The Jefferson Public Library is starting its youth Summer Reading Programs.

Youth Services Librarian Bailey Mount says they have an infant to pre-kindergarten, a kindergarten through fourth grade, and a fifth through eighth grade teen programs that are from June 5th-July 28th. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio the overall theme is “All Together Now” and she explains how they interpreted the theme to fit the kinds of activities that the youth can do.

“And I think the best way to really describe that is it’s focusing on collaboration, it’s focusing on team work, it’s focusing on what everyone can bring to the table to make something awesome for the community as a whole.”  

Mount points out for the infant to pre-k program, the main activity is a Build Up a Bingo Adventure where for June and July, families will get a bingo card with different activities to do in the library. If the entire bingo card is completed, the child’s name will get entered into a drawing for a grand prize, as well as earning a certificate of completion. Additionally, there will be story times every Wednesday from 10-11:30am.

The kindergarten through fourth grade program will have a different activity every Monday ranging from a lego building challenge, to coding, and participating in a Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STREAM) story time. Mount talks about an extra incentive for kids when they read books.

“The kids are actually getting paper legos to fill out and if they return them in person, we will give them an actual lego that they will be able to contribute to a communal build that we are doing in the library. Now I have not told them that we’re building anything specific, I’m just really interested to see where it goes.”  

The fifth through eighth graders will have their program held every Thursday from 1-3pm at the library and there will be additional Saturdays as well from 10am-noon. Mount says the main aspect for the teen program is offering three pre-selected books that teens will then meet as a book club for a discussion, as well as doing other activities. The kick-off for their program is a relay race at Russell Park on June 8th at 1pm. 

Mount says each program is free to participate and to register, contact the library or stop by, and registrations can be done online by clicking here.