ELK POINT – Elk Point Municipal Library Board received a final report on the 2023 Summer Reading Program at last Wednesday’s meeting, and agreed that it had definitely been a ‘Feast of Knowledge’, which was this year’s theme, for 15 youngsters aged six to 10, with an average of 10 attendees at the twice weekly sessions. A second program for ages four to six had seven registrants with an average of four at each of the Wednesday sessions.
This year’s program was led by Shairenne Ginez, who said each week’s story time books corresponded with their crafts or snacks of the day, for example, ‘The Smart Cookie’ and ‘The Cookie Fiasco’ were paired with decorating cardboard cookies and then decorating the sugar cookies for the day’s snack with icing and sprinkles. The following week, enjoying the book ‘Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party’ was followed by layering the dough for breadsticks and pizza with sauce, cheese and multiple toppings donated by Georges Ellrani, who then baked the result in his Magic Pizza ovens for the youngsters to enjoy as their snack.
Doughnuts from Golden Loaf Bakery were another snack coordinated with that week’s book on one of three field trips that were also part of the program, with the other two taking the older group to the spray park and to Fort George and Buckingham House.
The Wednesday group also visited the bakery as part of a story walk, and visited the spray park during another of their weekly sessions.
“Overall, the field trips went well, the kids had fun and I believe the 2023 Summer Reading Program was a success,” Ginez said in the report she shared with the board.
Moving into fall
With the summer programs over, the library is still seeing a steady stream of little visitors with 14 children registered for the Moms and Tots story time held each Wednesday.
The Friends of the Library didn’t let rain and chilly weather slow down their preparations for the Sept. 29 and 30 used book sale, with a steady stream of purchasers added to with coupons for a free book handed out at businesses around Elk Point, at the Heinsburg fall supper and at the Elk Point staging area during the Iron Horse 100 marathon, with the book shed inventory slimmed down considerably and a total of $500 in sales and donations added to their funds for new purchases and library upgrades. The next book sale, however, will wait for warm spring weather, members agreed.
One of the planned upgrades for the library will be a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling, which had been planned right after the installation of LED lighting last year, with library manager Daphne Schnurer now looking for quotes for the paint job.
The library currently has a Fall Book Bingo underway, with readers able to check off a variety of different books, from those of a different genre than usual to books recommended by friends, with prizes for both adults and young readers for completed bingo cards.
The library’s monthly teas are back on the calendar, with treats reflecting local gardens enjoyed on Sept. 19, and the Oct. tea scheduled for next Tuesday, Oct.17 at 2 p.m.,
The November tea will be part of the annual Alzheimer’s Coffee Break on Nov. 8, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also be the opening day of the library’s Christmas Garage Sale, which will continue daily until Nov. 10.
And don’t forget, library users – if you haven’t filled out this year’s library survey to indicate what activities and events you would like to enjoy – now’s the time! Pick up and fill out your survey at the library!
