The Seymour Library reports a successful 2021 summer reading program for all ages despite challenges brought on by the delta variant.
This year’s theme was “Tails and Tales.” Children entering preschool through fifth grade were invited to read over 100 minutes a week to be eligible for prizes. At final count, 219 children registered for the Children’s Reading Game, reading a total of 141,318 minutes.
The program was funded by Friends of the Seymour Library with support from many community businesses including Mark’s Pizza, Rochester Museum and Science Center, Genesee Country Museum, and Seneca Park Zoo.
Virtual and in-person programs featured the summer kick-off with Amazing Magic Joe, Piggy Cookie Story Time with the Storybook Cook, plus visits with K9 Brock and Officer Sime of the Brockport Police Department, beekeeper Michael Van Edwards, and Mr. Grey’s Strays.
Other summer programs included Garden Club, story times, Mad Scientists’ Lab, parachute play, and Lego club.
The Teen Summer Reading Game was open to students entering grades six through 12. Teens participated by reading different types of books and entering online on the Seymour Library website. For every book completed, they earned a raffle ticket for a chance to win prize packages. There were 37 participants and 382 books read. Attendance increased by 75 percent over last year.
Seymour Library had 33 hardworking teens who volunteered 254 times helping with children’s programming. A teen volunteer celebration at summer’s end included oversized lawn games and a pizza lunch.
Zoom and in-person programs were held each week in July and August. These included teen book discussions, DIY activities, N.E.R.D.S, animal cake challenge, Paint-a-Palooza, a class inspired by Jackson Pollack, and Teen Improv. A writing club for middle school students met all summer. A highlight this summer was the program, Helping is Purrrfect. Teens made cat toys to be donated to the local cat shelter, Mr. Grey’s Strays, along with a summer-long community service project of collecting supplies for the shelter. Items were presented to Mr. Grey’s Strays during the July program.
The annual Summer Reading Game for ages 18 and older had 107 adults reading 70,765 minutes. There were weekly prizes drawn, with eight winners receiving gift certificates and books from local businesses. Friends of the Seymour Library and these community organizations provided summer prizes: 58 Main BBQ & Brew, Barkport Grooming, Brockport School of Dance, Buckman’s Car Wash, Classy Chassy Carwash, Diesel Dog Grooming, Jazzercise, Mark’s Pizzeria, My Nail Salon, S&S Fitness Gym, Sweden/Clarkson Recreation Center, Walmart, and Wegmans.
Call the Seymour Library at 637-1050 to make suggestions or comments about the specific reading programs.
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