Children will be on their mark, get set, and go as adventures await our youth during the 2024 Summer Reading Program at the Andalusia Public Library in June and July.
Filled with many reading and fun activities for all ages, the annual program will be held on Thursday afternoons at 3 p.m. in June. Teen Tuesdays, which were an addition to the program last year, will return in July.
“We are excited to bring children to our local library again for another fun-filled summer. The library is more than just a place that houses books; it’s where the adventure begins and gets children interested in reading,” APL Children’s Librarian Caryl Lee Ray said. “There are several benefits of summer reading that include reading fluency, increasing knowledge, building comprehension, learning vocabulary, and most of all, it helps encourage reading throughout the year. Children who read with their parents develop a feeling of affection and grow up to enjoy reading.”
The SRP schedule begins on June 6 with the popular Animal Tales split into two groups: ages 8 and under at 1 p.m. and ages 9 and up at 3 p.m. A movie day showing the film “Up” is scheduled for Monday, June 10, at 2 p.m. The Village Victory Puppet Team will be the highlight on June 13. Tom Foolery, a juggler, magician, and unicycler will delight children on June 20. Mark Rudd of Andalusia Isshinryu Karate will hold a demonstration on June 27. Each Friday will see Raising Readers and baby time at 10 a.m. before Preschool Story Time at 10:30 a.m. The schedule for Teen Tuesdays in July will be announced at a later date.
In addition to the SRP, there will be door prizes, movies, books, and Lego contests for ages 4 to 12 and teenagers. All Lego submissions must be turned in by Monday, July 8. Judges will cast votes for the winners, which will be announced at the end of July.
New this year is an incentive with Lost Pizza for children to read more. For every 10 books a child reads, he or she will be presented with a card from Lost Pizza for one free individual one-topping pizza. Parents or guardians must sign off acknowledging the number of books children read.
Each year, the Alabama Public Library Service chooses a theme for summer reading programs across the state. “Library Where the Adventure Begins” is this year’s theme.
“Our library has been busy getting ready for this year’s adventure. We have transformed the APL into a jungle, safari, and many other fun adventures. We have a ‘kayak’ for photo opportunities, vines hanging from our ceilings, decorations with airplanes, and even a big hot air balloon. There are also some very pretty plants outside our facility that children assisted with planting on Mother’s Day this year,” Ray said.
Approximately 1,400 children attended the 2023 Summer Reading Program at the library in June alone. Teen Tuesdays were also a hit, according to Ray.
“Reading is encouraged year-round, and we are happy to allow our little friends to the library to get started if they have not already. When the children are out of school for the summer, it’s easy to lose track of that skill. Our summer reading program gives children the opportunity to expand their horizons and enjoy all of the wonderful activities we plan each year. We would like to thank everyone who has ever participated in the program. If you have not been, bring your children and let them see reading can be fun,” she said.
The Andalusia Public Library is located at 212 South Three Notch Street and is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information email library@cityofandalusia.com or call 334-222-6612.
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