HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – Reading during the summer is an assignment that many classroom teachers require as an important part of maintaining and enhancing crucial language and comprehension skills. That means libraries are busier than ever, with many families visiting when children and teens find them to be great resources to complete those summer assignments.

Some avid readers go to the library on a regular basis, while others who are new in town come in and have a good experience, so they come back.

The Hampden Free Public Library on 625 Main St. welcomed the Bright Spot Therapy Dogs to kick off their summer reading program on June 18. Director Ellen Moriarty said, “Everyone enjoyed learning about and playing with these wonderful dogs. The Kona Ice Truck was there for all to cool off with a fruity frozen ice.”

She continued, “Our summer reading programs are supported by community donations and Massachusetts Cultural Council grants. We are grateful to have such a supportive community.”

Nineteen children participated in the Read and Bead Program where they each were given a necklace, brag tag and beads for each 15 minutes they read. The youngest readers read 29,434 minutes which converts to over 490 hours. Children’s program highlights include Mad Science, petting zoo, pop-up art school, Zumba and S’mores with Hampden Firefighters.

The teens had the opportunity to create tie dye T-shirts, enjoy movie and video game nights, make candy sushi and created a gigantic blanket fort in the new Teen Center. Sixty-eight teens participated, read and reviewed books for raffle tickets to enter to win themed gift baskets from Harry Potter to Gamers and more. The grand prize was a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Their finale party on Aug. 4 to celebrate their success was standing room only – over 100 people attended, and everyone enjoyed a tasty dinner and delicious cake, compliments of Gary at the Village Store, which he does every year.

Seventy-two adults read over 400 books and received a raffle ticket for each book they read and reviewed. Raffle prizes included $50 gift certificates to eight local businesses. The adult summer reading party was Aug. 6 where they all discussed their favorite summer reads, enjoyed cake and drew raffle prizes.

“We were able to provide a wide variety of awesome programs and prizes for all ages this summer,” Moriarty said. “Our patrons are very enthusiastic participants in our library programs and they are avid readers. We want to encourage a life-long love of reading and it is fantastic to see the children, teens and adults reading so much.”

The Hampden Free Public Library’s hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursdays from 1– 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Go to hampden-library.org to learn more info on other programs, workshops, and events. For questions, call 566-2151 ext. 112.

At the Wilbraham Public Library, the children, teen, and adult summer reading programs started on June 18 and ended on Aug. 13. In total, the youth services had 504 children and teens sign up. This was the first summer adult services librarian Tim Symington was doing the program. “I didn’t have any expectations,” he said. “I was encouraged by the number of people who did come in and signed up.” The children and teen department added back workshops and shows this summer. The programs featured in the children’s’ summer reading program were:

The Ed Popielarczyk Family Comedy Show

Campfire Songs with Renee Coro

Davis Songs and Stories with Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell

Soap Making with Gariné Arakelian and Rick Hamelin

Paint!Sip!Fun! with Erin Gagne

Henna Tattoos with Mandy Roberge of Wicked Good Henna

“This was the first time in three years that we added workshops into our summer reading programs,” said Children Services Librarian Heidi Kane. “Coming back from the [coronavirus] pandemic, I was really worried about our summer reading program and I didn’t want children to lose their reading skills throughout the summer.”

Pre-coronavirus pandemic, the children’s department had a participation of 630 children signing up for summer reading, and 120 teens. Unfortunately, those numbers went down. This year, Kane had 405 children signed up to read for 21 days. When the children or teens finish 21 days of reading, they receive a free, brand-new book, coupons from Rice Fruit Farm, Texas Roadhouse and Fenway Golf in East Longmeadow as well as little prizes from the library’s treasure chest.

Kane said they are planning to participate in sraderschool visits in the spring of 2023 in the hopes that the y will get more participation.

“I try to offer as many diverse books or materials in the children’s department,” Kane pointed out. “That’s my job, to keep having different kinds of things or things that they like, and I try to have that for them.”

Teen Services Librarian Rachel Hapgood had many new readers, as well as children and teens that have grown up coming to the library. At first Hapgood said their kick-off was a little slow. However, it made up for itself and the teen totals for the summer were 100 teens signed up, 365 books were read and reviewed and 75 teen finishers. The titles of some books read this summer were “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus, “Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper and “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan.

When a teen reads one book along with a book review and enters it online, they are considered a “finisher” and get to choose a new paperback book from several popular teen titles, a few small prizes and coupons for free items at local businesses. They also get one raffle ticket. The teens could read up to eight books in the summer with a book review and get eight raffle tickets. The more they read, the better their chances at winning a raffle prize. The library had a Kindle Fire, gift cards, a New York City LEGO architecture set, a bullet journaling set, a middle school book stack with a lamp and a high school book stack with a lamp.

“Overall, I am very happy with this summer’s reading participation,” said Hapgood. “It was so great to see many families and teens back at the library this summer.”
She went on to say, “Many people know that we have summer reading, but we work hard to publicize it. It’s very well received by the community. We strive to keep people reading during the summer, especially the kids and teens, so as to avoid the summer slide that can happen during school vacations. Families are looking for reading programs as well as additional events, which our library offers.”

The Wilbraham Public Library is located at 25 Crane Park Dr. Their business hours are Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thursday-Friday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. After Labor Day, the library will also be open on Sundays from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 596-6141 or visit their website at wilbrahamlibrary.org.