Peninsula Public Library in Lawrence unveils summer reading program

With the school year at its endpoint, the Peninsula Public Library in Lawrence kicked off its summer reading program with an outdoor signup event on the library’s front lawn on June 8.

The program geared for children aged 4 to 13 is centered on the theme “Tails and Trails,” which is a play on the word tails for fairy tales, folk tales, tall tales and animal tails.

Each year, the Nassau Library System creates a different summer reading theme. The participating libraries in the county craft graphics and handouts related to the theme.

Despite an incoming rainstorm on that Tuesday, there were 20 children who signed up for the program at the opening event, which was encouraging to Katie Mirro, a children’s librarian at PPL.

“We all know how important it is for children to read during the summer and we try to make it as fun as possible for them,” she said. “Every time the children read a book, they will get a prize such as a water bottle or a notebook.” Mirro added that throughout the summer, events related to the summer reading theme will also be held on the library’s front lawn.

Library Director Carolynn Matulewicz said that in past years, the program has awarded the top readers in the program with prizes. This year, the total number of books read among the readers will be tracked instead. “There is no required number of books but we encourage them to read as much as possible,” she said. “We will give them more prizes for reading more books.”

Matulewicz noted the importance for children to stay active with reading this summer, especially due to the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on education.

“After the last 14 months it is critical that children read for pleasure over the summer to avoid the ‘summer slide’ and to increase and improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary,” she said. “Keep books in your beach bags, the car and anywhere they can use them to encourage and instill a love of reading.” 

The summer slide is the loss of reading ability, academic skills and knowledge that occurs with students during the summer months. Although the decline may not affect every child, the general principle is one that can be observed in all sorts of situations.

Matulewicz said she is happy to see more people coming to the library. “We’re looking forward to holding more events at the library this summer,” she said. “Things are getting closer to normal here at PPL and that is exciting for us.”

To be eligible for prizes, readers must hand in their reading logs by Aug. 13. More information on the summer reading program can be found by contacting PPL’s Children's Room at (516) 239-3262 ext. 211 or childrens@peninsulapublic.org.