White Co. Public Library Host Summer Reading Program

The White County Public Library is taking part in the national summer reading program titled “Tails and Tales,” where kids read books about fairy tales and books about animals.

Director Cathy Farley said the program is designed to maintain students’ reading levels over the summer to make them better equipped for learning once school resumes in the fall.

“In order to keep that level, they need to read three books over the summer months–that is all it takes is three books on their grade level,” Farley said. “That will help them keep those gains not just in reading, but in math and social studies and science, all those gains will be held onto.”

Farley said the participants in the kids program can expect more than just books, and White County Schools are also providing lunch to those 18 and under.

“Every other week we have live performers and entertainers that will bring animals and dancing and all kinds of stuff for us to do together,” Farley said. “On the off weeks in between those, we will still be there with books for everyone that wants to stop by.”

Farley said that White County’s participation in the summer reading program has gone on for at least 25 years, and that it is so popular it now spans generations.

“I have been here since October of ’97, so I have seen it first hand that you used to have these little children come to our program and now they have their own little children,” Farley said. “So it’s great to watch people come of age in a program like that and understand its value and have the commitment to bring their own children.”

The program occurs every Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Sparta First Baptist Church outdoor pavilion, with its first event on Thursday, June 10th.