Summer Reading Program scores success

  • Published
  • By 341st Force Support Squadron Marketing
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  This year, the Library had an extremely successful Summer Reading Program that ran from June 12 thru Aug. 14. The theme was "Voyage to Book Island." This is the first year the Department of Defense has sponsored such a program. Base and Post libraries from all service branches could participate in this theme from iRead.

The DoD provided $5K in program supplies and prizes to Malmstrom AFB. Prizes included T-shirts, card holders, beach boxes, hats, balls, pencils and many other items. Locally, the Aces High Bowling Center provided free games of bowling and pizza to readers based on how much they read.

This was the best and biggest year in 15 years, according to library staff. There were 155 children ages 9 months to 16 years registered for the program. The program counts the number of minutes the children are read to, read on their own and read to other children. In all 1,275 hours read were recorded this summer. Each week the children brought in their reading logs to show how much they had read to get a prize. The finale party was held Aug. 14 at the library 30 children played games, got their face painted and played Wii bowling. They snacked on cupcakes, cookies and punch. Each child got a certificate regardless of how much time they read.

In conjunction with the Summer Reading Program, the Library held a Book Cart Decorating Contest with the Youth Center. More than 40 children decorated five library book carts in the themes of "Voyage to Book Island" or Pirates. The judges from 341st Force Support Squadron, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron and 40th Helicopter Squadron really had a hard time deciding the winners, which were announced during the finale party. The winners were: 1st Place: "Arr Matey! Book Pirates Don't Change Diapers," 2nd Place: Team Fish Bowl and 3rd Place: "The Cookie Monsters." All the carts will be on display until Sept. 1 at the library. Stop by and take a look at these works of art before we have to turn them back into library carts.

Other activities during the summer were Pre-School Storytime on Tuesday mornings and Story Circle on Thursday afternoons. Children listened to stories and made crafts during these events.

"I think the success of this year's program was due to the sponsorship from the DoD and local support," said Linda "Dixie" Paronto, supervisory librarian. "We could not have provided such a national program without the DoD providing the funding for the prizes. And the support from the Bowling Center was great! The kids loved those free games of bowling and pizza."

For those children who could not attend the Finale Party, you can still stop by and get your certificate and final prizes through Sept. 1.