To the Editor:

The Elizabeth Taber Library wrapped up this summer’s program for children, “A Universe of Stories!” with an Ice Cream Sundae Social.

Over the course of six weeks many children ages two to twelve enjoyed story times, reading games, a magic show, as well as activities such as: building and blasting off water bottle rockets, a yoga class, exploring a planetarium, enjoying a Mad Science Show, learning about a submarine, beading a solar system, along with various drop-in activities. Attendance for the summer programs totalled 1821. It was especially exciting to “Read for a Good Cause”. Each hour participants spent reading raised $1 to support the work of Heifer International. Our readers were able to support families living in Cambodia with the help of donations from Eastern Bank and the Sippican Woman’s Club. We purchased four goats, a trio of rabbits, honey bees and a hive!

I would like to thank all of the participants (and parents, grandparents, baby-sitters, and nannies!) involved in our program, along with our junior librarian assistant, Prosser Friedman.
Special thanks go to Alan Harris for teaching us how to build and blast off water bottle rockets; Sara Gage for her enthusiastic yoga class; Mad Scientist (Atomic) Allen Converse; Michelle Cusolito forsharing her book, “Flying Deep”, about Alvin, the WHOI deep sea submersible; and to Elizabeth Leidhold and Maria Patron for sharing their expertise about Starlab Planetarium.
Many thanks go to Jessica Barrett, the Sippican School’s Media Specialist. Jess and I worked together to create the school’s summer reading lists. Sippican Elementary School students visited our library in June to learn about the public library’s resources, the summer program and the books on the summer reading list.

Thanks go to everyone on the staff; Nicole Davignon, Danae Arone, Liz Russell, Teresa Mattson and Diane Arsenault as they cheerfully helped out with the large groups of children and a seemingly endless flow of books.

Many thanks go to our enthusiastic Library Director, Elizabeth Sherry, who gave the program unfailing support and encouragement.

Several agencies and businesses in town lent their kind support to the library’s summer reading program. They include Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Sippican Woman’s Club, Sea Dips Ice Cream, Uncle Jon’s Coffee, Kool Kone, and the Marion Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Working with the children and their families in the community, as well as my colleagues here at the library, was a powerful reminder of the joy and excitement of sharing the love of reading. I hope everyone enjoyed the library’s summer program and the delights of summer reading as much as I did!

Rosemary Grey
Children’s Librarian
Elizabeth Taber Library