Cheers & Kudos: Library serves up successful summer reading program

“We love the reading program. Always a good time. Look forward to it every year!”

“The plays and special events are awesome. Excellent, love the program.”

“Great summer reading practice! Thank you.”

These are just a few of the many positive comments received from parents about the 2015 summer reading program at our Minden and Lake Tahoe branches.

Every year in June, the Douglas County Public Library challenges kids and teens to read all summer. This year we signed-up 680 children. Of those, 375 finished the children’s Summer Reading Program, Every Hero Has a Story. Children complete activities like reading, singing, attending library programs, and reading to others to earn prizes. Teens who participated in “Unmask,” the reading program for teens, read an astounding 49,600 pages. They wrote book reviews for every 100 pages they read during the program. The Minden and Lake Tahoe branches of the library signed up a total of 115 teens.

Youth Services Librarian Kathy Echavarria and Senior Library Technician Maria Pearson put together 59 fun activities for children including LEGO Building Clubs and Movie Days. Special programs included a Brüka Theatre live performance, an ice cream social, the Fratello Marionettes “Aladdin” finale, and Magic Dan at the Lake Tahoe branch library. Teens enjoyed a Mario Kart tournament and two “Captain America” movie nights during the reading program.

We are fortunate to have outdoor venues in the valley to host our programs. Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park welcomed our Summer Popcorn Blizzard and Mormon Station State Historic Park hosted our Hero Puppet Show event. Stories at Lampe Park returned this year and were well attended. All together our programs were attended by 1,318 kids.

The local business community was very generous. Minden-Tahoe Airport donated the grand prize, a glider ride, for one finisher from each program. All finishers received a personal pizza from Round Table Pizza. Carson Valley Swim Center donated swim passes. Donations were also made by Fatburger, GE Energy, Ironwood 8 Cinemas, Maverick America’s First Stop, Maxton Manufacturing, Minden Fortnightly, Papa Murphy’s, Perma-Cal Industries, and Zephyr Cove Stables.

Programs, events, and prizes were made possible by the following organizations: Friends of the Douglas County Public Library, The Douglas County Public Library Foundation, the Institute for Museum Library Services, and the Town of Minden. We thank them for their generous support.

The library could not have run such a well-received program without the generosity of educators and volunteers. We are fortunate to serve such a motivated community. The library was very busy this summer!

Maggie Rusmisel

Douglas County Public Library