The Daniel Island Library's summer reading programs rock!

Despite living on the coast, there are a handful of reasons to find activities outside of the sand and the surf this summer. The Daniel Island Library is attempting to create a stir around the island by developing continuous summer activities that fit with an array of ages.

 

Whether you are an adult or searching for ways to keep the young ones engaged, there is something to be found within the DI Library. They offer the “traditional” library materials but also provide free downloadable and streaming sources for those on the move. This summer, their Collaborative

 

Summer Library Program offers prizes for kids and adults to stay active in their readings. The theme is “Libraries Rock” and, according to Branch Manager Tim Boyle, this is no joke. Summer reading books and hours for adults and kids can be logged after creating an account at

berkeleylibsc.readsquared.com. You can return to the Daniel Island branch to collect prizes - everything from weekly grab bags or the ultimate grand prize: a brand new Kindle! The program runs for Daniel Islanders until the end of July.

 

 

With a calendar that fills up generously, there are many events to participate in. Every Monday throughout the summer at 10:30 a.m. and again at 11, there is a story time for the younger audience. Parents can bring their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in for a participatory song and story.

 

Jenna Blanton, a Daniel Island resident and mother of two, brought her little ones recently to take part in the fun.

 

“I think it’s great socialization for all the kids to be together,” she said, of their experience. “It incorporates books, reading, and dancing. It’s a great option especially when it’s hot out… Hopefully, we will be back each week.”

 

Again, there are events to reach all age groups, including a Summer Movie Series for teen patrons, held every other Thursday, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. There are also musical events such as a “Teen Jam Session,” to stay consistent with the “Libraries Rock” theme.

 

Even the artistic are not left out with the “Give Our Books New Looks” contest that runs annually. It targets third-fifth graders to develop and create a new book cover for some of their favorite reads. From July to August the students can print out the templates and create a new cover. The best entries will find their way onto the walls of the Library in August.

 

Ultimately Boyle has a message about why he strives to see everyone in the library this summer, with a high emphasis on children participants. He acknowledges that when kids do not take the time in the summer to read, there is a considerable decline in their “skills” and “interest.” When summer months are around, kids tend to have a greater ability to select what they wish to read, thus maintaining the interest mentioned above, he noted. No tests are given on the books, and they can be read in their own time, intriguing the kids to participate. Plus, when children are engaged in

the summer months with reading, it can help form the lifelong habit of diving into new worlds that books create, according to the American Library Association.

 

Whether it is for a brief relief from the sun, a chapter book that caught your eye, an aspiration to potentially win that new Kindle, a toddler itching to get their boogie-shoes on, or a teen seeking out a free movie with friends, the Daniel Island Library works to inspire everyone to stop by and find what suits them. So, what are you waiting for? Get reading!