Readers, it’s time for a summer of fun

Hoooooooo is ready to read?

Tiffin-Seneca Public Library's summer reading program, slated to start next month, is to have various activities with a night theme and has five components this year.

New this year is "Rubber Ducky Club" for babies ages birth to 35 months old.

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Junior Department's program is for children ages 3 through entering fifth grade, and the theme is "Dream Big - Read."

Teen Department's theme is "We Own the Night," and teenagers in grades 6-12 can participate.

The summer listening program's theme is "HOO Wants to Hear a Book?" and the adult summer reading program's theme is "Light up Your Night with a Good Book."

Debby Roszman, community relations coordinator, said now, everyone of all ages can visit the library and have fun participating in the summer reading program.

"The whole family's involved," she said.

Roszman said "Rubber Ducky Club" is split into two months, June and July. Some of the 14 suggested activities include reciting or singing a nursery rhymes, pointing out letters on toys and signs, singing the alphabet song and sharing a favorite bedtime story.

She said the library wants to focus on babies.

"It's good bonding times for parent and baby, and it really helps a baby. ... I think that's really cool, being the parent of a 2-year-old," Roszman said.

Connie Cole, head of Junior Library, said several libraries have the program but do it slightly differently.

Tiffin-Seneca Public Library's program involves six skills.

"Some of them are easier to do than others," Cole said.

Participants in Junior Library's program receive a reading record and keep track of their reading.

Roszman said children are encouraged to read 20 minutes or more a day. Those who cannot read are encouraged to be read to, she said.

The kickoff is to include a performance by a magician, stories, crafts and an electric campfire.

"(Becky Oswalt, early childhood programming specialist,) has really grown the children's programming. ... She's doing arts and all kinds of stuff," Roszman said.

Another program this year involves children checking out a paper owl and taking pictures when they read with it. Cole said children can check out the owl for up to two weeks.

"It'll be like 'Flat Stanley,'" Roszman said.

For the teenage program, participants can enter to win a weekly prize for every 300 pages they read. They can enter to win a grand prize for every 1,500 pages read.

"We've changed it up a lot. ... The grand prizes include ... a new bicycle, an iPod Touch, a four-person dome tent and a DVD player," Roszman said.

The kickoff for the teens' program is to include ice cream, trivia games, an explanation of the program and an opportunity to join.

"(We plan to) show off the prizes," said Kandi O'Donnell, teen programming specialist.

Roszman said O'Donnell is trying to grow the program and has many new ideas for the teen reading program.

"We're very excited about them," she said.

O'Donnell said the department has added more than 300 books since the beginning of the school year, and she is trying to expand its book availability, programming

and teens' involvement.

"She's really pushing the program this year," Roszman said.

Adults also can participate in the reading program. They can read the traditional way and participate in "Light up Your Night with a Good Book," or they can listen to books through the "HOO Wants to Hear a Book?" program.

"Ebooks are included," Roszman said.