Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Sarah Victor of the Portales Public Library demonstrates how to control the different robots.
From controlling robots to watching movies, the summer reading program in Portales helps to get kids out of the house and have something fun to look forward to.
"We're learning but the focus is fun," said Sarah Victor, children's librarian.
For seven weeks, kids, teenagers and even adults can be part of the program. The program started the first week of June and will take a break the week of July 4.
Tawna Luscombe, the director for the library, has seen the summer reading program in action for her 20 years of working there.
"It gives them a place to go," Luscombe said. "They can interact with other kids."
Interacting was certainly achieved Tuesday morning at the public library as the second- through sixth-grade age group got to control various robots and play games with them.
Kids had the chance to control two kinds of robots: a rolling sphere that lights up and a small car that was controlled with different colored cards on the floor.
The rolling spheres got to play a few soccer matches and each robot had the chance to weave its way through a blue tape floor maze.
Victor said this is her sixth year being an organizer for the program, and each year she gets to see how it benefits kids in the community.
"Kids are so much fun. It's fun to do these things," Victor said.
Each day is different for every age group. Victor said they also do crafts, play games, have story time and watch movies. On Wednesdays, the whole family can take part in the fun with their multigenerational activities.
Luscombe said she has seen how the program encourages reading with participants being in the library every day.
Victor said there's an estimated 150 kids in the program among all age groups, from pre-K through high school and, of course, adults. The funding for the program comes from multiple sources, including Friends of the Library, and it's open to all at any time. No registration or fee required.
For more information on the program, call the Portales Public Library at 575-356-3940.
