Get Reading!

The first stop on my list of places to go and things to do is the . When I was little, I remember that my mom always took my sister and me to the library on the first day of summer. We loved reading, and couldn’t wait to find all of our favorite authors to stock up on reading material for the weeks to come. There are so many opportunities available for young readers to explore their growing interest in books, and I highly recommend that you stop in for a visit to take advantage of them. 

The first thing to do is sign up for the summer reading program. An excellent program designed to encourage reading in elementary and middle school students, the reading program requires only a short summary of each book you read. Children can earn coupons to museums and events all over Rhode Island, and can receive a free book when they finish the required number of books. You can sign up for this in the young readers section of the library, where you can also find a table for coloring activities and one of my childhood favorite places, the young children’s room.

The young children's room is filled from wall to wall with an abundance of children’s books – including Dr. Seuss, alphabet books and picture books of all kinds. The room’s centerpiece is a comfortable boat-shaped bench named the “Story Dory” for children to read in, and is a wonderful setting to help imaginations run free. The kids’ room is a fun place to be for children, and even for people who have outgrown the young reading level. I volunteer at the library, and while shelving books in the children’s room, I found myself getting distracted reminiscing about all my favorite childhood stories, like “I Feel Silly” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”

The library also has guest speakers of all sorts, reading books to children, presenting activities, and giving classes for teenagers, including writing classes and babysitting classes. The library also offers free passes or coupons to tons of different museums, like the RISD Museum and the Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.  Besides all of the different activities, classes and opportunities offered by the library, there are also the more obvious accommodations, which include books, books, books, and more books! 

What I love about the library is that it has books and activities for all ages, so I have been able to see myself change as a person by remembering the things I used to do in the library. While I used to love the coloring table and the Story Dory, now my favorite part about every visit to the library is finding stacks of books that look interesting and filling a bag with them. There is nothing more satisfying than walking outside in the summer heat with a heavy bag full of fantasies, mysteries and all of your favorite authors.

On another note, I also recommend the , a small and cute library with a cozy fireplace. It has the perfect setting for reading, and creates a comfortable environment for people of all ages. The Davisville Library accepts the same library card as the North Kingstown Library (the OSL card) and also offers the same summer reading program. After reading a book, you might also want to check out Bookworm Wednesdays at the Showcase Cinemas. Every Wednesday during the summer, children can fill out a book report for a book they have finished (book report forms can be found on the website) and can receive a free ticket to the movie that is showing that week.

For more information, see the North Kingstown Free Library’s Website: http://www.nklibrary.org/

For information on Bookworm Wednesdays, see: http://www.showcasecinemas.com/programs/kids-and-families/bookwormwed