Read to Succeed

WESLACO — While local school children may be putting the finishing touches on another school year, employees at the Weslaco Public Library are gearing up for a summer’s worth of what officials hope will be entertaining and educational activities.

The goal is to engage students in learning through reading, fun and social events while helping parents breathe easy knowing that summer vacation will be put to good use.
Paul Mata, senior youth services specialist at the Weslaco Public Library, is running the program that has served local families for more than a decade.

“This year the event will go on for seven weeks, it has been going on since I was a child involved here in the program,” Mata said.

This will be the second year Mata has directed the summer program which includes ‘Catch the Reading Express!’ — a program directed towards toddlers to 12-year-olds - and ‘Within Arms Reach: The Future is Yours!’ , targeted at students between the ages of 13 and 18.

The event started May 24 and will continue through June 10. Parents can enroll their children with the program during regular library hours. Children and teens will be able to experience more than literature, and other activities will include arts and crafts, photo scavenger hunts, dance, anime and many other activities.

“The activities are things that are draws for people to come into the library to interact with the resources that we have,” Mata said. “Finding the resources in our library that maybe they didn’t know we have had before like encyclopedias, microfilm and our new Literacy and Media Center that will open soon.”

Participants will also be able to write book reports on the books they read and earn points that will be redeemable for prizes. On July 8, the library will have an awards assembly for the top readers in different age groups. Prizes will be given to the top three readers, those who read the most books and readers who read the thickest works.
Mata said parents are often highly involved with their children, usually offering encouragement for writing book reports and reading to their children. “Reading to me” is an activity held every Wednesday at 4 p.m. where community leaders, adults and teens are invited to come in and read to the younger audience.

“We want students to learn how to socialize with other teens that have the same interests and also come to the library,” Mata said. “We hope the program encourages reading as a family activity, to encourage reading together… and for students to think out loud with their family members.”

For more information on the Summer Reading Program, call (956) 968-4533 or visit the Weslaco Public Library Web site, www.weslacopl.us.