To the Editor:
The Elizabeth Taber Library wrapped up this summer’s program for children, “Dig into Reading,” with an End-of-the-Summer-Program Ice Cream Sundae Social.
Over the course of six weeks, many children 2-12 years old enjoyed story times, crafts, reading games, a magic show, a Hobbit Party, building Gnome Catapults, creating a Treasure Chest, a fairy house building workshop and drop-in activities. Attendance for the summer programs totaled 2,910. It was especially exciting, with the help of donations from Marion Cultural Council and Eastern Bank, to “Read for a Good Cause.” Each hour participants spent reading raised $1 to support the work of Heifer International. Our readers were able to purchase a heifer, a trio of rabbits, a flock of chickens and a flock of ducks to nourish and help needy families become self-sufficient in Uganda.
I would like to thank all of the participants (and parents, grandparents, babysitters, and nannies!) involved in our program, along with our eighteen junior volunteers: Gwen Miedema, Lucas Costa, Daphne Poirier, Sofia Sudofsky, Lexi Smead, Madeline Pope, Paige Feeney, Kylie Hayden, Shannon Brealt, Prosser Friedman, Sam Parks, Emma Mastovsky, Matthew Lavoie, Caroline Owens, Zachary Pateakos, Sabrina Sheldon, Alexa McLeod, Kati Sethares, Alex Friedman and Ayana Hartley.
Special thanks go to Diane Cook for her expert assistance with the gardening workshop, and to the Miedema family and the Harris family for their cheerful, hardworking help with the Ice Cream Sundae Social.
Many thanks go to Jessica Barrett, Sippican School’s Media Specialist. Jessica and I worked together to create the school’s summer reading lists. Most students visited our library in June to learn about the public library’s resources, the summer program and the books on the summer reading list.
Thanks to everyone on the staff as they cheerfully helped out with the large groups of children and a seemingly endless flow of books.
Many thanks go to our new, enthusiastic Library Director, Libby O’Neill, who gave the program unfailing support and encouragement.
Several agencies and businesses in town lent their kind support to the library’s summer reading program. They include Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Sea Dips Ice Cream, and Uncle Jon’s Coffee, as well as Doreen Lopes, the Early Childhood Coordinator, and the ECC.
I hope everyone enjoyed the library’s summer program and the delights of summer reading as much as I did!
Rosemary Grey
Children’s Librarian
Elizabeth Taber Library