Library summer reading program attracts all ages

BIG LAKE -- As summer reading programs began throughout the Valley last week, Big Lake Library hosted its annual kickoff barbecue, in conjunction with the Mat-Su Borough's 40th Anniversary community celebration and ceremonial tree-planting activities.

Big Lake Librarian Jo Cassidy said 140 children have signed up for the Big Lake program, and that number will continue to grow throughout the summer.

"Last year, we had about 200 kids participate," Cassidy said, "and we are expecting about 225 this year."

Peggy Oberg runs the reading program at Big Lake, where children of all ages can participate in the different weekly events. She has been running the program at the library for eight years.

"The program has been growing by leaps and bounds," Oberg said.

Oberg said summer reading programs were initially started through a national library effort, aimed at kindergarten and first-grade students who were most likely to lose some of their reading skills during the summer.

"But it became such a popular event, and it just kept growing. Now we have kids all the way through high school that participate in the programs," Oberg said. She said the schoolteachers really appreciate the children making an effort to keep up their reading skills during the summer.

Planning for the annual summer reading programs is supported by the Alaska State Library, which provides local libraries with materials they can use for their programs.

While all seven of the borough's public libraries -- and many of the libraries across the state -- typically share a common theme each year, each library designs its program to be unique. This year, the theme is "Discover New Trails @ Your Library."

Children of all ages are encouraged to participate in one of two levels: Family Reader -- in which parents or siblings read to the children, and Independent Reader (grade school) -- in which children read what they want.

In the Big Lake program, there are lots of incentives for the young participants to read. For every five books read -- or every 10 books a non-reader listens to -- children receive a prize. They also accumulate "chance tickets" throughout the program. On the last day of the program, the library hosts an ice cream party and all the chance tickets are put into a drawing for the grand prizes. One popular prize the library offers each year is a new bicycle, and another is a swimming party donated by the Mat-Su Borough for the winner and up to 35 of the winner's friends.

According to Cassidy, there are a number of ways for participants to earn a chance at the big prizes. Making it to the halfway mark of the program (reading 20 books), participating in the talent show or the pet show, reading a book that is a Newbery or Caldecott Medal winner and completing a book report are some of the ways children can earn their tickets.

If a child chooses not to participate in the weekly events, but still reads the allotted number of books, that child can still qualify for prizes. But there are a few limitations on the reading materials they choose.

"We want them to read on their grade level," Oberg said, "and also to read library books, because we want to encourage them to use the library."

The Big Lake summer reading program has been around for more than 15 years, and the two most popular events -- the kickoff barbecue and the pet show -- have become annual traditions for the local families.

"The event the kids enjoy most is the pet show," Cassidy said. "We do this every year. Big Lake Susitna Veterinary Hospital sponsors the event, and the kids bring in their pets. If they don't have a pet, they bring stuffed animals, so everyone can be a part of it. There are two categories -- they can show the animal, or they can have the animal do a pet trick."

Cassidy said pet shows in the past have had everything from cats on a leash, worms and chickens, to more exotic animals like iguanas, piranhas, Oscars and a newt.

"It is so much fun, the kids just love it," Cassidy said. "It's their chance to show off their loved ones."

This year the kickoff barbecue drew about 200 people. Cassidy said she was delighted with the event.

"The community really pulled together on this," she said. "The Big Lake Advocates, Big Lake Chamber of Commerce, Air Force Band, Lions Club, Fire Department, Leos, AmeriCorps and the LDS missionaries all helped, but without the rest of the community bringing dishes and participating in the activities we wouldn't have had the huge success that we did."

Cassidy said that Jacobson's Greenhouse in Wasilla donated a tree, and the Mat-Su Borough provided cakes.

"We ate about 120 hamburgers, 80 hot dogs, 150 pieces of chicken, and every bit of the two full sheet cakes," she said.