Youngsters display interest in summer reading program

Some area children used their summer break to catch up on their reading.

Every summer, area libraries conduct a reading program for children. The theme of this year's program was Catch the Reading Bug.

Jennie Beck, children's librarian at the Aiken County Public Library, says that the reading program helps draw children to the library during the summer months.

"I see a completely different crowd during the summer than I see during the school year," Mrs. Beck said.

The reading program is designed for children up to the fifth grade. Children who completed the program at the Aiken library this year received a certificate of completion, a children's book from Target and a gift certificate for a free taco at Taco Bell.

According to Mrs. Beck, this summer's program was very positive. "This year our completion rate was up and our circulation rate was up. It was more successful this year compared to previous years," Mrs. Beck said.

More than 2,500 children entered the summer reading program in the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield Regional Library system this year. More than 1,250 children completed it.

Some area libraries also feature a reading program for teenagers during the summer. The program is designed for pupils in the sixth through 12th grades. The theme for this year's program was Metamorphosis. More than 500 registered in the systemwide program, and more than 170 completed it.

Participants in the program this year had a chance to win an 8 GB iPod Nano. For every book they read, they got an entry in the raffle.

The winner was Katie Kule, a patron of the Aiken Library..

Libraries tend to see an increase in activity during the summer months. Rachel Pirkle, children's service coordinator for the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield Regional Library system, says that the ABBE libraries are no exception.

"I definitely think there's an increase. On the days we have children's programming, we just have a tremendous number of children here for recreational purposes," Mrs. Pirkle said.

Reach Jonathan Overstreet at (706) 823-3708 or jonathan.overstreet@augustachronicle.com.