Leap of Dave

Monday, August 6, 2012

What about the other 1010?

This summer our children participated in our local library's summer reading program. This is always a big deal in our family. Spider Droid made sure that he was the first one to sign up and also read very diligently and was the first one to finish. As the summer went on, each of our children finished the program. When the children finish they receive a free book of their choosing and several prizes from local businesses, like certificates for a free Frostee from Wendy's, and vouchers for free tickets to a local minor league baseball team.

As you enter the childrens' section of the library you see this sign . . .

This picture was taken a day or two before the program ended, so I would imagine the final count would be pretty similar.

When I saw the sign, I asked myself the question, that serves as the title of this post,

What about the other 1,010?

I mentioned what the finishers got out of participating in the program. But what did the non finishers get out of it?

Here is what I think . . .

Each child who participated the program gained something from it. Those who finished and even those who got 1/2 way stickers (which the poster did not mention) received something tangible. But I think all participants received intangible rewards (some without even knowing it.)

I wonder how many of those 1,010 children result of entering the program. I'd imagine the number quite high since only library materials can be used for the program and those materials must be read or listened to off of library grounds. Now our family checks out 100's if not thousands of books each year. But for some families, a library book is a special treat. So if any of the 1,010 children took out a book for the only time all year this summer, that is a wonderful thing.

Since our library lets children from 0 to 12 participate in the summer reading program (there are separated programs for teens, and adults). Some of the reading that is done over the summer is by parents and older siblings to younger children. Any of the 1,010 who did not finish or the 632 that did, who were read to as a result of this program experienced something magical.

Another thing that may have happened with a great number of participants in the program this year, (regardless of whether they recorded finishing the program) is they may have discovered a favorite author, book, genre, series, or subject this summer. Some may have discovered the joy of reading.

Achievement and accomplishment are wonderful things. I think that so much is achieved and accomplished when children or anyone reads or is read to for enjoyment. I would say that the 1,642 children who participated, may not have all finished, but each one achieved.