Groesbeck Library Keeping You Entertained All Summer

School is out, but that won’t stop patrons of Groesbeck’s Maffett Public Library from turning the pages of books during the summer break.

The library is hosting two major summer-long events this year.

First, a story time reading series begins on June 6 with a story time adventure with Linda Anders at 10:30 a.m. In total the library will host seven story time sessions with themes like, Summer Reading Seashell Chimes and ending with a make your own ice cream finale July 22 at 10 a.m.

Library director Jamie McLean said that summer is the busiest time for the library. She prepares by ordering new books towards the end of the school year. She also said that the staff does not take vacation breaks during the summer.

The second summer-long event is a reading challenge, with winners netting prizes such as gift cards to local restaurants.

Two different age categories exist for the summer reading competition, baby-first grade and second grade through eight grade.

For the baby through first grade group, participants will use reading logs that can be found at the library or printed from the libraries website to log the number of minutes read. For the older group, they will log the number of minutes read.

Older participants with younger siblings, reading to the young ones counts for both competitors.

McLean said that she is seeing a couple of book series emerging as popular with middle schoolers. The Green Ember series, the Wingfeather series as well as new books by survivalist Bear Grylls. McLean said she simply can’t keep those titles on the shelves.

She is also seeing older titles making a comeback. The Boxcar Children and The Baby-sitters Club books are seeing a revival of sorts. McLean said at one point she had to weed out copies of both series due to low circulation rates. With renewed interest in the titles she has had to purchase updated copies.

Apart from winning prizes, it is important for young readers to maintain active learning activities during the summer per the Texas Children's Hospital website summer learning loss refers to the amount of academic information children forget over the course of the summer.

Studies have found children who do not practice learning skills over the summer can forget as much as two months of reading skills and one month of math skills.

The same studies show students who read 30 minutes daily over the summer will gain one month of reading skills.

At the library, the learning never stops and readers could even earn a gift card to Bush’s Chicken. And if you’re wanting to learn how a chicken lays an egg ask McLean and her staff to point you in the right direction, they are egg-cited to help.

Summer Story Times

June 6, Monday, 10:30 a.m., Story Time Adventure with Linda Anders

June 11, Saturday, 10 a.m., Summer Reading Ocean Rescue

June  20, Monday, 10:30 a.m.

June 24, Friday, 10 a.m., Summer Reading Seashell Chimes

July 8, Friday, 10 a.m., Summer Reading Sea Snails

July 18, Monday, 10:30 a.m.

July 22, Friday, 10 a.m.,  Summer Reading Finale Make Your Own Ice Cream