PORT ANGELES — A children’s museum and volunteer fair at the Port Angeles Library on Saturday will kick off the summer reading program at public libraries throughout Clallam County.
“Learn How You Can Build a Better World” is the theme for the summer reading program at libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay — all overseen by the North Olympic Library System (NOLS).
Activities are planned at the Port Angeles Library at 2210 S. Peabody St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be the explorations designed by the Hands On Children’s Museum of Olympia.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be a volunteer fair geared toward adults and teens.
The Hands On Children’s Museum aims to stimulate curiosity, creativity and learning through interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups.
Located in Olympia, the museum is known regionally as a destination for children and families.
Its participation in the library’s annual summer reading program is part of an ongoing outreach to bring the museum to new audiences.
At the volunteer fair, visitors can sign up for the 2017 summer reading program, learn about volunteer activities in the community and visit interactive building stations.
Representatives of the Boys &Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, Bloodworks Northwest, Clallam County Historical Society, Clallam Progressive Coalition, Gathering for Hope, League of Women Voters, North Olympic Land Trust, Olympic Community Action Programs, Olympic National Park, Volunteer Chore Services, WSU Extension Office and other organizations will be set up throughout the library.
When signing up for the summer reading program, each participant will receive a free book as well as the opportunity to earn a special NOLS T-shirt and a chance at winning grand prizes.
The summer program encourages children to keep reading during the summer break from school and features a reading challenge and a multitude of events for all ages.
Research shows that children who do not read during the summer experience “summer slide” and may lose up to a month of the instructional knowledge they gained during the previous school year, librarians said, adding that summer programs help alleviate the “summer slide” by providing access to books, enrichment activities and encouraging young people to keep reading.
Beginning Saturday, people of all ages — children and adults — can sign up at any NOLS library or community event and begin tracking their reading.
A free book will be given to everyone who signs up, and a special NOLS Summer Reading Challenge T-shirt will be given to everyone who reads 30 days throughout the summer.
For every 15 days of reading, a grand-prize raffle ticket can be earned. Each public library in Clallam County will draw a prize-winning ticket for children, teens and adults.
Winners will have the opportunity to select one of four prizes: a whale watching tour, an airplane flight, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, or a LEGO set.
The summer reading program runs through Saturday, Aug. 19.
The summer reading program is supported by the Friends of the Library at all four Clallam County libraries.
For more information, see www.nols.org, email discover@nols.org or contact the nearest library. The Sequim Library is at 630 N. Sequim Ave. The Forks Library is at 171 S. Forks Ave. The Clallam Bay Library is at 16990 state Highway 112.
