Brooke County Library’s Summer Reading Program Open to All Age Groups

Staff at Brooke County Public Libraries in Wellsburg and Follansbee are offering readers of all ages, youth and adults, a chance this summer to try new things and let themselves get away if only in the pages of a good book.

Alex Schneider, director of the libraries, said the summer reading program has returned with the theme "Adventure Begins at Your Library," thanks to Wellsburg Elks Lodge 1553.

During the last several years, the civic group has secured a Beacon grant from the Elks National Foundation that has enabled the program to include various hands-on activities, special guests and prizes as rewards for regular reading.

Schneider noted the program presents the opportunity for the libraries to make people aware of its newer services, including the recent addition of Kanopy, a streaming service through which anyone with a Brooke County library card may access the following packages: Documentaries, Kids, Series, British Cinema and TV, World Cinema, Easy Watching, Favorites and Diversity.

Schneider said the app is accessible with most computers, smartphones and related devices by going to brookecountylibs.kanopy.com.

She said it won't replace mainstream streaming services that offer the latest blockbuster movies and original television shows, but it does include many children's programs and films and television shows popular in England and other countries.

Schneider said in addition to the summer reading program and additional print materials for the library, the Elks donation has supported one of 15 hotspots that may be checked out of the library for up to two weeks.

In recent years, the library's summer reading program has been opened up to adults, and Schneider said there were multiple reasons for that.

She said because participants were entered into drawings for prizes ranging from books and games to gift certificates and pool passes, some adults expressed interest in taking part also.

Schneider noted she's also tried to attract teens to the libraries, but they often saw the summer reading program as being for young children only.

And the best reason, she said, is that it encourages older members of a household to set an example of reading to the younger ones.

Schneider explained that depending on the age group, participants qualify for the drawings by earning points for reading a certain number of minutes or designated number of books.

Participants may earn points through July 27 by logging their reading through the ReadSquared app at bcplwv.readsquared.com or on paper by contacting either library at 304-737-1551 or 304-527-0860.

In keeping with the program's adventure theme, Schneider and Kim Harless, the libraries' director of educational programs, have planned a variety of activities that don't require participation in the program.

The Brooke County Public Library in Wellsburg will hold Cupcake Wars, a cupcake-decorating contest for youth 8 and up at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

There also will be a "Kid's Yoga Adventure" for children and their caregivers, led by Taylor Provenzano of Soulshine, at 11:30 a.m. June 25.

Participants are asked to bring a mat or towel.

On June 18, Kirstie Perkins, a technical and applied studies student at Kent State University, will present two workshops on types of journals and approaches to keeping them from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The workshops, including composition books for participants, are being funded with donations made in memory of Susan Carol Churchman, a retired teacher and long-time member of the library board.

Local writer Judi Tarowsky will present "Adventures in Folktales from Here and There" featuring "stories that are larger than life and travel around the world" at 6:30 p.m. June 27 at the Wellsburg library.

And at noon on June 28, visitors to the Wellsburg library will be invited to samples snacks from different countries, play a trivia game and learn a bit about the history of snacks.

Registration for the free events is required by calling (304) 737-1551 or visiting brookecountylibraries.org/events.

The two libraries also are among several sites in a summer feeding program coordinated by Brooke County Schools and C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc.

Through it, youth 18 and under may receive a free lunch there from 11:30 am. to 12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Wellsburg library and 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays at the Follansbee library.

No meals will be served on June 19 and 20 in observance of Juneteenth and West Virginia Day, state holidays on which the libraries will be closed.

The Wellsburg library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Follansbee library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.