Posts by Vanessa Hicks

By Vanessa Hicks

Vinita Library Director

The Vinita Public Library registered 172 children and teens for this year’s Summer Reading Program “All Together Now” which began on May 26 with a Kick-off event and snow cones.  This year the library added a program for children ages 5 and under, which was very well received and regularly attended. The library also included an Adult category, which had 22 adult library members register.

The culmination of the children’s hard work was rewarded with an end of summer reading event on July 12, involving a pajama party and popcorn.   The children read a whopping total of 88,137 minutes, equaling 1,469.5 hours!  Participants who turned in reading logs received a “Reading is Leading” medal, a certificate, Dawg Dollar from Shout & Sack, and a coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.

Reading champions by age category are as follows: age 5 & under champion is Martha Parman, 2 years old, who read 3,264 minutes; runner-up is Zachary Hilburn, age 3, with 2,344 minutes read; and third is Kason Smith, 5 months old, who had 1,946 minutes logged.  For this age group, reading to the child is counted on the reading logs.  Prizes were for 1^st place a Glow in the dark Fort Building Kit; 2^nd place received a Hoover Soccer Ball; 3^rd place received a LCD writing tablet and doodle board.

Kallay Thiems, 9, is the reading champion for the age division of grades K – 5th. Kallay read 4,741 minutes. She won a Laser Tag gun set with LED display vests.  Runner-up is Kaylee Smith, 9, who read 4,148 minutes. She received Walkie Talkies, which are long range and rechargeable. Third place is Ariel Darnell, 8, with 4,104 minutes read and she received an LCD writing tablet.

In the Teen division, grades 6^th – 12^th, the champion is Lilly White, 14, who logged 12,883 reading minutes. Lilly won a Capture the Flag glow-in-the-dark kit. Runner-up is Elliana Hoodenpyle, 11, with 6,634 minutes read. She received a Hand-controlled LED Flying Orb Drone. Third place is Reagan Rudd, 16, with 5,310 minutes read who received an LCD writing tablet.

Additional special certificates and a bubble machine prize were awarded to three children: Raelyn Wylie, 9, for “Amazing Artist” with crafts; Lance Steward, 5, for “Best Behavior” during story time; and Emma Millarr, 8, for “Excellent Effort” during activities and games.

All of the prizes were selected to go along with the theme “All Together Now” and are games and toys which can be played with friends and family.

A random drawing was held for adult prize packages which went to Erin Millarr and Leslie Shelton. Prize packages included tote bags, tumblers, Subway coupons, Jigsaw puzzle donated by Route 66 Apparel, zippered book holder, zippered pouch bag reading “Shh … I’m Reading”, Cactus Keychain and notebook, and metal bookmarks which said “No Shelf Control” and “Book Nerd”.

Under the direction of Assistant Children’s Director Darla Tanner, the summer reading program offered themed weeks, which included story time, games and crafts.  The library brought in a special program by the Finer Arts of Oklahoma titled “Thrown Together”.  Throughout the summer the children were encouraged to fill out reading logs for small prizes, and check out library books. 

Library Director Vanessa Hicks said “This is the most children we have ever had registered for our Library Summer Reading.

It is a great program that keeps children reading all summer long, which is our ultimate goal.

“This year we included an age category for children 5 and under, and I think this was something that our community needed.   Watching that young group participate in the crafts and looking for books to check out was a lot of fun and is a great introduction to Library programs.”

Children who were not able to attend the program on July 12 may pick up their certificate at the library. 

The library appreciates all the support received from the City of Vinita, Cherokee Nation Youth Workers Julia Childers and Tatum Tanner, volunteer Loudan Hicks, and donations from the following local organizations and businesses: Vinita Lions Club, Vinita Rotary Club, Cherokee Nation, Shout & Sack, Pizza Hut, Subway, Route 66 Apparel, and Advance America in Miami.

This program is made possible by a grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services, and statewide sponsor The Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

For more information on the summer reading program and other library programs, call the library at 918-256-2115. Follow the library on Facebook and Instagram.