NAHANT — Registration for Nahant Public Library’s 2020 Summer Reading Program is now open.
Running from June 13 through July 31, the program’s theme is “Imagine Your Story” and is “all about fantasy, fairy tales, and fables,” according to a press release from Nahant Public Library.
In keeping with state-mandated social distancing guidelines, this summer’s activities will be entirely online, and library cardholders will have the option to pick up physical or electronic copies of books to fulfill their reading needs.
“It’s an additional challenge to make everything online, but I think this will be an opportunity for families to bond over some of the activities and to keep the fun of learning alive throughout the summer,” said library director Sharon Hawkes.
She added that regardless of the theme, the purpose of the program is simply to get kids actively reading during the summer months.
“(Johnson Elementary School) doesn’t assign reading over the summer, but they encourage kids to read and they’re tapped into what we do with our summer program and refer kids to us,” Hawkes said. “We just want kids to read, read, read. That can be anything from a graphic novel to a picture book to a chapter book, or even a whole series of chapter books.”
Kids ages three through 13 who are registered with the program will receive a reading packet, which is available for pickup June 19.
Additional activities for children will include mask-making (a “Horribles Foto-Fest”), online story viewing, fantasy creation building, and more. All ages are also invited to tune in to online music concerts — available through the library’s Facebook page — on July 6, 16, 23, and 30.
“One of the things the public library does is encourage students to read without the expectation of a test or some sort of goal to meet. Just (encouraging) reading because it’s fun and because learning is fun,” Hawkes said. “This gives us an opportunity to do that while kids are out for the summer, and at the same time, they’re practicing their skills so that when they hit school again in the fall, they can hit the ground running.”
Students can be registered online through the Nahant Public Library Website: www.nahantlibrary.org. The first 12 children who sign up will be offered a special opportunity, and parents are encouraged to sign up early.
Those with questions can call 781-581-0306, or email [email protected].
