Summer reading programs in local libraries received some extra support Monday afternoon with a donation from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.
SRNS representatives visited the Aiken County Public Library with a $10,000 check that will go toward the "Be Creative" Summer Reading program.
Mary Jo Dawson, director of the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield regional library system, said the funds will be distributed to all four libraries in the region and will be used to purchase books for the annual reading programs held throughout the summer.
Dawson called SRNS' donation a blessing to the library system, which has seen cuts of more than $80,000 in state funding this year.
Chuck Munns, president of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, said the company decided to help support the libraries because of their commitments to fostering education in the community.
Registration for Aiken County Public Library's, summer reading program will begin on May 26. The vacation reading program will run June 8 through July 24.
Dawson describes the program as "fun but educational" and said it encourages participants to read at least 10 books during the summer. Those who complete the program will receive a certificate and book purchased through a grant from Target.
"Studies show that if children continue to read throughout the summer, they have an easier time going back to school and picking up where they left off," said Rachel Pirkle, ABBE children's services coordinator. "And while we encourage that, our main purpose in having this program is to instill a love of reading and books and to help develop children into lifelong library users."
Adults ages 18 and older also have an incentive to read a library book this summer. For each library book read during the months of June and July, people can enter in a drawing to win a tote bag. The drawing will be held July 31.
For more information or to find program schedules, visit www.abbe-lib.org.
Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.
Summer Reading Program Schedule for the Aiken County Public Library
Aiken County Public Library-Wednesdays 2-3 p.m. (Limited seating)
June 10 Didgeridoo Down Under-virtual visit to Australia
17 Savannah River Ecology Lab animal presentation
24 Magician Chad Crews
July 8 Strawberry Shortcake guest appearance
15 Porkchop Productions-"Little Red Riding Hood"
22 Puppet Show-"The Three Little Pigs"
Thursdays at 4 p.m. (Young Adult Events)
June 11 X-Box Gaming
18 Twilight Book Club
25 Altered Clothes
July 9 Altered Books
16 Just Bead It
23 Death by Chocolate
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (Family Night)
June 9 Southland Express Cloggers
16 Sidewalk Chalk
23 Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing-"School House Rocks"
July 7 Family Craft Night
14 Bollywood Dancing
21 Singer/Songwriter Cathy Benedetto
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