NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 24, 2005
Contact: Sam Gnuse, Altamont Public Library Board President
Subject: 2005 Summer Reading Program

Each year, the Altamont Public Library offers a summer reading program offering fun activities and reading incentives to encourage children ages 3 through 12th grade to read through the summer. The 2005 Summer Reading Program theme is "Superheroes – Powered by Books." The Summer Reading Program will begin June 1 and continue through June 30, when prize bags will be given to the participants.

The Altamont Public Library has been providing the Altamont community with great books and materials for over 90 years. We are committed to helping your child learn to love reading by providing fun programs for all ages. We also promise to provide them with the very best books, reference materials, videos, DVDs, audiobooks, periodicals, computers, and Internet access. We strive to provide friendly, helpful service in a warm, welcoming setting. It is our hope that your child will find this a great place to come for their life-long learning needs. The library also strives to encouraged children to spend increased time with books, thereby encouraging children to read themselves, as well as encouraging parents to become involved in their children’s reading.

The Altamont Public Library was able to increase the children’s section of the library by over 500 new books and material during the past few months through the State of Illinois Demonstration Grant. These new books allow the Altamont Public Library to play a major role in fostering literacy, especially among those most needing assistance in developing literacy skills (e.g., preschool and elementary school children).

The Altamont Public Library Summer Reading Program goals are:

Preschoolers through Kindergarten: 15 books a month in the "Read to me" program
 1st Grade through 3rd Grade: 20 picture books or 6 chapter books or combination
 4th Grade through 6th Grade: 400 pages a month
 7th Grade through 8th Grade: 800 pages a month
 High School: create your own goals

On June 17, the Altamont Public Library has scheduled a free "Peter Pan – the Super Hero" puppet show from Patrice Heiken Puppets in Evansville. Summer Reading Program participants are encouraged to meet at the library by 2:00 p.m. and will walk to the Altamont Living Museum for a 2:30 p.m. showing. The show will include a 45 minute show with interactive activities and audience participation following. Parents and the community are encouraged to attend this free puppet show. This show is sponsored by the Altamont Junior Women’s Club, through a donation from their recent Cuddly Bunny Contest. The Altamont Living Museum has generously donated the use of the Museum for this show. At the end of the show, reading participants will be eligible for prize drawings, donated by many local merchants.

Keep your kids' reading skills sharp this summer. It is a proven fact that reading through the summer months will help them maintain the reading skills they have gained this year! There are great prizes and fun programs for all ages in our Summer Reading Program. Register your child for the Summer Reading Program at the Altamont Public Library today.

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