Contact: Joanne Hinkel

             Community Relations

             Boise Public Library

             208-384-4372

             jhinkel@cityofboise.org        

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   

Catch the Reading Bug!

Treasure Valley Libraries Announce 2008 Summer Reading Program

(Boise, Idaho –5/27/08)    Libraries throughout the state will be encouraging kids to read this summer with the 2008 theme “Catch the Reading Bug!”  Treasure Valley kids can start signing up for Summer Reading programs June 1 at their local public library.

“Kids can earn prizes just for reading,” says Tammy Hawley-House, Youth Services librarian at Boise Public Library, “and it’s a chance for them to read for fun.  Kids who finish all three Summer Reading goals win a book, food coupons and a free pass from the Snake River Stampede Rodeo, the Boise Hawks, Idaho IceWorld and the Discovery Center of Idaho! There are similar prizes for teens, too.” 

Last year, over 15,000 kids participated in Treasure Valley Summer Reading programs conducted by Ada Community, Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Garden City, Meridian and Nampa libraries. The programs are a long-standing tradition, designed to keep children reading over the summer so that they don't lose ground between semesters. 

Amanda Pittman, librarian at Ada Community Library, thinks the libraries will have a lot of ear’s theme.  “We’re planning a series of puppet shows and other buggy fun,” she says, “including a visit from some of the Idaho Botanical Garden insects.”

Local Summer Reading programs run from June 1 to July 31. Programs vary slightly by library, with some libraries having separate programs for kids, teens and adults, and special provisions for schools and childcare centers.  For details, call your local library or visit www.idahokidsread.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Ada Community Library:

Amanda Pittman, Youth Services pittman@adalib.org    362-0181

Boise Public Library:

Tammy Hawley-House, Youth Services thawley@cityofboise.org      384-4200

Caldwell Public Library:

Kimbre Chapman, Youth Services caldwellpl@yahoo.com     459-3242

Eagle Public Library:

Diane Matejka, Youth Services Librarian dmatejka@cityofeagle.org    939-6814

Garden City Library:

Gaby Magnuson , Children’s Librarian & Outreach gmagnuson@gardencitylibrary.org   472-2944

Idaho Commission for Libraries:

Anne Abrams anne.abrams@LIBRARIES.IDAHO.GOV     334-2150

Meridian Library District:

Kathryn Foley, Youth Services kathryn@mld.org   888-4451

Nampa Public Library:

Dawn Kindberg  dkindberg@nampalibrary.org   468-5800

                   Page 2 of 2

                   Summer Reading

Instructions: 1)Insert Content Here.  2)Right Click on page and choose Page Properties.  3)Add title before "- Boise Public Library). 4)Enter Description and Keywords. 5)Click on the Custom tab and enter your name as Author.  REMEMBER TO DELETE THIS TEXT.

Last Updated:05/28/2008 Author: