The courtyard outside Jacksonville Public Library was filled with laughter as children ran through foam and the library prepared to kick off its summer reading program.
As children gathered piles of bubbles, made bubble beards and tossed beach balls in the air, parents signed them up for a challenge to keep reading this summer.
The library hopes children will keep their minds active this summer through reading and learning about agriculture and farm-to-home concepts.
This year’s theme is “Plant a Seed, Read,” which brings together reading and education on farming.
Youth Services Librarian Courtney Langdon said the reading program encourages children to keep their minds engaged throughout the summer.
“This year we are looking at the idea of farm to home, bringing the community together to support local farmers,” Langdon said. “We will be talking about how things grow — plants, animals, the benefit of growing your own food.”
Story times at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesdays will focus on farming, how food is made and similar topics, Langdon said. The library also will have a garden club that teaches children how to plant and care for their own plants and food.
The garden club meets at 9 a.m. Thursdays and includes a lesson and hands-on learning activities.
As part of the program, the library will host events and activities to entertain and educate participants.
On Tuesdays, the library will have programs featuring such guests as a magician, animals and a ventriloquist.
Take-and-make crafts will be available Thursdays.
There will be game nights, such as a life-size Oregon Trail, butterfly tents with Absolute Science and Scouting American’s Vortex STEM Bus.
Langdon said the goal is to make learning fun.
“When children are not in school, we want them to keep their minds active,” Langdon said. “Reading is the best way to do that. We want to celebrate reading, make it enjoyable and incentivize reading.”
The library is giving out brag tags this year for completed reading hours.
Langdon hopes to tie in the idea that children need food and mental stimulation to grow, she said.
“Food nourishes our bodies, while reading nourishes our minds,” Langdon said.