SWON Libraries

Everyone was a little bit buggy last week in the SWON Libraries Region. With the help of the State Library of Ohio, SWON Libraries hosted three workshops for children's librarians with the theme: Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library. The workshops are intended to share ideas for the annual Summer Reading programs that will be held by public libraries throughout the state.

Workshops were held in West Chester, London, and Eaton. 101 librarians participated in the day-long events. Librarian presenters shared book and activity suggestions for programs and storytime sessions for four age groups. Recipes for edible snacks were shared and craft demonstrations took place. Several performers provided previews of their offerings from summer reading events including a ventriloquist, magician, and musician.

Each day concluded with a die cutting party where the librarians were invited to cut out their own "bugs" to use for their events with a large variety of dies supplied by SWON Libraries. Completely satisfied with programs ideas (not to mention filled up with lunch and door prizes), the librarians went home tired and buggy, and ready to Catch the Reading Bug.

SWON Libraries would like to thank all of the presenters and performers, the member libraries that let us take over their meeting rooms for the day, the State Library of Ohio for their support and guidance, and the IP Foundation for their generous support of these workshops. The IP Foundation also contributed funding to provide children's books for 30 of the area libraries that participated.