The Lake County Library’s 2013 summer reading programs for children and teens have ended and it’s time to thank the people, businesses and organizations that made the programs possible.

The 2013 children’s program was the biggest and most ambitious summer reading program that the Lake County Library has put on, with much of the increased activity coming from the new Middletown Library.

With abundant space now available, Middletown’s volunteers are at last able to present the kind of program that they have wanted to do for some time.

Thank you to the Friends of the Lake County Library for new books for the program at all branches, and for generous financial support for materials, supplies and food for various events.

Thanks to the Friends of the Lake County Library, Lakeport Library now has a camera for photographing library events, starting with Lakeport Library’s awards parties.

Thank you to volunteer Jo Bennett who ran the program at Redbud Library. Thanks go to Joan Reynolds of the Healthy Start program at the Lake County Office of Education for lunch boxes; Laurel Chambers at the Network for a Healthy California for providing cookbooks; Mr. Elma Smith, volunteer, provided a planter box; Main Street Nursery in Lakeport supplied plants; Layne Paving in Clearlake delivered soil. Barbara Jo was the program’s musician.

Lakeport Library’s teen program had support from many people. Thank you to the Friends of the Lake County Library which provided craft materials for the program.

Thank you to Cornelia Sieber-Davis and Mireya Turner at the Farmer’s Market for arranging programs; Francesca Zito for the cooking demonstration at the Farmer’s Market; Coleen Rentsch and her propagation farm; John Cerwin for demonstrating jewelry made from heirloom seeds; Alethea Eason for reading from her book, Hungry; Kerrie’s Quilting for sewing supplies; Christy Luis and Bruno’s Shop Smart for help with the cupcake decorating event; and Lorrie Gray of the Hunger Task Force for the visit to the community garden.

The Friends of the Library provided food for the kids’ program awards party. Lakeport’s story time runs all year long, but in the summer it moves from the library to Library Park. Many parents were very helpful with craft projects and special food treats in the park.

Thank you to volunteer Marcine Crowhurst who ran the program at Middletown Library. Thanks go to all of the following: the Friends of Middletown Library went to all Middletown-area schools to promote the summer reading program.

Financial assistance came from both the Friends of the Lake County Library and Friends of Middletown Library; St. Helena Brewery in Middletown provided all the pizza for the awards celebration; the Middletown Senior Center kept the Otter Pops frozen for the party. Gehlen Palmer opened the library early so that preschool story time could happen at 11:15 a.m.

Thanks go to the parents for bringing their children to the events and making reading a priority (that goes for the families who participate at all of the library branches.).

Those who helped with the pre-school weekly story time were Colleen Comstock, reading logs and general assistance; readers Patty Buck and Marcine Crowhurst; helpers Cheyene Buck and K. Rose Decker. Elementary story time volunteers: Marcine Crowhurst, Alethea Eason, Patty Buck, Jacquie Stricklind, Barry Hart and Saro Deacon. Luann Napier craft coordinator and volunteer also created the "Pizza the Size of the Sun."

Reikor and Saro Deacon were the music leaders. The reading log clerk was Fran Rand and assistants were Patty Buck, Veronica McGee and Alethea Eason. Jacquie Bogue printed the award certificates.  Tammy Balecci assembled the reading log packets. Dr. Ian van Zyl and “Dr. Sue” from Happy Smiles Dental Practice presented a dental health program. Star Gardens donated soil and sunflower seeds.

Prizes for drawings came from Hardester’s Market, Big Chill, Funtopia, Jolly Cone and Happy Smiles Dental Practice.

County librarian Christopher Veach and library employees Barbara Green from Lakeport Library and Linda Bushta at Upper Lake Library provided valuable assistance as Middletown Library held its first summer reading program.

At Upper Lake Library, Barbara Green from Lakeport Library provided assistance. Thank you to volunteers Noel Marsh, and Dawn McAuley, Andrea Saldana, Megan Grant, and Claudine Pedroncelli, who helped the little ones with crafts every Wednesday, and to Heather Sanchez, substitute story reader.
 
Library employees have already begun to plan for the 2014 summer reading program, incorporating ideas to improve and expand on 2013’s experience. Children and teens are invited to participate next year beginning in June.
 
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library in Lake County, Calif.