Library program powers kids up

Reading activities take cue from superheroes

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's summer reading program for children, "Super Readers Are Superheroes," continues through July 31.

Participants decide the number of books to read and receive special incentives, eligibility for special drawings and entries into the Grand Prize Drawing for four round-trip airlines tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies.

Participants can also read for a cause to feed cats and dogs at a local shelter. For each five books read, Hill's Science Diet will donate five pounds of pet food to the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a "no-kill" shelter.

A variety of free programs and events are planned for the two-month program including a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown Reading, a session with award-winning author Barry Louise Polisar, appearances by local superheroes like firefighters and police officers, a Harry Potter magic show, music, puppetry, storytelling and author visits.

One program will feature Bruce Coville, author of "I was a Sixth Grade Alien" and "The Unicorn Chronicles."

He is scheduled to appear at Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd., July 5 at 2 p.m. and again July 12 at 2 p.m. He is also slated to be at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., July 12 at 4 p.m.

Spring Valley Library will also play host to Gaia Sings, a program that allows children and their families to sing various participation songs. Gaia is slated to appear Friday at 1 p.m.

Puppeteer Roger Rankin is slated to be at the Sahara West Library July 22 at 11 a.m. and at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., the following day at 10 a.m.

Though the Superheroes program only runs through July 31, organizers stretched the appearances of the "Bookin' Bikers," also known as James Bowen and Scott Hensley, so they could be at the West Charleston Library, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. The Bookin' Bikers are the Smothers Brothers of the storytelling world, their act done with an assortment of "zany" instruments.

There is also a teen component to the reading program. It requires teens to read a book or magazine, visit a Web site or check out and listen to a CD. They complete an online form about what they did. They are then eligible for weekly prizes. Additionally, all teens who attend a library function can earn Dairy Queen food prizes.

"It's a difficult audience to reach," said Nancy Lebedoer, deputy director of the library district. "Teens have so many activities going on in their lives, and some have jobs. We have hundreds of little children who attend a puppet show or other program, but we don't (see the same numbers showing up for teen events)."

Maybe that's because some teens volunteer for the district's summer program to help young children. An advisory committee, made up of local teens, helped design the summer program and decided on activities.

Functions for teens include makeovers, scrapbook making, film, acting camp and learning to write a radio commercial.

The Grand Prize Drawing for teens is for four round-trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies.

The "Super Readers Are Superheroes" program is sponsored by the Friends of Southern Nevada Libraries, and other supporters including Target, Mervyn's, Southwest Airlines, Dairy Queen, 99 cent Only Stores and Hill's Science Diet.

For more information on these and other free programs, call 734-READ or visit www.lvccld.org.


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