The certificates and raffle prizes were presented to the successful children and young people during an open afternoon. There was also face painting, glitter tattoos and slush ice.
During the event, Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf also stopped by together with Leonhard Stibitz from Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld - one of the sponsors of the reading promotion. "As in previous years, the Summer of Reading is a permanent feature of the vacation season and I would like to thank the ladies of the city library and the sponsors for their commitment in organizing this great event," emphasized Mayor Frühauf.
In addition to the KSK and Vereinigte Volks- und Raiffeisenbank eG as well as a private donor who support the raffle, the Bürkle Foundation, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the company GK Autoteile also support the summer of reading with funds for the purchase of new books. "In addition to this, the city also provides its own funds, which enabled us to buy 218 new books for children and young people this time," reported Sandra Ley. That was almost 20 books more than last year.
This year, 252 children and young people were registered for the summer of reading, and 65 children aged 3 to 6 for the summer of reading aloud. Successful participation requires at least three books to be read by the children themselves during the summer of reading and at least three books to be read aloud during the summer of reading aloud. During the Summer of Reading, 206 children and young people managed to do this, reading a total of 1,753 books. The number of children and young people taking part has risen steadily in recent years. An interview is also conducted for each of the books read. "We received excellent support from the volunteers Silvia Bugner-Riske, Brigitte Sommer, Anna-Lena Galozi, Paula and Helena Lordick as well as Christiane Wayand and her daughter Pauline.
The full-time staff would not have the time to conduct these interviews and give the children and young people the attention they need to report on what they have read," said Sandra Ley, thanking the helpers for their welcome and necessary support. The helpers were also active in handing out the certificates and prizes, ensuring that everything ran smoothly.
During the summer of reading aloud, which took place for the third time this year, 47 participants met the requirements and were able to collect their certificates from the library. The children and young people also received slush ice from the large ice cream machine and were able to have their faces painted and decorated with glitter tattoos by Sabrina Hoffmann.