Sevier County Library, De Queen branch, is hosting its annual summer reading program to help keep children learn all summer long with resources and reading contests.
"Summer can be a time of academic enrichment for children or a time of learning loss. Unless students continue reading or join engaging programs, children risk losing two to three months of reading skills over the summer. Arkansas libraries work to reduce summer reading loss by offering reading activities during the summer months," said Johnye Fisher, head librarian.
This year, the library is working with Jamie Walters of Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN).
"AETN provides great educational programming on both AETN and their new 24/7 channel AETN PBS KIDS. AETN has provided the library with activity booklets, bookmarks, pencils, T-shirts and Frisbees to keep the children busy this summer," Fisher said.
AETN also offers PBS KIDS educational resources to help families in Arkansas close the gaps in summer learning and overall achievement. Summer activities, reading charts, coloring sheets and other materials featuring favorite PBS KIDS characters are available at aetn.org/kids.
The library's reading contest for children ages 3-8 will wrap up Wednesday. The summer reading contest for ages 9-15 will kick off July 1 and go through July 31. There will be three age groups this year: 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15. The child who reads the most books in each age category will win a backpack full of school supplies, Fisher said.
The library is at 200 W. Stilwell Ave. and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.