For Immediate Release:  August 10, 2005
Contact:  Sam Gnuse, Altamont Public Library Board President
Subject: 2005 Summer Reading Program Ends

The Altamont Public Library recently offered their summer reading program to area children ages 3 through 12th grade.  There were 102 area children in the program, according to Beth Speers, Librarian. 

On June 17, the Altamont Public Library offered a free “Peter Pan – the Super Hero” puppet show from Patrice Heiken Puppets in Evansville at the Altamont Living Museum.  The show included a 45 minute show with interactive activities and audience participation following. Parents and the community were encouraged to attend this free puppet show.  This show was sponsored by the Altamont Junior Women’s Club, through a donation from their recent Cuddly Bunny Contest. According to Tracie Ledbetter, Altamont Junior Women’s Club President, “In the past, the Club has donated funds from our Cuddly Bunny fundraiser to the Altamont Public Library’s Building Corporation.  Now that the building has been paid for, we continue to allocate our funds to the Library’s Summer Reading Program.  We feel the Library is important to our community and see the value to all our area children.”  Collections of coins from the Cuddle Bunny cans located throughout Altamont this spring resulted in $316 being donated to the library for its 2005 Summer Reading Program.  These funds allowed the Library to offer the June 17 puppet show at no charge to the Altamont citizens. 

“Additional children’s reading books will be purchased with the excess funds from their generous donations.” according to Beth Speers, Librarian.  “Support from area organizations like the Altamont Junior Women’s Club allowed us to again provide the Summer Reading Program.  The Altamont Living Museum generously donated the use of the Museum for this fun-filled summer event.  Local merchants donated attendance prizes.  Without these organizations, we could not provide any special events during the Summer Reading Program.” 

At the end of the Summer Reading Program, reading participants were eligible for prize drawings, donated by the following local merchants.

Dale Wolff and Taylor Law Office
Altamont Junior Women’s Club
Altamont Living Museum
Special Tee’s Store
Water Colors
Subway
McDonalds
Cookie Jar
Home Center
Connie Kommer
Blossom Paradise
S & W Supermarket
Pepsi
Effingham K-Mart
Altamont Drug Store
First Mid Bank
Triangle Video
Dr. Bailey
Dairy Bar
Herb and Juanita Stuemke

For more information on the Altamont Public Library, stop by or call 618-483-5457 or visit www.altamontpubliclibrary.com.