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| Michelle Kealey Staff Writer AGAWAM Cynthia Sutter, the children's librarian at the Agawam Public Library, is trying to attract older children to the library this summer and has created a separate summer reading program for tween and teen residents. The new program, which is geared toward children entering grades 7 - 12, kicked-off last Friday night with the Library Lockdown, which included a scavenger hunt and pizza. Sutter said that registration for the annual summer reading program has diminished among the older children in the city. "The regular reading program has always been ages birth through age 18, but we never had that many participate from junior high and up," she said. Sutter offered some tween and teen workshops last year, which she said were well attended. Some of the programs included a paper airplane workshop, a kite workshop and a book group. Sutter explained that she had attended a workshop hosted by the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System about teen reading programs and heard a lot of ideas from speakers and representatives from other libraries. Once Sutter had the idea of creating a new program for tweens and teens, she conducted a survey to find out what types of programs would interest the young readers in Agawam. She said that she could not believe the number of children who responded to the survey. "I received 70 or 75 back," she said. "I was really happy. I had to keep making more surveys, and that's a good thing." She added that most of the survey respondents were in grades 7, 8, and 9, but she did receive a few back from students in high school. "[The survey] showed that they really want programs where they can interact and be social," she said, adding that movies were not a popular choice, for example. The new program offers older children separate reading logs and other reading program materials and workshops that are geared toward their age group, both genders and different interests. Sutter said that she is offering programs that ranked the highest by the children who took the survey. She added that the Library Lockdown, which kicked off the program and will close the program, ranked highest on the list. The separate program for older children has received a lot of positive feedback from members of the community, according to Sutter. In addition to the feedback, Sutter said she met with teachers at Agawam Junior High School who supported the program and added an incentive for students who participate. Sutter said that students attending the Junior High School who complete and return the reading bingo will enter the school year with an A+ test grade and will also receive points toward their accelerated reading program in school. Reading Bingo is part of the summer reading program that includes different genres of literature for children to read. "The English teachers passed out flyers to promote the program and it's really just a great collaboration," she said. Sutter said that she hopes to work with the Agawam Middle and High Schools next year to expand the program. Sutter said she is "very excited" about the new program and about the fact that something is being offered to this specific age group. "Younger children are so enthusiastic to begin [the summer reading program], but as they get older we hope to [find a way] to continue that enthusiasm for reading and for the library," Sutter said. She said that by simply adding the new programs to the annual summer reading program it would not have the same effect. "It is necessary to have a separate program," she said. The program began on June 24 and interested participants can sign up at the library or by calling the library at 789-1550 ext. 4. Also call to sign up for individual workshops. Participants will receive raffle tickets for each book they check out and read from the library. Children can participate in a weekly raffle, and a final raffle will take place at the end of the program, with the prize being a $100 gift certificate to the mall. The following are programs geared toward tweens and teens: June 30 at 6:30 p.m. Illustration/Cartooning Workshop. Published illustrator Jeff Mack will describe the process of illustration and cartooning. A hands-on workshop will follow. Children are encouraged to bring their own art for suggestions. July 7 at 6:30 p.m. Photography Workshop. Professional photographer and former teacher Richard Novak will describe the art and technology of photography, making our film and digital cameras easier to understand. July 14 6:30 p.m. Create a Journal. Create a journal with a collage cover. All materials and snack provided. Just bring your creativity. July 21 at 6 p.m. Revlak School of Magic and Wizardry. Celebrate the release of the new Harry Potter book by learning how to do magic and wizardry at this fun workshop. July 28 Candy (Chocolate Making). Melt, mold and chill white or dark chocolate for a tasty program. Aug. 4 from 7-9 p.m. Library Lockdown-Summer Reading finale. Ice cream sundaes, games, and T&T SRP raffle. You could be a winner. Grand prize, $100 mall gift certificate. The library will also offer a Book Discussion Group for Tweens & Teens, consisting of open-ended questions, games, and a snack related to a book. Members will decide what to read and when to meet. |