Not only are young readers able to take part in the summer reading program at the Picture Butte Municipal Library but three additional programs are also running until the end of August.
With a trio of summer students on staff the library is able to offer the traditional summer reading program Tuesdays and Thursdays for ages five to eight years old and Wednesday and Fridays for nine to 12 years olds.
The younger group has two time slots to choose from, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m. The older group meets from 1 to 3 p.m.
Kaelin Boras, Janelle Harbers and Kirstie Bowden are presenting the summer programs this July and August at the library.
In addition to the reading program they are also hosting an arts and crafts club Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for ages eight to 16.
A games club will run Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. for ages six to 16 and finally on Fridays a youth book club will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for ages seven to 11 and a second group for ages 12 to 16.
All of the activities are free but parents need to pre-register their children at the library.
Boras, who will be entering Grade 12 this fall at Noble Central in Nobleford, is working at the library for her second summer. She serves as coordinator of the summer reading program working with Harbers and Bowden to direct the programs.
“I’ve always loved working with kids and reading,” she said.
To be able to incorporate both into a summer job is a plus. After she graduates high school her future plans may include a career in teaching. She has already done a little on the job training helping out her mom, Jane who teaches at Dorothy Dalgliesh Elementary in Picture Butte.
“I really want to get kids reading and liking reading.”
She is excited about the summer reading program and explains it will include a craft each day along with a story, activities and even a snack.
“I’ve read ever since I was little.”
She said it’s not uncommon for her to finish a book in a day, two days if it’s a larger book.
She loves all types of books from fantasy to reality.
“I love Stephen King.”
She admits she likes being scared and turns to her dad’s on King collection. She is also a Dean Koontz fan, drawn to stories that are exciting or have a thrill aspect to them.
For Bowden a summer job at the library is actually a holiday of sorts for her as she has just completed her first year at the University of Lethbridge and is looking forward to some time away from the books.
Her studies are focused on both education and science as she works toward a general science degree with a major in biology.
This is her first year with the summer reading program and hopes the experience will help her prepare to be a teacher is she follows that career path.
“I love working with children.”
She also loves reading although she is taking a break after putting in hours of study time in order to call her first year at university a success.
Bowden is also an avid dancer having studied ballet since she was three years old.
“It’s quite a good chunk of my life.”
This year she also had the opportunity to help teach the younger dancers and it sparked an interest in the possibility of becoming a dance teacher sometime in the future.
She hopes to foster of a love of reading among the children taking part in the reading program this summer.
Her own reading tends to lean toward history and she lists Kit Pearson as one of her favourite authors.
Harbers is also in her first year with the summer reading program but did help out some last summer as a volunteer.  She will be going into Grade 11 this fall at Noble Central.
She said she loves working with the kids and encouraging their love of reading.
“It’s a job a really like doing.”
She is also thinking about a career in teaching and is looking forward to hanging out with the kids this summer. She lists “To Kill a Mocking Bird” among her favourite reads and admits she also liked the Twilight series.
Now in summer mode she said her reading will likely be more focused on children’s titles as she prepares and helps deliver the reading program at the library.  For more information on any of the summer programs contact the library in person or by calling 403-732-4141.