Cannon Library encourages summer reading

Book by book, children at the Cannon Air Force Base library are blazing the summer reading trail while participating in the "Reading is so Delicious" summer reading program.

Loretta Croke: Courtesy photo

Local musician Andy Mason performed at the Cannon Air Force Base Library in June to kick off the summer reading program for youth.

This year's theme centers around food, but summer reading programs have proven to serve up more than just literature, according to library staff members.

About 150 children have registered this year for Cannon's summer reading program and combined have logged in 780 hours of reading (reading or being read to), but library staff also tout other benefits including social life and strengthening reading skills.

Loretta Croke, library assistant at Cannon's library, said they have held events on Thursdays to incorporate activity with the reading group. On average, the library will see about 30 to 50 children at these events, usually ranging in ages 3-12 but the program is open to all ages.

Croke noted that Scoop Up a Good Book was a crowd favorite because the event involved ice cream.

She also said local musician Andy Mason performed for one of the programs.

"Children love coming to hear (Mason)," Croke said.

Library director Melissa Haraughty says summer reading is necessary and also helps newcomers socialize.

"Summer reading encourages children to read for fun which makes them better readers, which makes them better prepared for school," Haraughty said.

She added that there are large numbers of moves made during the summer for military families.

"The summer reading program gives children and parents a chance to come together, to meet people and make friends before they start school," Haraughty said.

Following this year's theme, for every hour a child reads or is read to, they receive a "delicious dollar," according to Croke. Children then can use their delicious dollars to purchase prizes at the delicious dollar store.

"Delicious dollars is an incentive for children to keep reading," Croke said.

According to Croke and Haraughty, the program also provides benefits for parents.

"With so many spouses deployed, (the summer reading program) gives the parents who are here an outing," Croke said. "It also provides a social life and a way to keep their children on course. Children do tend to forget what they learn in school the previous year, so this keeps their children on track."

Croke said she also sees parents and children interact with other families as the bonds of community form.

"They're getting out of the house and I see play dates being made," Croke said. "The program is awesome in itself."