Every year, across the country, libraries roll out their respective reading programs to get their communities excited about reading, and Hewitt Public Library is no exception. But instead of following the national theme this year, the library decided to pay homage to the city it calls home.
“We’re focusing on the Hewitt community through activities that show how literacy can be found everywhere,” said Library Director, Matthew Glaser. “We’re calling our theme: All Together Hewitt.”
Uniting the community through literacy will start with children’s story times. Instead of library staff members reading to the children, the library will host guest readers from the area.
On June 4, the mayor of Hewitt and several city council members will come into read. And throughout the summer, story times will also feature a city engineer, nurses, teachers and other special readers.
“We’re hoping to not only promote literacy and good reading habits in younger children, but we also want to show that no matter what career field you go into, you can still be involved in reading and learning,” Glaser said.
The summer reading program will begin with a kickoff event at the library on June 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Along with community vendors and games, the event will also include a video game trailer kids can try out for free.
Parents and children can look forward to exciting happenings and special guests every Wednesday during the summer including visiting performers like Daniel G. Benes and his science show and the Mad Hatter Bubble Show.
“We’re also holding a community STEAM Fest on July 17 where we’ll highlight some different STEAM activities and demonstrations,” Glaser said.
Children and families can also look forward to visits from Angel Paws, licensed therapy dogs and their handlers from Pet Partners of Central Texas. These canine companions sit with children who are learning to read, struggling to read, or who need to practice reading aloud.
“PPCT has been doing this program for close to 20 years, and it is always a popular program, especially for shy kids,” Glaser said.
The library director wants community members to know that the library is there to serve everybody for free regardless of circumstance or reading interest.
“We really want the library to be a community hub where we can build relationships and improve the quality of life for all who visit.”
For more information about the Hewitt Public Library, visit www.cityofhewitt.com/32/Library, call (254) 666-2442, or visit the library at 200 Patriot Court, Hewitt, TX 76643.
Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
