ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for fun and education this summer will need to look no further than Liberal Memorial Library and this year’s summer reading program.

This year's summer reading program, "Unearth a Story!" will have participants celebrating all things dinosaurs with programs for kids, young adults and adults. The sign-up form for the program can be found on the Liberal Memorial Library Web site, lmlibrary.org, the Liberal Memorial Library Facebook page, or by visiting the library before the official kickoff June 1. The program will end Friday, June 26, with June 27 being the last day to turn in reading records. Director Royce Kitts said there is a lot to be excited about with this year’s programming.

“We are super excited this year for the kickoff party June 1 as there will be 14 different area groups and organizations running games and providing information to parents,” Kitts said. “We will be cooking up hot dogs, and serving them with chips and cookies. Following the fun at about 1 p.m. will be Thad Beach with all kinds of songs and stories related to dinosaurs. Thad is making his return trip to Liberal after last year's amazing program, and we’re excited to see him again.”

Last year’s summer reading program saw many participants, and Kitts said he hopes to see a lot of people participating again this year.

“Everything will be fun, and everything will be free,” Kitts said. “And, since summer is coming, and with Kansas heat being the way it is, we all know how nice it is to have fun things to do in air conditioning. For kids, we’ll have all kinds of fun prizes to celebrate their reading achievements. We’ll also have crafts, movies, and games all summer!  For the young adults and adults, we’ll have some fun prize coupon baskets courtesy of local businesses. We’ll also have the chance to win a Ninja CREAMi from Ag Oasis. This year we changed up our annual offering of a chance to win a gardening basket, and have switched up with a wagon full of outdoor items that making being outside fun, such as outdoor games, travel chairs, and Bluetooth speakers. The smiles on the children’s faces is the best part, they have so much fun, and it’s contagious. If you can make it out to one of our programs, I encourage everyone possible to do so because it will make you smile to see the children enjoying themselves. For the young adults and adults, it will be a chance to win all kinds of fun prizes for reading, attending programs, and doing fun things like coloring a bookmark or roaring like a dinosaur at the front desk.”

Kitts also talked about the benefits of children participating in the summer reading program.

“The importance of participating in summer reading for kids is mainly so their young minds continue to grow the reading skills they have learned the past year so that they are better prepared for the next year,” Kitts said. “We made sure to have lots of fun programs to attend. We have quite a few things that you get a chance to make and take home including blinging a book, coloring day, and Father’s Day card-making, so there will definitely be something for everyone.”

Overall, Kitts said, he hopes for another successful summer reading program at the library.

“We hope to have lots of participation, lots of smiles, and lots of books being read,” Kitts said. “Last year we set records at our library for sign-ups. The goal this year is to match the enthusiasm of signing up, with the ability to finish the program and get all kinds of cool prizes.”