Kristina Benson, Ashville Library Director, and Donelle Melville, Lakewood Library Program Director, stand with the collaborative artwork project designed by Lakewood Library Assistant Jordyn Johnson, a Southwestern High School senior heading to JCC next year. Two canvases will be painted by patrons this summer and shared by the two libraries at the culmination of the Summer Reading Programs. Submitted photo

ASHVILLE — With the return of summer comes the return of Summer Reading Programs in many local libraries, and the Ashville Library’s program for this year is set to include collaborations with multiple different local organizations, including the Lakewood Library.

Library Director Kristina Benson said that the Ashville and Lakewood libraries came up with the idea to work on a collaboration between the two for their summer reading programs because of the amount of patrons that each had that overlap between the two, and because they wanted to create more opportunities for kids through their program.

“As we get together to plan our activities we like to reach out to the community and a few organizations offered very generous opportunities for kids this year,” Benson said. “We have a lot of individuals who have stepped up to help kids in our community.”

Besides the Lakewood Library, the Ashville Library’s summer reading program will include collaborations with the Children’s Safety Village, Audubon, Pearl City Clay House, Stow Ferry, Bee Happy Farm and Apothecary, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Panama Firefighters, and Wild Creatures.

Cornell Cooperative Extension will be offering a program for the third year in a row called “Fun with Food”, lasting for six weeks and teaching kids about nutrition and healthy habits. The Pearl City Clay House has donated clay and glaze for kids to make their own pinch pots and other creations, also offering to fire the creations for the kids when finished. The Audubon will have a presentation on insects on July 11 and Wild Creatures will have one for the second year on the 18th. Bee Happy Farm is coming to story time on July 17 to talk to kids about bees and being a beekeeper. There will be a field trip to ride on the Stow Ferry, which kids will need to register for on July 24, and the Children’s Safety Village is holding a collaboration party on July 26. Other activities include a sign language class, and a collaboration with the Panama Fire Department.

Both the Ashville and Lakewood Libraries will be collaborating for their own special art project as well. Benson said staff members have put together two canvases so patrons and kids who come in during that time can paint their own piece and at the end of the summer reading program each library will have their own art project created by their patrons. There will also be an end of the summer reading program party and the Lakewood Library is also hosting a petting zoo on June 28, which Ashville Library patrons are invited to. One other activity is Ashville Days on July 19, which Benson said they will be open for and holding some activities.

Benson said the Summer Reading Program will hold activities about every day, including art and learning opportunities such as a toddler music maker. Kids involved will get special library books geared towards their interests and reading level to encourage them to keep reading, and there will be prizes at the end of the program that have been donated by other local people.

While Benson said the library has always worked with partners on the Summer Reading Program, this is the first time they have collaborated with so many and they have also never worked with another library for it before. She said the library collaboration is something that has been in the works for about two years, back when the Lakewood Library had to close for a little while for roof repairs and they shared their patrons, and this year’s program has grown from that.

The library’s annual book sale will also be happening at the end of July, coordinating right at the end of the program, which Benson said is a big fundraiser for them as well. Benson encouraged the community to come join in the fun during the Summer Reading Program, adding that Henry, the library’s new cat, will probably join in sometimes as well.

“It’s an opportunity for fun and community,” Benson said. “It’s screen-free and supports literacy, creativity and community.”