Summer Reading at Bernardsville Library

This year's summer reading theme is Fizz, Boom, Read! and with summer quickly approaching, children will soon be out of school and on to the pool, the beach, and vacation.  Registration for Bernardsville Library's summer reading program is already open, and children can begin logging their books and collecting prizes as of Monday, June 23.  "Summer is always an exciting time at the library and I am eager to meet the community and share all that we have to offer," said Tammy Lee, the library's new Youth Services Manager. Ms. Lee came to Bernardsville Library in May and was most recently Director of the Roselle Public Library.

As always, Bernardsville Library’s Youth Services Department is offering reading programs throughout the summer for children through twelfth grade.  In addition to reading and prizes, the Library will host a number of programs, all with free admission, to highlight this summer's theme.  From rocket power, to art in literature, to story times, the summer will be filled with activities for all ages. Middle and high schoolers will be able to earn community service hours in a book buddy reading program and by assisting at programs preparing activities and crafts for younger children.  There are also teen and pre-teen evening activities including ice cream taste tests, book talks, Mad Libs and more.

Plan to drop in to the many craft programs and story times that will be offered in the coming months (no sign-up is needed for these).  In addition, there will be special programs like Mad Science's Animal Friends! on Wednesday, July 9 at 10:30 am for preschoolers, and Science Detectives on Friday, July 11 at 10:30 am for children in Grades 1-3.  On Monday, July 14, author Linda Barth will visit at 4:00 pm to talk about New Jersey inventors.

There's also a new "Lunch Bunch at the Mad Scientists' Café," led by Library Director April Judge for children in Grades 2-4.  Each week on Wednesdays, June 25 through August 6, the group will explore a different topic through reading. Children should bring their lunches and the library will provide drinks.

Another new program, "Art in Literature," will explore books and the pictures which illustrate them. There will be two age groups on Fridays--10:30 am for children aged 2½-Grade K, and 3:00 pm for children In Grades 1-3.

Check the library website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and the library newsletter for more details on programs during the summer months.

Students can move backward academically during the summer if reading and learning are not continued and reading achievement declines as well. But if students read just six books over the summer, they can maintain their current reading level, and, if they read between ten and twenty books of their own choosing, they can actually increase reading achievement.

Registration for Summer Reading can be accessed online from the library website. Young readers will keep a log of their reading online.  [Accommodations will be made for anyone without access to a computer.] There is no charge to attend the programs, but advance sign-up is sometimes required. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Kids, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.