Stretch Your Brain and Body at the Library!
By Jimmie Epling
Director
Darlington County Library System
This year’s summer reading program, “On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!” at the Darlington County Library System encourages children, teens, and adult to stretch their brain and their body this summer. Since its kickoff on June 7th with the hilarious “The Great Race,” a live performance of the tortoise and hare tale, the programs at all four of our locations, Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar, and Society Hill, have been fun and dynamic experience for all those who have attended! There is still plenty of time to get involved!
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In June, we had lots of exciting, entertaining, and engaging programs. Children at Hartsville and Darlington were encouraged to become “Young Yogis” with Jamie Martel.
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Mike Wibe of Phil’s Bicycle World in Florence taught the children the ins and outs of bicycling at Darlington.
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A Darlington Monday night teen program featured an “American Ninja Warrior Fandom” obstacle course.
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Children at our Lamar Branch showed off their best dance moves.
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Aspiring Ninjas in Society Hill were given a taste of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu self-defense with Chris Brunetti.
There are still lots of programs coming up in July and you can still register for the summer reading program to earn points towards special prizes!
Dance Move Academy will be getting children moving at Hartsville the morning of July 20th. There will be “Furry Fitness” with miniature horses at Darlington (July 12th), Hartsville (July 13th), and Lamar (July 19th). For dates and times of all the July programs at all our location, go to our webpage at www.darlington-lib.org to get a schedule.
You can still register for the program in one of four age groups, Listeners (ages 0-4), Readers (ages 5 – 11), Teens (ages 12-19), and Adults (age 20+). When you register, you create a personal summer reading page to track your reading and participation in the program. Parents this year have the option of registering themselves and their children as a family.
The Library has three recognition and prize levels for participants. You can earn points to reach each level by reading, completing a “mission” on the website, attending a program, and volunteering at the Library. Reach the first level and you will receive a certificate. At the second level, you will receive a “Summer Reading” button. Each child that reaches the third level will receive a summer reading medal to hang around his or her neck. Prizes include books, cool sports items, and coupons for free stuff.
This year, for those who earn enough points, we have these special rewards:
• Hartsville Splashpad tickets (while they last)
• Hartsville Twin Cinema movie tickets (July 18th – Secret Life of Pets for young readers; July 25th – Star Trek Beyond for teen readers; while they last)
• Field trip to the Bethlehem Therapeutic Stables (July 21st)
• “Game-On” National Teen Lock-In, Darlington Branch (Friday evening, July 29th. Storytelling, a magic show, an online chat with a famous author, fun, food, games, and prizes).
To succeed, children must become readers. The Library wants to foster a love of reading in children. Achieving our goal requires we create a summer reading experience to inspire children and teens to read for the pleasure of reading a good story and to discover the world around them.
This year’s summer reading program at the Darlington County Library System encourages you to enjoy the pleasures of reading for fun and along the way to exercise your brain and your body. It is not too late to get started. Sign up at www.darlington-lib.org today!