July 18, 2022 – On Friday, July 15th the parking lot at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County (PLMVKC) teemed with music, laughter and sno-cones to celebrate the Summer Reading Program, “Ocean of Possibilities.” Library staff and program sponsor Park National Bank collaborated to present an afternoon of outdoor fun for patrons, with Children’s Floor Manager Erica Newton reporting that the closing party included temporary tattoos, a photo booth, sand art, carnival games with prizes like sea shell whistle, kickball, sea creature finger puppets, or finger skateboards.
The Library received a grant from Park National Foundation to support its Summer Reading Program activities for teens and children, and Library Board President Clint Bailey attended the event to support the bank’s longtime sponsorship of summer reading. “Keeping kids engaged in reading and lifelong learning over the summer is critical to developing strong literacy skills,” says Development and Writing Programs Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher. “The Library is grateful to Park National for supporting young readers and getting books into kids’ hands.”
Enrollment in Summer Reading Program was strong this year, with over 265 children and teens registered for literacy activities that included reading goals and challenges, craft events and projects, book giveaways, a visit from a traveling theater troupe, a scavenger hunt, children’s storytimes and a variety of arts, crafts, and STEAM activities in the Library’s Teen MakerSpace.
Although the 2022 Summer Reading Program has concluded for 2022, the Library has many exciting programs coming up and a broad selection of reading, media, entertainment, informational and community resources available to patrons of all ages. For more information about Public Library programs and resources, visit www.knox.net, call (740) 392-BOOK, or stop by the Main Library at 201 N. Mulberry Street, Mount Vernon during Library hours.
