It is one of the more popular summer programs that takes place in Weyburn each year, and it gets started tomorrow – the Weyburn Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. A barbecue will be held at the library from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

“We have the Summer Reading Kick-off that is going to be a barbecue and lawn games,” said Brianna Eagan. She is the Summer Reading Club programmer this year. The barbecue isn’t the only special event they have planned this year.  

“We’ve got Mr. Eric, the Musical Entertaining, on July 22nd at 3:30; Danny Kazam, a magician and puppeteer, July 24th at 11:00 a.m., the Saskatchewan Science Centre is also going to come down and do three different presentations – Fly Me to the Moon, Disaster Defying Architects, and Backyard Biodiversity, August 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.,” Eagan continued.  

The Summer Reading Club will then wrap up with a pizza party wind-up on August 22nd.  

The Summer Reading Club is separated into two age groups – 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 – and the reading rewards are also separated into the age groups. The participants record every hour that they read over the summer. For every hour, up to 15 hours, participants can get a mini-prize. As well, every hour read earns an entry into a draw for a bicycle from Canadian Tire. 

There is also something for those who do the most reading. 

“For the top three readers of each age category, we also, this year, have a second and a third prize available because of a very generous friend of the library donating $200,” Eagan added.  

As it has been in years past, there is no cost for the Summer Reading Club. 

“We believe that education and summer literacy should be accessible to all people, so it’s very important to us that we make our programs accessible,” Eagan shared.

In addition to reading books, the Summer Reading Club includes a Pen Pal program. Those interested in participating in that can be paired up with kids of similar ages from other branches, and exchange postcards over the summer. The postcards can be picked up and dropped off at the library, which will handle the logistics of delivery. 

There will be several programs that are based on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math – or STEAM.  

“I’ve got a lot of cool experiments for the kids to do,” Eagan excitedly mentioned. “So for some groups, we’re going to be making magnetic black hole slime, we’re going to be making Oobleck aliens, and then there’s a lot of art projects. Pretty much anything for anyone.” 

The STEAM-based programming is available by registration, and it does fill up fast. There will be two sessions for each age group. On Tuesdays, the 6-8 year-olds start at 10:00 a.m., and the 9-12 year olds start at 2:00 p.m. On Thursdays, the older kids start at 10:00 a.m., and the younger group goes at 2:00 p.m. 

Those who are interested in taking part in the Summer Reading Club can register for the programs on the Weyburn Public Library website.