2011 Summer Reading Program

Children from 0 to 18 years had been invited to participate in the 2011 Summer Reading Program at Bibliothèque Saint-Joachim Library. Eighty-two individuals registered for the program which included crafts and small prizes throughout the summer, and French and English story times, a small snack and games every Wednesday morning. Children were encouraged to fill out tickets for every book read. The totals were tallied and by the end of the summer, 58 of the participants had returned 1469 reading tickets. This is down from previous years, but parents admit to not having been as vigilant in filling out the tickets with their children. This was probably due to the beautiful weather we had over the summer and that is quite understandable. Enjoying the magnificent weather was also important as many of the participants had never witnessed an incredible summer such as the one we had this year.

The wind up celebrations for the 2011 program took place on August 25. The participants and their parents had been invited to a noontime BBQ and approximately 75 people attended. Hot dogs, snacks, vegetables, juice, ice cream and cookies were served to all. The weather cooperated again and we were able to enjoy the beautiful temperatures that day. Following the BBQ, the participants were invited into the library and were able to choose a prize according to the number of books each had read. Everyone received a prize, and most seemed quite pleased to be able to walk away with a token for the effort they had made to read as many books as possible over the summer. A goody bag was also distributed to all the participants.

The prizes were made available by sponsors from our community and the surrounding ones. We wish to thank the following businesses which provided either prizes, coupons or gifts for the goody bags, or money permitting us to purchase prizes :

• Hylife
• La Broquerie Co-op
• Caisse Groupe Financier
• Hotel La Broquerie
• Le bon ami
• La Broquerie Lumber / Rona
• La Vérendrye Golf
• Le Dépanneur
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Canadian Tire
• Manitoba Hydro
• McDonald’s Restaurant
• A&W
• Derksen Printers / The Carillon
• Staples Business Depot
• Sobeys
• Safeway
• Superstore
• Rocco’s Pizzeria
• Domino’s Pizza
• Scrapbook Cottage
• Creative Print All

We thank these businesses for investing in our youth by encouraging them to read over the summer. Research indicates that when children read over the summer they are able to maintain or improve their level of reading. This is the aim of this Summer Reading Program which is sponsored yearly by TD Bank and Library and Archives Canada. We hope to have been able to make reading a fun time for children.

2010 Summer Reading Program

Once again, in 2010, the Summer Reading Program was a success at Bibliothèque Saint-Joachim Library. At the time of registration, the 104 children who registered for the program received a kit containing a poster, an activity booklet and stickers which were provided by TD Bank and Library and Archives Canada. Every second week into the program, the participants were invited to participate in a craft during their visits to the library. During the other weeks, they were eligible for a small prize.

Story time was held on seven occasions over the summer. There was the reading of a French story, followed by an English story on each occasion. After the readings, a few of which were also accompanied by a puppet show, the children were invited to take part in activities such as sidewalk chalk drawing and bubble making. A small snack of juice and cookies was also provided. In total 194 participants took part in these story times over the summer, with an average of 28 children per week.

This year the wind up for the Summer Reading Program was held during the course of the afternoon of August 26. Fifty of the 104 registrants were at the celebrations during which they were invited to participate in games and activities. Each participant received coupons depending on the number of books he or she had read over the summer. They were to place these coupons in bags for draws. The more they read, the more chances they had of winning one of the 62 prizes which were offered.

We wish to thank the 25 sponsors who provided prizes which were drawn, or coupons or promotional articles for goody bags which were handed out to each participant. A BIG THANK YOU to :

• La Broquerie Coop
• Dairy Queen
• La Broquerie Lumber / Rona
• Caisse Groupe Financier
• McDonald’s Restaurant
• Golf La Vérendrye
• École Saint-Joachim
• Hôtel La Broquerie
• Keystone Cinema
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Canadian Tire
• Derksen Printers
• Manitoba Hydro
• Raevins Diner
• Le Dépanneur
• Niakwa Pizza
• Staples
• 7-Eleven
• Safeway
• Superstore
• Sobeys
• Le bon ami
• Hytek
• A&W
• Chicken Chef

2009 Summer Reading Program

The summer programs started at the end of June and ended on September 4. Firstly, we had the summer reading program for the children. We had 116 participants who returned reading tickets. These 116 readers is an increase of 171% over 2008 and 258% over 2007. The total number of books read was 3167 and is an increase of 186% over the previous summer.

At the time of registration, the participants received material provided by TD Bank and Library and Archives Canada, as well as a book bag which we had created out of an old t-shirt. Once a week, participants received small prizes during their visits to the libary.

The wind-up for the program was held on Friday, September 11. The invitation had been sent to all participants who had returned reading tickets. Given the large number of persons present for the evening and the lack of space in the library, we had to use the gymnasium for the distribution of prizes. We estimate that approximately 85 of the 116 participants were present, many accompanied by their parents. We had an english story read by Rachelle Ouellet and a french story read by Nicole Dizengremel. Thank you to both ladies for their contribution to the evening. Following the distribution of prizes, a light snack was offered to the participants and their accompanying parents.

Story time sessions were also offered on seven occasions over the summer. An english and a french story were read on each occasion. After each story, the children were invited to participate in activities of sidewalk chalk drawing and bubblemaking. A light snack of cookies and juice was also available. In total we had 108 participants, with an average of 15.5 per session.

Congratulations to all the participants in this year’s summer programs. Reading has made you a winner.