July 17, 2024

Library kicks off summer reading

BY Quinn SuomalaThe Holyoke Sun

HOLYOKE – Holyoke Public Library had their Summer Reading Kick-off on Thursday, June 27.

Anyone from the community was invited to come, and there were yard-games, balloons and ice cream for all.

Family and Community Engagement Coordinators Rey Figuera and Myriam Rodriguez from Holyoke Public Schools were also present in order to help families.

They provided information on enrollment in HPS as well as the Summer Eats Program.

Also present were Attorneys Julia Popkin and Molly Jane Thoms from Community Legal Aid.

Community Legal Aid works to provide legal support for the community in a variety of areas, including employment, veterans aid, disability benefits and education.

“We represent children throughout our entire service area in connection with their education,” Thoms said. “That often involves kids with disabilities or mental health needs who are accessing special education for the first time or who need help enhancing or changing their special ed programs.”

Both Thoms and Popkin wanted to use the summer reading kick-off as a chance to reach out to the community.

“We’re really interested in connecting with families in the communities that we serve,” Popkin said. “We represent a lot of folks who live in Holyoke and we’re always trying to make sure we’re reaching as many people as possible.”

While at the summer reading kick-off families were encouraged to sign up for the summer reading program.

Kids, teens and adults were all welcome to sign up.

Children get a sticker for every 30 minutes they read. They can log their reading and turn the log in once a week at the library to get a prize.

They will also get chances throughout the summer to scratch-off a ticket and earn a special prize, such as musical diego dino, rock painting and crystal creations.

Teens get a raffle ticket for every 30 minutes they read and for each library program they attend that they can use to enter for prizes, including gift cards, art kits and games.

Teen Librarian Robin Siniaho encourages all kids and teens to sign up for summer reading.

“It keeps children’s minds engaged over the summer while school is out, it promotes literacy and it promotes families reading together,” she said.

Adults who sign up will receive a reading log where they can log a book they read, a brief review of the book and a rating for the book.

For each reading log they turn in, adults earn 10 raffle tickets that they can use to try for prizes. The big prize for the summer is a Kindle Fire.

Additionally, throughout the summer there will be programs for kids, teens and adults.

The kid events include story time at the children’s museum, learning to knit and crochet and karaoke.

There is also a “Poop Museum” where children can learn about the science behind defecation.

“It’s the science of defecation,” Children’s Librarian Nathan Hayes said. “Kids can find out things like what is the only animal that can defecate any color… it’s just fun science for kids.”

The teen events include crafting, BattleBots and a Movie Matinee. Siniaho looks forward to BattleBots.

“A place called mobile quest is coming and they help you build your own robot and program it and then they’ll fight each other,” Siniaho said.

There will also be two local authors coming in as part of the adult programming. The authors are Angela Grout and Jessica Hogan.

Even if you are not interested in the programs by the library, the staff still encourage people to come and spend some time.

“People should come down to the library this summer,” Siniaho said. “It’s a great way to beat the heat, you can charge your phones, you can use our wifi, you can hop on the computers, play games, do arts and crafts, it’s a great way to spend a hot, summer day.”

To keep updated about the programs offered by the library, go to the library website at https://www.holyokelibrary.org/.