10A | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Reading
from A1
“A Universe of Stories,” a
space-oriented program which
will offer reading materials,
movies and storytelling revolv-
ing around the mysteries and
marvels of the universe. The
program is provided through
the Collaborative Summer Li-
brary Program, a consortium
of states aiming to empower
libraries to foster deeper com-
munity involvement.
The reading program aspires
to incentivize all ages to read
and engage library facilities
through a reward system tai-
lored to different age groups.
Cottage Grove
“We had a lot of fun. It was
kind of like a tasting menu of
what we’re going to be doing
for the summer,” Arnoux said
of the kick-off party. “We had
our volunteers helping us at
the summer kick-off and we
couldn’t have done it without
them.”
The all-ages party includ-
ed a station for stop-motion
movie making, board games,
face painting, puppet shows,
role-playing games and sto-
rytelling while Umpqua Bank
provided ice cream. Children
who signed up for the program
also received a free book.
Arnoux specializes in aspects
of the summer program tar-
geting the age groups of babies
through teens.
“We have a special early-lit-
eracy reading log, essentially
for zero to three, and that really
focuses on the fundamentals of
early literacy,” she said.
The reading log incorporates
reading, writing, playing, sing-
ing and talking from a game
card that encourages a variety
of interactive assignments.
“Playing helps you process
as well and there’s a lot of rep-
etition in playing and reading
books and all of that is super
important for early literacy,”
said Arnoux.
Completing the list of activ-
ities, which includes “read a
book with your kiddo” and “talk
about sounds you hear as you
go for a walk together,” rewards
participants with a free book.
Arnoux added that one goal
of the reading program is to
create positive experiences in
the library.
“A big part of wanting to
continue reading and enjoying
reading is having a positive ex-
perience with books and read-
ing,” she said.
Participants who sign up for
the summer reading program
will receive reading logs to
complete for weekly entry into
prize drawings starting June 29
and separate programs run for
middle and high school stu-
dents.
Wide support from the com-
munity and beyond has enabled
the library to launch the pro-
gram.
Stickers for the reading logs
were donated by Sarah Rose
Tumpane, Shanna Trumbly and
Eugene businesses Down to
Earth and Farmers Union Cof-
fee Roasters.
The library is also on the
lookout for people from the
community who want to tell
stories for its all-ages story time
event July 24.
Additionally, Arnoux said the
Oregon State Fair has donated
tickets, giving every child who
signs up free entry while offer-
ing a two-for one deal to adults.
At the end of the summer
program, prize tickets will be
raffled off to sponsors such as
the Oregon Coast Aquarium,
Wildlife Safari, the Oregon Zoo
and the Lane County History
Museum.
Overall, Arnoux hopes that
interactions like these with the
library and its exhibits will en-
courage more general library
engagement.
“I think just getting people
in the library and having those
positive experiences, even if you
don’t have kids, it’ll be a place
where you feel welcomed,” she
said. “There are so many genu-
ine, great relationships I think,
formed at the library.”
Drain
Meanwhile, excitement for
the program was evident even
in the small town of Drain.
“It was really well-received,”
said Candy Vickery, district
librarian of the North Doug-
las Library District. “And we’re
really pleased with the young
adults, with how many have
signed up already.”
The Mildred Whipple Pub-
lic Library in Drain officially
opened as a public library last
November, making this its first
summer program in its new ca-
pacity.
As well as an educational ser-
vice, Vickery sees it as a practi-
cal opportunity to establish the
library as a community hub.
“Literacy is number one,”
Vickery said, “but it is a big pro-
motion for the library just as a
place to be and place that’s a real
resource for the community.”
Between the Oregon State Li-
brary Ready to Read Grant, the
Friends of the Mildred Whip-
ple Library and North Douglas
High School’s Community 101
Grant, the library has been able
to invest in book bags, t-shirts,
flyers and other materials for
the summer.
“It’s close to a $3,000 budget
we’ve been able to put togeth-
er for this year, which is really
nice,” said Vickery.
The summer reading pro-
gram in Drain partly mirrors
that of its Cottage Grove coun-
terpart, providing reading in-
centives and materials to vari-
ous age groups. For Vickery, the
focus on youth is an important
one.
“I taught for 30 years. There’s
a lot of loss over the summer if
kids don’t read,” she said. “So
what this does, is it gives them
incentive to keep their reading
skills up.”
Including the June 19 kick-off
party, the summer reading pro-
gram will comprise of 10 events
that will see a rocket launch,
movies, a BBQ and a tie-dye
workshop among others.
Each week, every age group
will have a chance to earn a
ticket that will go into the final
raffle at the end of the summer
and participants receive free
books for signing up and at-
tending events.
The Mildred Whipple Public
Library’s list of ticket sponsors
for the raffle include the Or-
egon Zoo, the Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Wildlife Safari,
Enchanted Forest, the Eugene
Science Center and the North
Douglas Parks and Recreation
swimming pool.
Additionally, The Bookmine
in Cottage Grove has donated
gift certificates for books for the
adult reading program.
Upon registration, different
age groups receive a particular
collection of materials and in-
structions on how to win raffle
tickets and prizes.
Library assistant Katrina
Johns is helping to create events
oriented toward teens.
“What we’re trying to do is
get more teen involvement in
the library,” she said.
One teen event, “Don’t Judge
a Book by its Movie,” will com-
pare books to their on-screen
versions and will examine sto-
ries such as “Ender’s Game” and
“The Boy Who Harnessed the
Wind.”
Young adults will also be
asked for input about the li-
brary’s teen space.
“I think it’s really important
because it gives them some-
thing to do during the summer
that keeps them engaged and
learning,” Johns said. “If you’re
reading during the summer,
then you’re still learning.”
The summer reading pro-
gram isn’t limited to children
and young adults, however.
“Our adult program is real-
ly simple, but we’ve had four
or five adults sign up already,”
Vickery said.
One prize geared toward the
teens and adults is a private
space-themed party in the li-
brary after hours in which the
winner can bring five friends.
“And that seems to be a really
hot item as a prize,” said Vick-
ery. “So, there’s something for
everybody. That was our goal,
was to have some sort of read-
ing incentive, visit your library
incentive, for every age group.”
Johns and Vickery reiterat-
ed that creating a space for the
community makes up a large
part of their motivation.
“There’s so much more to li-
braries than just books,” said
Johns.
Opportunities to sign up will
continue throughout the sum-
mer up until the day before the
wrap-up event.
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