Reading the summer away in Wantagh

In Wantagh, summer reading isn’t just for kids. 

The Wantagh Public Library’s seven-week adult summer reading program wrapped up on Aug. 11. This year’s theme reflected a major global event: the 2016 Olympic Games. 

Ian Smith, the head of Adult Services Department, organized the program last year. Offerings have and will continue to evolve, he explained. 

“The children’s summer reading program has been a successful way to engage with children and get them excited about reading,” he said. “We thought that it would be great to offer a similar program for adults.” 

According to Smith, 35 adult patrons participated in 2016 — more than doubling last year’s number — reading a total of 97 books. There were no set requirements for the participants; they were asked to read as many books as possible of their choosing. 

For each book completed, readers filled out and submitted a slip to the library to receive a raffle ticket. At the program’s wrap-up party last Thursday, five prizes were given out. 

“Work schedules are hectic,” Smith said of the program. “This added structure to people’s summers.”  

Although participants had the freedom to choose whatever they wanted to read, library leaders did suggest an Olympic-related theme: “Exercise Your Mind. Read!” In addition to electing to read related titles, library officials gave participants a fitness challenge. 

Patrons received step counters when they registered for the program. For bonus raffle tickets, participants filled out wellness trackers that recorded their steps, hours of sleep and the amount of water they consumed daily. 

Although tracking personal health and wellness statistics was optional, Smith said this new feature of the program made the entire process more enjoyable. “It gave people that push to read, because it’s not always easy,” he explained. “But once they got going, they were enthusiastic and excited about the book they were reading when they brought in their slips.” 

Jacquie Herbert, a Wantagh Library patron who participated in the program, said the fitness challenge helped her set goals. She explained that reading is one of her favorite pastimes during the summer, adding that she “couldn’t put down” titles like “The Last Mile” by David Baldacci and “The Perfect Happiness” by Santa Montefiore. 

At the end-of-program event, other participants expressed their deep interest in the books they had read. Some are also members of the library’s year-round book club, which meets the third Wednesday of each month. 

Maureen Byrne, one of the participants, said that the summer program encouraged her to keep an official record of the many books she had read since June. This made it easier to remember each of them and talk about them later on, she added. 

Byrne said she enjoys discussing books with a group of people, helping her to gain different perspectives on each work. “It’s about having a community of readers,” she explained. “I looked forward to this all year.”

Byrne and her fellow patrons discussed their favorite titles at the wrap party, offering one another suggestions. Some of the books they read were displayed in the room, several of which were written by a favorite author of the group, James Patterson.

Smith emphasized that the program is not just for avid readers, but also for any resident who is interested in reading more often. “Hopefully it encourages people who don’t read as much to try and get it into their lives a little bit,” he said of the program’s future. 

Throughout the summer, Smith also sent out weekly emails with book suggestions. At last Thursday’s gathering, each reader received a final sheet on which to record every book they had read; in prior weeks, they submitted slips through Facebook, email and in person at the library, on Park Avenue. 

This year’s group offered Smith suggestions for next year’s program at the wrap party. Smith noted that he and his colleagues would continue to find ways to make it more fun and easier to participate, as they did this year. For instance, patrons were encouraged to use the library’s e-book collection so they could receive more books more quickly. 

While convenience is at the forefront of organizers’ and patrons’ minds, Smith said that, ultimately, the program is and will continue to be about having fun. “Sometimes people need to be reminded to enjoy themselves,” he said. “I think reading is a great way to do that.”