Public Library celebrates Summer Reading Program

MOUNT VERNON – On Friday, July 15, the parking lot at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County (PLMVKC) teemed with music, laughter and sno-cones to celebrate the Summer Reading Program, "Ocean of Possibilities." 

Library staff and program sponsors Park National Bank collaborated to present an afternoon of outdoor fun for patrons, with Children's Floor Manager Erica Newton saying that the closing party included temporary tattoos, a photo booth, sand art, carnival games with prizes like sea shell whistle, kickball, sea creature finger puppets, or finger skateboards.  

The library received a grant from Park National Foundation to support its Summer Reading Program activities for teens and children, and Library Board President Clint Bailey attended the event to support the bank's longtime sponsorship of summer reading. 

"Keeping kids engaged in reading and lifelong learning over the summer is critical to developing strong literacy skills," said Development and Writing Programs Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher. "The library is grateful to Park National for supporting young readers and getting books into kids' hands."

Enrollment in the program was strong this year, with over 265 children and teens registered for literacy activities that included reading goals and challenges, craft events and projects, book giveaways, a visit from a traveling theater troupe, a scavenger hunt, children’s storytimes and a variety of arts, crafts, and STEAM activities in the library’s Teen MakerSpace. 

Although the 2022 Summer Reading Program has concluded, the library has programs coming up and a broad selection of reading, media, entertainment, informational and community resources available to patrons of all ages. For more information about public library programs and resources, visit www.knox.net, call 740-392-2665, or stop by the main library at 201 N. Mulberry St., Mount Vernon, during library hours. 

Photo caption

Upper Left: Erica Newton, children's librarian; Todd Hawkins, Park National Bank; Cassandra Peters, assistant director of the library. Clockwise from upper right: Young patron with book giveaway; aerial view of the library's SRP closing celebration; a young patron with SRP craft bag.