The library enjoyed a record breaking summer this year, with about 1,000 children and teens participating in our “Universe of Stories” Summer Reading Challenge. In addition
to the traditional reading program, we offered a Lego Camp, a Little Scientists program, Little Listeners Story & Craft, and our popular Book Buddies program where emerging readers pair up with a trained Teen Buddy to strengthen their reading skills. Also, popular were the Eid al-Adha crafts, the Chess Tournament and a Story Time with Miniature Therapy Horse. Hundreds of people flocked to our Family Night programs, featuring the Liberty Science Center, ‘Polka Dot’ Ron Albanese’s Super Silly Concert, and an indoor Planetarium, to name a few.
New to summer this year was a popular Calligraphy Club, taught by Youth Librarian Gina Vaccaro which had a wait list longer than the registration list! Let’s Cook, led by Diane Choi taught children in grades 6, 7 and 8+ how to make mandoo, Korean style dumplings from scratch! And a weekly Musical Story Time, led by the library’s Guitar Joe kept the little ones rockin’ and rollin’.
Teen events included a sewing class where they made their own drawstring bags, Booked for Dinner: a book discussion group, a drone program where the kids were able to fly drones on a simulator and real drones outside and a popular Kahoot Trivia Night for grades 6-12.
Karen deWilde trained and organized over 100 teen volunteers this summer; the teens clocked over 950 service hours! The volunteers assisted as Game Administrators for the Teen Summer Game, Lego Camp helpers, Book Buddies, and Little Scientists helpers. The volunteers also shelved books and helped move the entire Adult Fiction Collection!
Anna Coats, head of Youth Services, says, “I’m so impressed and overjoyed at the number of children who participated in our Summer Reading Challenge this year. Thank you Livingston Community for making this the most successful Summer at the Livingston Public Library!”
~Gina Vaccaro, Youth Services Librarian