ST. MARYS, Ohio (WLIO) — The St. Marys Community Public Library is helping celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a summer full of “Stars, Stripes and Stories.”
Thanks to grants from the State Library of Ohio and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the library kicked off its summer reading program with an event featuring crafts, pizza and a scavenger hunt.
Continuing the patriotic theme, attendees also enjoyed visits from historical figures and live music performed by the Saint Marys Area Community Band.
Library officials say the summer reading program is designed to keep children engaged in reading while school is out and help prevent learning loss during the summer months.
“It helps prevent summer slide when they don't read over the summer and then they go back to school, they kind of go backwards a little bit and they need refresher. So, it really helps them and it can help them stay engaged with reading and advance in their reading levels. I hope they find that the library is fun and they just start starting to love to read,” said Angela Karen, technology coordinator for the St. Marys Community Public Library.
Throughout the summer, a variety of organizations will visit the library, including the Armstrong Air and Space Museum and the Toledo Zoo.
More information about upcoming events is available at www.smcpl.org and on the St. Marys Community Public Library social media pages.
