Staff report
SPENCER ó The second “Read to Your Child Days” event drew more than 350 children and adults to the Spencer Library Park on Wednesday evening.
The weekly summer program, organized by the city of Salisbury, Rowan County and participating municipalities, promotes reading to children, encourages them to obtain library cards and provides a free book for each child attending.
Of the 350 people in the crowd Wednesday, 225 were children.
Fifty children acquired library cards at the event.
The first Read to Your Child Days program at Rowan Public Library in Salisbury July 15 drew some 700 people.
Each week the program also offers free refreshments and giveaways, story time by local government leaders, emergency service vehicle displays, games for children and door prizes.
A complete Nintendo Wii System is given away each week as a grand prize.
Noah Evans of Salisbury was the winner of the Nintendo Wii System Wednesday.
Spencer Mayor Jody Everhart and East Spencer Mayor Erma Jefferies were hosts Wednesday and among the government officials who read to children in the library park’s gazebo area.
Other government officials participating included Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz; Rockwell Mayor Beau Taylor; Spencer Aldermen C.E. “Pappy” Spear and Scott Benfield; East Spencer Alderman Phronice Johnson; and Rowan County Commissioners Carl Ford, Raymond Coltrain and Tina Hall.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with the city of Salisbury and Rowan County to create this positive reading initiative for local youth,” Everhart said.
“The literacy of our children is paramount to their future success. I sincerely appreciate all of the dedicated volunteers and the support from the community to assist Spencer in hosting this event.”
Everhart thanked Spencer Town Manager Larry Smith, the town staff and Rowan Public Library for their help.
In addition to the numerous door prizes provided by the city of Salisbury and Rowan County, Spencer businesses provided additional donations.
Everhart thanked Our Place Café, the N.C. Transportation Museum and Elaine Mills for their contributions. Spencer and East Spencer fire departments provided truck displays, and Rowan County EMS, Project SAFE Salisbury, the N.C. Transportation Museum and Smart Start Rowan also were present.
At the end of the evening, children were able to run through a cooling spray from a Spencer fire truck .
The summer reading events continue for three more consecutive Wednesdays, from 5-7 p.m. the remaining schedule:
– July 29, South Branch Rowan Library, 920 Kimball Road, China Grove.
– Aug. 5, East Branch Rowan Library, 110 Broad St., Rockwell.
– Aug. 12, Cleveland Town Hall, 302 E. Main St., Cleveland.
Parents and their children are being encouraged to attend the weekly location that is most convenient.
On arriving, parent should first go to the library card registration area set up at the entrance to the library or selected site location.
Rowan Public Library staff will assist parents in registering their children for a library card, if they don’t already have one.
Parents are being asked to bring a driver’s license for identification purposes.
If children are already in possession of a library card, the card will need to be presented at the time of registration. Parents should register all children in attendance to be eligible for door prize drawings
Once registered, children will receive a hand-stamp.
A designated free book area offers titles separated into categories by age and reading level. Children proceed to the free book area and display their hand-stamp to receive a free book with the title of choice.
Parents and guardians are asked to assist children with their book selection.
Children will receive plastic bags for carrying books and for collecting additional free giveaways distributed at on-site booths and displays.
Beginning at 5:15 pm, children’s story-time sessions take place every 15 minutes.
Children from pre-school through the 12th grade are eligible for door prizes.
Drawings are held at 7 p.m., and prizes are awarded to children and students only.
Children must be present at the time of the drawing to claim any door prize.