Reading Matters

SPECIAL EVENT Church’s Clothes Closet to be open

June 5-6

Chana Family Clothes Closet at Chana United Methodist Church will be open Friday, June 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to noon.

New clothes selections for spring and summer are available for the entire family. (infant through adults) There is a wide variety of styles and sizes with many current and new, never been worn clothing.

All of the clothing is offered at no cost, and everyone is welcome.

Some restrictions and guidelines are requested: • No more than four individuals can be in the Clothes closet at any time. • No individuals under 16 years of age are allowed in the Closet. • Visitors must wear face masks. • Safe gathering practices must be followed.

READING MATTERS Don’t let young readers fall into “CO-VID slide”

School is out for the summer. It has certainly been an unusual end of the school year with remote learning for everyone.

Because of these weeks of at-home learning, it will be even more important this summer to help our children and grandchildren include some reading in our summer schedules.

The importance of reading during the summer months has been studied extensively and results indicate that students who do not read in the summer lose skills, often falling below reading levels they achieved during the school year.

This is referred to as the summer slide. If your children had difficulty keeping up with athome-learning assignments and work, that likely adds eight weeks or so of less reading.

Some are calling it the CO-VID slide.

It can be compared to an athlete who for some reason sits out a season and/or the off-season training.

It takes time to get back to the same performance levels they had previously attained. It is never too late to get back to reading and prevent any more loss of skills.

COMMENTARY Mary Gardner Reading Specialist

There are a few key ideas to consider. One is that time spent reading does matter. It would be best if it was a regular amount of time daily, but you could also work with your children or grandchildren to set a weekly goal.

Fifteen to 30 minutes a day would be enough to make a difference. More than that would be a bonus. This can certainly include time you read to them, no matter their age or grade in school.

A second idea is to consider a broad definition of the kinds of texts to read. Include all kinds of books, magazines, recipes, instructions or directions, or web-based reading on various Internet sites.

Books, of course, can be electronic versions which may offer more appeal. Any reading done in every-day events can count. Think about the reading you do in a program you receive at a baseball game or a play.

Reading recipes and following written directions counts, too. You might keep a log of all the different kinds of reading your family does over the summer.

Also consider reading a wide variety of genres. Your children might set a goal to read at least four or five different genres over the summer.

A public librarian can help you locate new kinds of books to try. (We will hope our libraries can reopen at some point.) You might have children keep a journal or a log and encourage them to write a response to each genre read trying to decide which genres they like and why.

Time spent reading plus reading all kinds and genres of texts (including digital and electronic versions) equals a recipe for summer reading that will prevent a summer reading slide.

Enjoy time this summer reading to and with your children and grandchildren!

• BYRON LIBRARY Continued from Page 9

Hoopla Book Club

Looking to join a Book Club? We’ve got you covered. Join our virtual Hoopla Book Club on Wed, July 1 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Our July read will be “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson. The story is about a woman who joins the Pack Horse Library Project in the 1930’s.

Set-in the Appalachian mountains, this blue-skinned, young woman bravely forges danger and loneliness as she delivers books to offer a respite from life to the poverty-stricken Appalachia people.

This book is available through Hoopla. Join in the discussion either virtually or over the phone on July 1. Zoom Meeting ID 885 8182 2730; Password 017822 or call in to 312-626-6799.

If you have any questions, please email bethm@byron.lib.il.us or call 815- 234-5107 and ask for Beth.

Online Storytimes

The library may be closed, but that doesn’t mean story time has stopped! Drop by the Byron Library Facebook page every week for virtual story time! Join Miss Cathy at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays for Virtual Baby Boogies, or Miss Julie at 9:30 a.m. for Virtual Story Time. Virtual story times will run weekly through the end of May. No registration needed!

Parking Lot WiFi

Don’t have reliable internet at home? The Byron Library may be closed, but there is still WiFi available! Park along our south wall and look for the WiFi network names and passwords in the window. Available 24/7!

Check out our eBooks!

The library may be closed, but you can still get library books without leaving home! Visit the Byron Library’s webpage to access our eBook resources – OMNI, eRead Illinois, Hoopla, and Biblioboard. All you need is your smart device and your library card. Available 24/7!

Introducing Creativebug!

We now offer Creativebug to our library patrons! It is a go-to resource for high-quality, on-trend arts and crafts instructional videos. With your membership, you’ll enjoy award-winning instructional videos on drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, baking and more.

All classes are taught by experts, with new classes added daily. All you need is your library card to gain free access: https://www.creativebug.com/ lib/byronlib

Library Cards

Don’t have a library card to access our digital services? No send us a selfie, a picture of your driver’s license, a picture of your utility bill, and your cellphone number, and we will email you your new library card number and PIN number. Your actual card will be mailed out to you.

Local History

Are you interested in local history? The library has several resources to get you started in your search. Check out the library’s local history page at http:// byron.lib.il.us/services/local-history/. Available 24/7!

Visit the Byron Library Facebook page to keep up to date on library news and virtual programs!

Be sure to also check out the Byron Library and Byron Library Teen Instagram pages!