Coshocton Library opens Summer Reading Program

The Coshocton County Public Library hosted its annual summer reading kick-off event May 26 in the Coshocton Community Room with 125 children and 95 adults attending. All ages were invited to collect materials for summer reading and take part in the festivities.

Children, teens and their families had games, refreshments and door prizes and met Dr. Kevin Cordi, international storyteller for over 25 years. His stories are for people of all ages to help them find meaning in their work, school and lives.

The Coshocton Library was the recipient of an Institute of the Museum and Library Services Grant, which allowed them the opportunity to bring in Cordi, who has shared his stories in 44 states, as well as England, Scotland, Singapore, Canada, Japan and in Qatar.

"I travel all over the country and the world telling stories, and it was great to see such captive kids," Cordi said.

When asked where he gets stories, Cordi said, "The better question is where do I not get my stories. It started with my mom on a dilapidated old couch. I have an advanced degree, and it is very telling that I have a doctorate. But the real story is that it comes from listening to people. So I tell folk tales, fairy tales, ghost stories, stories from all over the place. This place, I mean the library is a hub for stories. Even the people, they will talk to you. In some cities the people won't even talk to you, and some places they will. This is a story place. You can tell as soon as you drive in."

Jennifer Austin, library director, said summer reading programs are very important for children.

“As the youth are reading, we are trying to combat the summer slump, where they can lose reading skills they obtained during the previous year,” she said. “We are trying to keep them from falling behind in the new school year from where they left off. For them it is all about tracking and timed reading, and as they read, they can gain entries into prize drawings.”

Margaret Lowe and Virginia Carroll attended the event as patrons, but Lowe worked at the library for 21 years as a reference librarian in the Coshocton Main Library and worked as the branch manager for a period.

“John Steinbeck is my favorite author, and some of his books I have read 10 or 20 times,” Lowe said. “I just finished reading two of his books, ‘The Pearl’ and ‘Cannery Row.’ Every summer I'd sit on the back deck and read those. When I was a kid, every summer I read ‘Gone With the Wind.’”

A local family foundation recently awarded the Coshocton County Public Library a $2,500 grant to support its programs and services.

“Our turnout this year has been fantastic," said Lasha Philabaum, adult services manager. "It is just amazing that we are able to do anything like this, to see this kind of commitment, and we can turn around and invest it in our community. Most of our prizes this year are from local businesses and small businesses around the county. We try to be practical with things like gas cards, and we can reinvest it in the community and in our children’s literacy and their future.

"The purpose of summer reading when it started was that it is good for our children to keep reading all summer. We have over 100 children who signed up. Summer reading lasts until the end of summer for adults and children. I think it's fantastic for children’s literacy and also for the adults that we get to do this kind of thing."