DAPHNE, Ala. — This year, the Daphne Public Library will join libraries across the state to transform children’s summer into an adventure in far away places. The theme for this year’s program is “One World, Many Stories,” for young children and “You are Here” for middle- and high-school-aged students.

“There are two themes; I work with the young adults and the theme is ‘You are Here.’ It is a collaborative summer library program and the theme is decided on a state level,” Louise Youngblood, young adult librarian, said. “It allows for shared resources and expertise.”

For the young adults, Youngblood said, the theme will help them think about where they are, and where they want to go.

“As a young adult you are here in many places depending on your interests. If you are interested in music or communication, it is a very broad theme this year; there is something for everybody,” Youngblood said.

She, along with children’s librarian Fanny Barnett have been planning for a month full of special events and fun. The summer reading program will kick off Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Daphne Civic Center.

“The kickoff will bring all ages together, pre-K through 12th grade and their families,” Youngblood said.

The kickoff will be in a different venue this year — after being held for several years at the library — because so many people attended the event last year, Youngblood said.

“We will have some fun things for young children to do. We will have food, popcorn, ice cream and drinks. There will be a tattoo table, a clown that does balloon art and at 11 we will have entertainment from … the Eastern Shore Taekwondo Center,” Youngblood said.

During the kickoff event, children will be able to sign up for the program and will receive their summer reading bags, which will contain reading logs and information about the awards ceremony on July 5 at 4:30 p.m.

There will be prizes at the kickoff and for the winners of the summer reading program.

“There will be raffles at the kickoff party, which may include T-shirts, bags, water bottles, backpacks and CD cases. Children who have read the most will receive gift cards in the upper age group, and younger children will receive prizes as well,” Youngblood said.

The children will be encouraged to read anything they can get their hands on, which Youngblood said would count toward their total.

“I encourage them to count pages, and they can read as many pages (and) fill out as many logs as they wish. They can read magazines, the newspaper. I don’t care what they read, I just want them to read,” she said.

Teens will have an additional way to win prizes.

“When they receive their summer reading logs there will be a bingo sheet. On that sheet are nine activities that if they complete all nine they will get a special prize. The tasks include reading for an hour, volunteer for an hour at the library or write a book review,” Youngblood said.

If children cannot make it to the kickoff event, Youngblood said they can still participate in the program.

“The children do not have to come to the kickoff to sign up for the program. The registration is ongoing. Our registration has already started and they can jump in at anytime. We encourage them to do that,” Youngblood said.

Throughout June, special events and story times will focus on the theme. The special workshops will include magic, zumba classes and movie showings.

Youngblood said the workshops that will take place throughout the month should not require registration except for the magic events because a limited number of children will be able to attend.

Youngblood said she hopes a lot of children take part in the program this summer and it is a stepping stone for further involvement with the library.

“We like to bring them into that and show them that it is all here for them. If we get them hooked (on the library) when they are young, it will be a part of their adult lives hopefully,” Youngblood said. “They are in an environment that really advocates for literacy. Not just literacy text-wise. It is so much broader now because of our technology and the resources the library is able to offer. It gives them an opportunity to browse in a relaxed pace that is so different from their school schedule. School pace is frantic sometimes. This is a good pace for them. I think it is in a very safe environment. It will allow them to expand their imagination or their knowledge and go in a direction that is their total decision. They can free themselves from the have-to list. The whole spectrum is there for them to pick and choose from.”

Youngblood said the summer reading program is more than just a chance for kids to read and get rewarded for it; it is a chance for them to become involved in something bigger than themselves.

“I think it is a great opportunity for them to interact with the community. I know they do that to some degree within their school group, and even with their church or neighborhood family. As for the library, it is a much broader community with many different generations and so when they come to the library and they become a part of the summer reading program, especially if they volunteer, they get to interact with adults, small children and sometimes (those with) special needs. This is their community. These are the people they might see in the grocery store or wherever. It is a different group than they are used to at school,” Youngblood said. 

For more information about the summer reading program, contact the Daphne Public Library at 251-621-2818.

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