to say, “For adults, the more we expose ourselves to other people’s stories, and stories outside of our own experience, the more open-minded and empathetic and caring our communities and cultures can be, because we’re building connections to people who are different from ourselves. It makes a better, more involved populus I think.”
In addition to the Summer Reading Challenge, Live Oak Public Libraries are offering performances and workshops including a didgeridoo performance, magic shows, storytelling, music classes, henna art classes, and improv classes in partnership with Front Porch Improv.
Live Oak Public Libraries also partners with local and state museums and parks. The public can check out passes the same way they would check out a book for up to eight people to visit select museums in the Telfair and Coastal Heritage Society networks. The library also provides free entry into most Georgia state parks with a library park pass.
All programs are designed to be free and fun for families.
“21st century libraries are really cool,” Kaessler said. “Books will always be important, but it’s also about community engagement and connecting with people.”
Local libraries will also offer free lunch for kids in partnership with America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Lunch will be provided Monday through Friday in June and July.
Live Oak Public Libraries is a system of 16 libraries providing programs and services in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. For more information on Live Oak Public Libraries and a full schedule of Summer Reading Programming, visit liveoakpl.org.
