by Allan Lindley

Summertime has arrived, the sun is shining and the flowers are in full bloom. If you listen carefully, along with the buzzing sound of bees and mosquitoes you might hear a new breed of insect…the Reading Bug!

“Catch the Reading Bug”, British Columbia’s province-wide Summer Reading Club, has arrived at the Powell River Public Library and at Ahms Tah Ow in Sliammon. Children of all ages can join this free summer-long program beginning July 3rd, and explore a wide array of reading and fun-filled activities, including games, crafts, and performances, that will no doubt leave them “itching for more!”

Started in 1990, the Summer Reading Club supports children in developing a life-long love of reading. By maintaining their literacy skills during the summer holidays, the program has encouraged them and their families to feel comfortable in using libraries and library resources.
A Summer Reading Log is given out at the beginning of the program, and for every seven days that they read, they receive a sticker. At the end of the summer, all Readers who complete their log and all seven weeks of reading will receive a special Summer Reading Club medal in recognition of their achievement. As well, children can take part in the many SRC activities offered by their local public library.

This year the two acting Student SRC Coordinators are Allan Lindley and Karina Harry. Allan is a member of the Upper Nicola Okanagan Indian Band near Merritt, BC, and is an Indigenous Studies and Communications student at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT). Karina is a Sliammon band member and will be participating in the Native Indian Teaching Education Program (NITEP) at UBC this fall. This marks the first time that two First Nations people have facilitated the program. Read more »