Summer Edition 2021

HPL Summer Edition- 2021

• A message from the Library Director • Special Events Current & Upcoming • Summer Reading Information • A closer look at our Summer Events •Book lists for Adults, Teens & Kids • Adult, Teen, & Kids Programming

HOURS OF OPERATION Mon.- 9:30am-8pm Tues.- 9:30am-8pm Wed. - 9:30am-8pm Thurs. - 9:30am-8pm Fri. - 9:30am-5:30pm Sat. - 9:30am-5:30pm Sun. - CLOSED

@hewittpubliclibrary

A message from the Library Director Every librarian in a public library knows that the last bell on the last day of the school year means one thing: the start of summer reading. Summer Reading Program (SRP) for children, teens, and adults is a long-standing tradition at the HPL, and for a good reason. The HPL was founded on Summer Reading. SRPs help combat the “summer slide,” get kids and families into the library and provide a free, structured activity to fill the summer months. As we have modernized our goals, our spaces, and our collections to meet the needs and expectations of Hewitt residents and are ready for 2021.

In recent years, we have begun to update summer programs by moving from the traditional summer reading model to a summer learning model. Summer learning expands on the traditional summer reading model by making the program about more than reading. It can take many forms. At the HPL, we offer kids, teens, and adults the opportunity to earn online badges for backpacks, t-shirts, and local coupons. In the past, we have also had a community project such as collecting sounds, creating string art and building a better Hewitt model where kids and adults created a 3D layout of what they wanted in a city. The 2021 community project will be announced in the coming weeks.

The beauty of summer learning is the seemingly limitless possibilities for both the participants and the library. Simply put, it’s about everyone exploring their interests, engaging in their community, and developing new skills in the summer months. For the HPL, this shift toward learning broadens programming, community partnership, and family engagement opportunities. It is inspiring library services for everyone!

The focus on Summer Learning allows the HPL to reach everyone. However, a kid who dislikes or struggles with reading can easily dismiss a summer reading program, and the library, as not for her.

A summer learning program, which offers various avenues of participation, may appeal to nonreaders, English language learners, and those who have seen the library as a place for reading only. Like so many other library programs and services, summer learning is also a way to offer enriching experiences to families who can’t afford more formal summer activities and camps for their child. The average cost of a summer program or camp, according to the National Summer Learning Association, is $288 per child per week, putting them out of reach for many low-income families. Through 2

summer learning, the library can help fill that need, but our programs must go beyond reading.

Summer Learning is educational. Shhhh, don’t tell the kids, but all that fun with the summer learning program contributes to their future academic achievement. Research from the Wallace Foundation reported that the educational effects from participating in high-quality summer programming could last up to two years after participation. It can also help mitigate summer slide and narrow the achievement gap for low-income families.

Summer learning is fun, and I’m not just talking about it for the kids. Planning summer learning can be fun for librarians too! The broad application of summer learning to library programming and partnerships allows staff to share and explore their interests, passions, and expertise beyond, but not excluding, books. It was especially hard in 2020, but we are more prepared for Summer 2021. The theme is Tales and Tails. We participate in the Texas State Library theme because it is cost-effective. TSLAC provides the program to libraries that are accredited. The graphics and training are professionally produced and available for the HPL to use for marketing purposes.

A multitude of activities- online and to-go-kits- contribute to literacy, even if those activities have nothing to do with reading. Broadening experiences contributes significantly to literacy and reading comprehension. Studies have shown that a child’s background knowledge on a topic affects how well they make connections while processing text. Ways to build background knowledge are through direct experience and reading broadly on a particular topic of personal interest. Summer learning at the HPL combines both approaches through hands-on experiences and exposes kids to new topics of interest to create better readers in the school year.

When that bell rings on the last day of school and our planning goes into action, the HPL will be prepared to support our community in reading and more than that. We will be taking a more holistic approach to summer programming that has the potential to affect everyone for years to come.

Waynette Ditto Hewitt Public Library Director 3

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HEWITT PUBL

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BLIC LIBRARY

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*Free Registration Required @www.cityofhewitt.com

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CuriosityCrates are ready for check out!

Explore STREAM with curated Curiosity Crates.

Each Crate has materials for building, creating, and inventing, along with a book and ideas.

Bring out the inventor in your child!

Explore CuriosityCrates in the HPL online catalog.

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WEEK OF JUNE

7TH-9TH 2021

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14TH-16TH 2021

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21ST-23RD 2021

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28TH-30TH 2021

WEEK OF JULY

6TH-7TH 2021

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12TH-14TH 2021

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19TH-21ST 2021

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Feel like you’re reading the same type of books over and over again? Try something new with Adult Librarian and Front Desk Supervisor, Linda O’Neil’s Summer Themed book list.

These books are available in the library.

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Ann Schiltz FHPL President

Sally Goldman

Eddie Sincereny FHPL Vice President

Lydia Dashner

Delores Sincereny FHPL Treasurer

President

Vice President Ronald G. Smith Secretary

Laura Beaty FHPL Secretary

Jerry Snider

Beau Hart FHPL Member at Large

Julie Holcomb

Margie Kinney FHPL Member at Large

Betty J. Smith

Sally Goldman FHPL Member at Large

Jennifer Hunt