
DATE: Sunday, July 13, 1997                 TAG: 9707110281

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  136 lines

AND ADULTS. SUMMER READING'S COOL THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS ARE AS POPULAR AS EVERTHIS YEAR WITH KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE.

FOR YOUNGSTERS, summer has meant goofing off, riding bikes, going to the beach, organizing water balloon battles, staying out after dark catching lightning bugs and . . . reading.

For years, when school let out for the summer, troops of children couldn't wait to head over to the local library to sign up for the summer reading programs, which often offered stickers, prizes and other inducements to participate.

Those same programs are alive and well in Chesapeake, thanks to the efforts of the Chesapeake Public Library system.

``I think the reading programs are very successful. They're as popular as ever,'' said Martha J. C. Cole, children's librarian at the Chesapeake Central Library and coordinator of children's activities for the library system. ``Ever since school let out, children have been coming in here nonstop. Our special summer reading storytimes are crowded.''

Cole said the theme for this year's children's reading program is ``Visiting Virginia.'' The Central Library's children's department, as well as children's departments at the other branches, are decorated with maps, logos and scenes of Virginia. When a child reads a book his or her name is placed on a special cut-out in the shape of the state bird, the cardinal, and placed on a library wall.

Special storytime programs will focus each week on a different travel-to-Virginia theme including its natural wonders, beaches, state history and so on. Each branch will feature similar storytime themes, Cole said.

The free summer reading programs are funded by the Friends of the Chesapeake Public Library, a nonprofit group of citizens dedicated to enhancing the city's public libraries; and by the state library based in Richmond.

Children ages 2 to early teens are eligible to join. All they need to do is drop by their local library, sign up and read. The titles of books read are recorded on special logs by teen library volunteers. The last day to record books read will be Aug. 9.

And besides the obvious benefits of reading, after a child finishes a book, he or she is then eligible to reach into a special treasure chest and pick out a small prize, usually something like a plastic ring, a bookmark, an eraser, a whistle, a special pencil.

In addition, Cole said each Chesapeake public library branch will hold a special program or activity as part of the summer reading experience.

``The Greenbrier branch will have a puppet show, the Central will have a special Tom Sawyer Day, the Hillard will have a library challenge and the South Norfolk will present a special program on colonial history,'' she said.

A finale will be Aug. 13 and 14. Featured will be Charlottesville based children's author Beverly Van Hook, who writes the popular ``Supergranny'' mystery series. Van Hook will discuss her books, how they're written and the creative process.

On Aug. 13, Van Hook will be at Greenbrier at 10 a.m., at Indian River at 2 p.m. and at the Central at 4 p.m. On Aug. 14 she'll be at the Hillard at 10 a.m., at South Norfolk at 2 p.m. and at the Russell at 4 p.m.

All of this is done, Cole said, to keep children's noses in books.

``This keeps children reading after school is over,'' she explained. ``It encourages reading for fun. Study after study has shown that children who read during the summer are better off in September when school starts than their peers who haven't read during the summer. This is especially true for beginning readers. Summer reading helps keep up and hone their skills.''

Cole said that such activities as summer reading clubs helps make children lifelong readers. ``It's been my experience - and I've worked in various libraries for over 10 years - that for people who bring their children into the library, their children will keep coming back to the library time after time.''

Cole said eventually after children turn 13, they no longer participate in children's summer reading programs. The Russell Memorial Library and the Greenbrier Library both offer a young adult program, where youngsters record the books read and meet regularly to discuss chosen themes and book titles.

Adults, too, can relive their summer reading experiences, said Central Library reference librarian Pat Jefferson, who helps organize the Adult Summer Reading program.

The free program is open to ages 18 and older. All you need to do is register at your neighborhood public library to obtain a ``passport'' to allow adult readers to ``Take a Book Trip This Summer,'' the program's theme. During the program, participants are encouraged to read eight different books of any variety or listen to eight audio-books and then record them in their passport. They too are eligible for drawings to win special T-shirts or coffee mugs.

``We feel many adults would like to participate in the same type of program their children are in,'' Jefferson said. ``Summer usually means recreational reading and we feel a program like this will encourage pleasure reading as a leisure activity.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos including color cover by GARY C. KNAPP

Alexandria Toliver, 8, reads by the window at the Chespeake Central

Library, where the summer reading program is going strong.

Joshua Toliver, 4, left, and Galen Rolph, 4, read together at the

Chesapeake Central Library. The summer program's goal is to keep

children's noses in books after school is out.

Richelle Bradeen helps son Jake, 6, left, with his reading while a

bored Jordan, 1 1/2, fidgets on the couch at the central library on

Cedar Road.

Graphics

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Here is the list of Chesapeake's public libraries:

Central Library, 298 Cedar Road (382-6591)