RICHMOND— This summer over 4000 kids in Richmond alone have signed up to be part of the BC Summer Reading Club – some of the estimated close to 100,000* toddlers to 14 year olds who are expected to be participating in this year’s challenge.
Parents like Kristy DelGrosso know how beneficial the program is, as all three of her daughters have been eagerly making weekly summer trips to their local branch for years.
“We love the Summer Reading Club. It builds great habits: each of my kids love colouring in their cards and tracking their progress. Plus that one-on-one time we have together at home, while we work on their goals, is something they really look forward to.”
DelGrosso also cites the popularity of this long-standing program to the work of library staff, in particular. “They are amazing! We’ll come in to get our stickers or return books and they’ll come over to show us new books with fairies, knowing that my oldest likes them.” She also notes that the staff’s efforts to change displays, to feature local artists and authors, and the little tricks like the scavenger hunts each week all add to the excitement.
Kate Adams—a proud CUPE 718 member working out of Richmond’s main Brighouse Branch—is one of the many librarians who has successfully supported the program through the busy summer months. She credits the barrier-free design as one of the keys to its success. “First of all, it’s free. And that feels harder to find all the time, as we see costs rise. But another key is that every family and every kid makes their own goals that feel right to them…for some, that goal might be a specific number of books to read over the summer, for others it might be about reading a certain number of minutes a day, or for others it could be about choosing options from different genres. Even something fun like checking out a cookbook and making a new recipe for your family. Our goal is to just make sure there’s something here for everyone, because it’s about fostering a positive connection with books and with the library.”
While each library has its own approach to working with their community, Adams says the Richmond libraries use weekly stickers, prizes and activities to incentivize regular visits. It’s an invitation not only for kids to develop great habits, but also an opportunity for parents to see how much libraries have changed—from the ability to use the libraries’ 3D printers and Cricut machines, to learning about things like the Mario Kart tournaments and digital robotics programs that are engaging kids in new ways.
For Adams, it’s also special to see CUPE BC as one of the sponsors of the BC program, because “it shows that CUPE is not only in our communities, but that CUPE really cares about them too.”
That’s also a point of pride for CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta—who is quick to point out the contrast between the union’s support of the BC program and the corporate sponsored program that runs across most of the rest of Canada.
“As the union representing the majority of library workers in BC, it’s often our members who are on the front lines of delivering this important, locally run program…engaging kids and families in developing positive experiences with books and reading. Meanwhile, the participants are also learning that libraries are safe and inclusive spaces to learn and grow in—filled with people who care deeply about sharing knowledge and about connecting with the many diverse groups they support.”
Ranalletta thinks it’s a logical partnership, because “we love celebrating the many ways our members connect with and support the communities we all work and live in,” but she knows the real wins of the program happen in the homes of BC families.
For Kristy DelGrosso’s girls—Scottie (8), Baker (6) and Elliot (3)—this year’s “World of curiosities” theme inspired them to explore the magical worlds of wizards, they searched out stories about superhero dogs, and they found new joy in beloved stories about some British pigs who like to jump in muddy puddles. It’s a world of imagination and excitement that makes the BC Summer Reading Club, and the public libraries who make the program possible, a vital part of her family’s summer traditions.
CUPE proudly represents 3,500 library workers across BC.
For more information on the BC Summer Reading Club: bcsrc.ca
*Exact participation numbers for the 2024 BC Summer Reading Club will be finalized in early October.
