Carlinville Library Summer Reading Program Is Resounding Success

By Tom Emery

The Summer Reading Program at the Carlinville Public Library was a resounding success once again in 2024.

“Read, Renew, Repeat” was the theme for the program this summer, and the library was a busy place with an array of special programming and activities

“We had a wonderful summer at the library,” said Hannah Miller, director of the Carlinville library. “We had more people come through here than last year, and we had some really great presenters who gave programs that attracted some of our biggest audiences.”

Nearly every day in June and July featured a fun and enriching activity at the library, with a goal of introducing children to the joys, and benefits, of reading. Studies consistently show that children who are introduced to reading at an early age usually continue their love of reading for a lifetime.

Volunteerism was key to the success of the Summer Reading Program, as many businesses and individuals in the Carlinville community offered their support to make this year’s program one of the best ever.

A number of local businesses generously donated prize coupons, gift cards, and funding to support the summer activities, including Hawthorn Tree, which gave $250 toward programming. Boente Shell donated two $25 gas cards for adult and teen reading log prizes, while Walmart provided $200 toward programming and a pair of $25 gift cards for grand prizes in drawings for the children.

In addition, Subway donated kids’ meal coupons, while Dairy Queen gave treat coupons, McDonald’s donated food coupons, Tropical Sno provided sno-cone coupons, Crown Creamery gave ice cream coupons, and Casey’s General Store donated cookie coupons.

Volunteers and teachers who helped out during the summer activities at the library include Joanna Roemer, Andrea Duncan, Kelly Kaganich, Cindy Tipps, Erin Crain, Siri Engstrom, Mary Beasley, Luke Aikin, Doug Aikin, Nikki Harris, Nadia Kahl, Mallory Bendorf, Dawn Peterson, Susan Millard, Melissa Suits, Jill Graham, Joan Klaus, and Diane Van Winkle.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers and teachers, and the businesses who were so generous in their donations,” said Miller. “There is no way the Summer Reading Program could have been this successful without their help.”

Storytime, one of the library’s most popular offerings, was led as usual by children’s librarian Hannah Crawford on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, while a host of volunteer teachers led the story sessions of Tuesday afternoons.

Crafternoons, which made their debut at the library in the last couple of years, were back this summer, and drew sizable groups of youngsters and adults alike.

Special programs were another highlight of the summer, as Wild Times Exotics, Will Stuck, Professor Longhair, and the Treehouse Wildlife Center appeared before large and excited crowds.

Thanks to the donations from the Carlinville community, drawings were held throughout the summer, and many children and adults received outstanding prizes.

On July 19, drawings for St. Louis Cardinals game tickets were held. The winners were Eva Heller, Hudson Summer, H.P. Summer, Greta Dickison, Walker Schoen, Nolan Daggett, and Milly Firster. Each winner received five tickets to the July 30 home game against Texas.

Grand prize winners from drawings on August 2 were Shade Veldhuisen, Lilliana Faulkner, Miller Hellums, Emelia Daggett, Gianna Siepka, Philip Kramp, Annagrace White, Kaney Hudson, Simon Wilkens, and Cleeton Schott.

Teen winners in the drawings were Rori Allen and Anna Cloninger. Adult winners of the $25 Boente Shell gift cards were Janet Kessinger and Sarah Harris.