Community Corner

Readers Rack Up Pages & Prizes at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library

Participation in the library's children, teen and adult summer reading programs is growing fast.

Edith Wheeler Memorial Library Dir. Margaret Borchers and Children's Librarian Michelle Turbak gathered around Turbak's computer Wednesday afternoon and checked out the latest numbers of online sign ups for the library's summer reading programs. The tally stood at 467 children, 78 teenagers and 78 adults ... and counting.

"I like sitting here and hitting refresh and watching the numbers climb," Turbak said with a smile.

She said Gov. Dannel Malloy's Summer Reading Challenge fueled a fast start this year with Monroe's schools encouraging students to pick up a book, magazine or newspaper.

"I spoke at all the public schools and St. Jude," Turbak said. "The kids were so excited about our reading programs."

Last weekend, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library hosted its annual Summer Reading Kick-Off and Chalk It Up events, which was attended by 1,170 people.

To put that number in perspective, Borchers said the library averages 350 visitors on a normal Saturday.

"Since Saturday, the first day you could sign up, we've been busy because people are still signing up," she said, adding anyone can sign up for the reading programs all summer long, up until it ends with a picnic for the children on Aug. 14.

Lorna Rhyins, the adult services and teen librarian, said, "We're very excited about our program this year. We like kids to keep reading over the summer and to give them a little bit of excitement with great prizes and incentives."

Raffles, Prizes & Signing Up

The theme for the children's summer reading program is "Dig Into Reading", the teen theme is "Beneath the Surface" and the adult one is "Groundbreaking Reads". Participants may sign up online by visiting the library's website, following this link.

One of the things that make Monroe's summer reading programs so popular is the prizes that can be won throughout the season. Borchers said generous local sponsors helped the library to fill gift baskets with desirable merchandise and gift certificates.

For instance, adult gift baskets include things like garden tools, wine, coffee and gift certificates to restaurants.

The children's baskets have a lot of toys.

Borchers said teenagers have a choice of where to put the raffle tickets they accumulate toward, such as the chance to win gift certificates to Bow-Tie Cinemas, Linda's Story Time and GameStop to name a few.

Children rack up reading minutes, teenagers reading hours and adults numbers of pages throughout the summer.

"We want to make it fun for the whole family to be involved," Borchers said. "We want the library to be the place to be."


For information on signing up, rules and prizes, visit Edith Wheeler Memorial Library's website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here