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Arts & Entertainment

Adults and Kids Invited to Travel-Themed Library Programs

Ocean Country Library summer reading programs encourage learning about distant lands

Money may be tight, but if traveling the world sounds like an exciting summer vacation, consider joining Ocean County Library’s travel themed summer program.

The library is sponsoring a summer reading program for adults called “Novel Destinations.”  To participate, patrons are asked to read, or listen to, five books that are set in five different countries. 

This year’s program is different from those in the past since the library is requiring the participants to read books pertaining to different countries, said Wendi Smolowitz, senior librarian.

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“We are trying to get people to expand their horizons and get a sense of something different,” she said. “This year is a little more challenging.”

Upon completing each book, a patron informs the librarian and then receives a stamp in their “passport” booklet reading log.

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After five books have been read, the patron can fill out their name on a raffle ticket to win a prize basket at the end of the summer. There is one prize raffle per branch.

Last year, 70 people participated and Smolowitz hopes for even more this year.

To go along with the reading portion, the library is also offering travel-themed programs throughout the summer. 

"I am really looking forward to the 'Bon Voyage' program that is our kick-off on Friday, June 24, at 12:30 p.m," Smolowitz said. "We are going to have raffles, giving away freebies, having people sign up for the program, serving refreshments and showing the movie, 'Under the Tuscan Sun.'" 

The library is also running a travel-themed summer reading club programs for children called “One World, Many Stories.” 

For every five books read, the child is allowed to spin a boardwalk wheel to win prizes or tickets for various raffles. For the children that are too young to read by themselves, there is the “Read To Me” program.  Participants in that program get the chance to spin the wheel after listening to ten books.

“Our big kick-off for the younger children was Mr. Scott, who runs an interactive and fun music program that really gets the kids up and moving,” said Sabrina La Spata, youth services librarian.

“For the older kids, we are having a program at night on Friday, June 24, after the library is closed at 6:30 p.m. Eric Dasher, a magician who we have had for a lot of years, will be doing the best of his magic,” La Spata added.

So far, there are about 100 children signed up, but the library is expecting about a total of 500-600 by the end of the summer. 

For more information on the summer reading programs and events, visit the library online.

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