Congratulations to Canton Summer Readers

Cheryl Donahue is Children’s Librarian at Canton Public Library.

Summertime. The kids of Canton have spent their days vacationing, playing outdoors, camping, boating, swimming and reading! Reading? Believe it or not, there were 630 participants in Canton Public Library's 2002 Summer Reading Program, "Get Ahead! Read!" By the end of the program on August 23, the enthusiastic readers will have read over 7,000 books: a remarkable number when compared with previous years.

The library's first Summer Reading Program, "Treasure Your Library" in 2000, ended with 300 participants reading over 3,500 books. The following year's program, "Read and Grow," resulted in a slight increase in numbers. The current program has exceeded all expectations, with a 100% increase over the past years' totals. Our super readers are motivated and have been working hard—one child has read 200 books!

What inspired the children this summer? Was it the school visits the children's librarian made in the spring, encouraging each class to participate? Or was it the prize incentives each child earned for every three books read? Perhaps both worked to promote summer reading. Is it possible children read simply for the pleasure and fun of reading? Whatever the reason, we are thankful to Canton's readers for their efforts. The library also appreciates the local businesses who generously donated to the summer reading program.

When asked the question, "What did you do over summer vacation?" the children of Canton can respond, "Read, read, read!" We are proud of our wonderful readers. They have outshined the previous summers by accepting the library's challenge to "Get Ahead! Read!"

Thanks and congratulations!