AMENIA — The Amenia and NorthEast-Millerton (NEML) libraries are joining forces to bring “The Magic of Reading” to their summer reading programs thanks to magician Zach Alexander, who will perform at the kickoff on Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Webutuck High School auditorium at 194 Haight Road in Amenia.
The combined program, the first effort of its kind, was inspired by the state-wide summer theme of “All Together Now,” which is designed to build excitement about reading during the summer months, when there is always a concern that students may lose some of the progress they made during the school year.
Lynn Buckley, NEML youth services coordinator, spent a week earlier in the month visiting every classroom at Webutuck Elementary School (WES), encouraging all to attend the event.
That day, as well as at their local libraries, students of all ages may sign up for a summer program that will allow them to earn incentives, or what Buckley calls “tokens of success,” such as bookmarks, rulers, temporary tattoos, and squishy stars as they return to their libraries to report on their reading record every two weeks.
In addition to those check-ins, readers are also encouraged to return even more often if their enthusiasm brings them back sooner for new printed adventures.
While readers of all levels are invited to be part of the summer program, Buckley is particularly excited to introduce a special collection of “decodable books,” which use Whole Phonics to teach the reading process. The books are created by “Teach My Kid to Read,” with three copies of the first two sets of the series donated to each library by two area residents in partnership with Whole Phonics.
The first 100 attendees will also receive a book bag and a copy of one of the books, which Buckley, a retired teacher from WES, said will “supplement” what is being taught locally.
She and Amenia Library director Victoria Herow are each also implementing a Story Walk with Millerton and Amenia businesses and other locations, posting large copies of pages from one of the books, which will allow for an unveiling of the story as children work their way around their community following maps that disclose the locations of each page.
They can also go to the library to pick up the books if they are anxious to learn the ending before they complete their local quest.
While inspired to work jointly by the state topic to be “All Together Now,” each library will have unique programs that will be announced on their websites as the summer progresses. Millerton will focus on kindness and unity. Amenia has adapted the title to become “Everybody Bee-Long at the Library” in recognition of the number of bees—including hives—present at the library.
Participants of the kickoff need not be residents or library patrons to attend the event, though they are encouraged to sign up for free library cards either there, at their local libraries or online through the library sites. They will need cards in order to check out books from the libraries.
Although the rewards are aimed at younger children, NEML director Rhiannon Leo-Jameson pointed out that summer reading is “for everyone,” with NEML full to overflowing with books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, movies, music, seeds, spices, a thermal-seeking camera, and even fishing rods, the last of which will be available in early July.
For more information on the Amenia Free Library at 3309 Route 343, call 845-373-8273 or go to amenialibrary.org.
Details regarding NEML, located at 75 Main St., are available at -nemillertonlibrary.org or 518-789-3340.