Library Greeting: Summer reading

The Madill City-County Library’s Summer Reading Program started off at the ground level. In the dirt… literally.

With the theme being, “All Together Now: Kindness, Friendship, and Unity”, the librarians and employees wantedtofocusoneverything including the environment, plants, animals. They also focusedon themselves and others.

The program kicked off on July 7 with a presentation. Jayson Pruitt of the Madill Rose Garden Club discussed with the children how plants grow and different types of pollutions that can effect plants, animals and their environments, as well as ways to prevent those pollutants.

Each child in attendance planted beans or flowering moss in their very own flower pot to take home and helped makeabookwormbookmark. The younger children made popsicle stick spider web homes and the older children created bee puppets.

The teen program learned how to make graft plants, make cuttings from plants, and crafted a macramé plant hanger. The second week of the program was a barking good time. With the help of Kathy Germany and some of her S.O.A.R. volunteers, the children learned the importance on taking care of the animals and bringing the community together to get the help they need.

The children met a couple of tail-wagging service dogs in training, a cuddly kitten up for adoption named Marmalade, a little girl's best chicken friend and a sweet family that has helped rehome an excited puppy and wandering turtle.

The younger classes talked with Germany about how they can learn to care for their animals to give them everything they may need.

During the teen program, the importance of volunteering and how even the smallest amount of time could help several animals find a forever home. Also, this past week the library's very own Assistant Librarian, Lori Drockton, brought animals that she had help rehab and re-home to discuss dos and don’ts about wild life.

This visit included local wildlife such as eastern narrow mouthed toads and striped bark scorpion, the kids thought a glowing scorpion was too cool. Other creatures included were two kinds of tarantulas, a tortoise named Bowser who was rehabbed from a broken leg with the previous owner, two different kinds of geckos, and feeder insects known as Dubai roaches.

The kids were allowed to look at up close and interact with these creatures and learn how to respond if in contact with them. The children enjoyed story time before each program, participated in crafts and interactive presentations and ended the day with a small snack.

This week promises to bring it all together as the schedule is to make crafts and play games as a group. The library employees hope the children are having a fantastic time and learning more each visit.