The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County kicked off its Summer Reading Program on May 31 with Park National Bank Vice President Todd Hawkins presenting a $4,200 check to Library Director John K. Chidester.
The Library’s Summer Reading Program (SRP) offers patrons a variety of fun, educational events for readers of all ages. The Library presents SRP programs in Mount Vernon, Gambier, Fredericktown, and Danville, ensuring that kids and teens from all over Knox County can enjoy wholesome, fun activities accessible in their home communities.
This year’s theme is “The Adventure Begins at Your Library!” and the Children’s Summer Reading Program explores a number of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) activities. The Library will host Sue the Bubble Lady’s “The Wonderful World of Bubbles” show, which uses everyday household items to create bubbles of all shapes and sizes— some are even big enough for a child to stand inside. The Library is also hosting Wild World Zoo, whose educational programs offer teens the chance to interact with and learn about the natural habitats of many zoo animals. The Works! STEM activities return in 2024, presenting fun-filled science programs for kids of all ages.
The Teen MakerSpace will team up with the Library’s popular Teen Writing Program to host a reading and YA book giveaway with celebrated Ohio author Mindy McGinnis. Teens will get a complimentary copy of McGinnis’ new novel, "Under This Red Rock," meet the author, and hear about her adventures as a writer. Coincidentally, "Under This Red Rock" is about a teen who has a job leading tours in the Ohio Caverns— a very adventurous career that echoes the SRP theme and features a young woman working a STEAM profession.
In keeping with the theme “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” the MakerSpace will present a series of programs during which teens build their own version of a tabletop choose-your-own-adventure game. The Teen MakerSpace craft program integrates a variety of art techniques, crafting skills, and STEAM activities that foster creativity, including writing scenarios and developing characters, alongside hands-on practical learning. The Teen MakerSpace will lead five weekly crafting events during SRP. Using the items they have created during SRP, teens will play the game they designed and test out the choose-your-own-adventure format as a tabletop board game that they’ll play during the Teen MakerSpace SRP party.
As in previous years, Park National Bank support provides kids and teens with a complimentary book that they can select from a wide variety of genres and topics upon reaching their summer reading goal. Research shows that having access to books at home improves literacy, reading fluency, and primes young people to become lifelong readers.
“Park National Bank’s sponsorship provides key support for high-quality programming and events for children and teens. Local kids look forward to these every year,” said Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher, deputy director of development, special projects and writing. “We are so grateful for their support and look forward to a summer of adventure at the Library!”
All Library programs are free and open to the public, and Summer Reading Program registration for readers of all ages is open throughout the month of June. To register, stop by the Main Library at 201 North Mulberry Street in Mount Vernon, or visit branch libraries in Gambier, Fredericktown and Danville. For more information about the Summer Reading Program, visit knox.net or call (740) 392-BOOK.
