Students involved in the young adults Summer Reading Program at the Washington District Library recently participated in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Peoria Zoo. The two hour tour marked the culmination of the program in which students logged hours spent reading during summer months.
“They’ve been reading this whole summer so they enjoy the chance to get out and do something different,” said Emily Hunt, who serves as the branch’s young adult librarian.
Tour guide Jay Ballard, an educational assistant at the zoo, led the group through feeding and laundering
facilities, behind-the-scenes cages, and even an off-the-beaten-path area housing an older, retired zoo animal. Teens also saw where food for the animals is prepared and what the animals eat. At one point in the tour, Ballard even showed the teens a large bone used as a treat for lions.
Identical twins Maggie and Emily Jackson said they were very excited about the event.
“I am really excited for the behind the scenes and would like to see a lot of foxes. They are my favorite animal,” said Maggie Jackson.
Emily, however, had broader hopes for the tour.
“I just want to see a bunch of animals,” said Jackson.
The seven-week summer reading program is for teens in grades 6 through 12. Recently revamped, teens log hours as opposed to books.
“The total hours read were 1,154 for the 16 teens who have turned in their forms. The equivalent for days read is 48 days,” said Hunt.
Teens involved in the program choose the books that they read.
“I let them read what they want to. It’s their choice because people read on different levels and because we are doing sixth grade through high school,” said Hunt.
Hunt is happy with the program’s change from books read to hours logged.
“It’s kind of a nice change because they have required reading in school all year so it’s nice for them to pick out what they want to read,” said Hunt.
Upon logging hours, teens receive library dollars that can be turned in for prizes.
“They get a library dollar for each hour they read and for each event they come to. And then we have the OWL Store where they can spend the bucks they have earned through the summer on different items. We have got novelty toys, gifts cards, candy, books and movies, T-shirts, stickers and other smaller items that they can purchase,” said Hunt.
The library also offers other teen events.
“We have book clubs, movie nights, theme nights, and anime group. And then we have other events for special times throughout the year such as Teen Read Week in October,” said Hunt.
The library’s next event will be a release party for “Mockingjay,” which is the third book in “The Hunger Games” series. The release party will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the library.
For more information on this event or other teen or general library events, please contact the Washington District Library at 444-2241.
