“Libraries Rock!” summer program encourages young readers

Community, News
Towns County Library

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Library Summer Reading and Story time Program, “Libraries Rock,” is in full swing, and Thursday, June 14, featured a live production of “Treasure Island.” The interactive play was presented by Hampstead Stage Company, to the delight of children and parents alike. Popcorn was served from an old-fashion popping machine by Branch Manager Debbie Phillips.

The 8-week session features different themes on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. On June 21, children are invited to participate in rock painting. Supplies will be provided, as well as refreshing “library lemonade.”

The following week, June 28, Mountain Regional Puppet Company will present a live puppet show, based on the popular children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are,” while the Friends of the Library host a bake sale at the Hiawassee branch.

Kids are encouraged to get crafty with Mason Jars on July 5, and Georgia Mountain Falconry is scheduled to present a program on the nature of birds July 12. Live birds and owls will be available to view and touch. The program concludes the following week, July 19, with a pizza party at Towns County Beach Park, featuring entertainment by the children’s band “The Sock Rockerz.” Prizes will be awarded and the winners of contests will be announced. In addition to “concert tickets” awarded through the library’s reading program, which are traded for kid-friendly items from the library’s souviner store, children’s names will be added to a prize drawing each time that they wear a tie-dyed shirt to storytime, a hands-on art project created the first week of the program.

For every ten books read during the program, two tickets are awarded. A “Top Reading Rock Star” will be announced during the beach party. Pizza, chips, ice cream, and lemonade will be served for lunch. Children also receive a bead for every book they read so that on the final day, they can see who read the most.

“I think it’s wonderful to have something like this in our town,” the grandmother of a child who attends the programs told FetchYourNews, “It gives the kids something to look forward to each week, and it promotes a love of learning.”

Ferst Foundation

Ferst Foundation Chair Janice Cochran provided information on the early literacy project

In addition to the play presentation, Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy volunteers were on hand to encourage the parents of preschoolers. The non-profit public foundation aims to make a difference in the early lives of children by “providing books for local communities to prepare all preschool children for reading and learning success.” Books are mailed, free of charge, on a monthly basis to each registered child from birth until the age of five. The books are selected annually by a panel of experts in the field of early child development and education. The statewide project was founded in 1999 by Robin Ferst, and the foundation has mailed over 4.4 million books to children since inception. Program Chair Janice Cochran explained that the local initiative is supported by the Towns County Rotary and Young Harris Pharmacy. Donations are appreciated, as $36 provides books for one child for a 12 month period. Additional information on the program can be found at ferstfoundation.org

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