Think summer reading is just for kids? Think again! Patrons from toddlers to adults have been taking part in the Library’s many offerings this summer. These exciting programs – and the prizes associated with them – are funded by the Friends and are free of charge to participants.
Youngest Readers Enjoy Dinosaurs, Goats
There was a flurry of activity in the Children’s Room on Monday, July 17. A number of youngsters were there to select books and pick up prizes for reaching their weekly summer reading goals.
The theme of this year's summer reading program, “Be a Readosaurus,” was created by Head of Youth Services Nancy Boutet, who was inspired by a blow-up dinosaur costume she received for Christmas. After wearing the outfit, Boutet thought, “That’s it! We have to do dinosaurs for summer reading. Who doesn’t love dinosaurs?”
Her hunch was correct. There are 900 children, age two to those entering fourth grade, signed up this summer. According to Boutet, about 500 of them come in each week to pick up a new charm, which they can add to the ring and lobster clasp they were given at the beginning of the program. The charm prize system is new this year. “It’s been tricky to figure out how to run things since COVID,” Boutet said. “This is the first year things have really come back.”
Taylor Wood, age 7, and Alexandra Bradshaw, age 8, of Westford, relaxed together on a comfy couch while reading some of their favorites. Alexandra was enjoying Tales from the Treehouse, and Taylor had selected a couple of Berenstain Bears classics. The two said they also love books from the Binky the Space Cat series.
In addition to earning charms, kids who turn in their reading logs are entered into a weekly raffle for a chance to win a book. While at the library, kids can also search for the REX (from Toy Story) Funko Pop! toy, which Boutet says they love doing. The dinosaur moves to a new location each week. Kids who find him can fill out a raffle ticket; the winner will take REX home at the end of the summer.
Wood and Bradshaw, like many others in the Children’s Room on Monday, had just come from the Goats and Giggles program being held outside. Four baby goats from the Farmers’ Helpers program at Chip-in Farm in Bedford entertained the crowd by grazing on grass, leaves, and the occasional item of clothing. “That’s a baby goat!” announced one toddler, “She’s a baby!”
Robby Wood, age 3, of Westford, was earnestly collecting leaves to feed the animals. His mom, Anita, said she and her children are “frequent fliers” at the library. Mona Patel, of Westford, was taking pictures of her children, Amari, age 4, and Arav, age 10. She and her children come to the library a lot, she said, as Arav enjoys the children’s book club.
The goats, which are three months old, were very well behaved. Their handler, Maddie, said she had chosen these four - named Charcoal, Stewie, Turnip, and Twilight – for their calm nature.
Art Workshops and More for Teens and Tweens
On Wednesday July 12, a group of 12 teens took a break from the heat to participate in a “reverse glass painting” workshop in the Meeting Room. The program was run by Lisa Walker of Pop up Art School.
Walker gave the attendees a quick overview of this centuries-old painting technique, which involves creating a design in “reverse” order — starting with the details and ending with the background — on the back side of a piece of glass. She shared photos of work produced through the ages, from lettering in the Byzantine era to Kandinsky paintings created in the 1950’s. The teens then got to work on their own projects, selecting one of three templates to follow – a wave, a flower, or a tiger.
“It’s fun,” said Nidhi Ratheesh, 13, of Westford. “Art is a nice hobby.” Zoe Seiger, 17, of Westford, said that she “does a lot of art,” and is taking an art class this fall at Westford Academy. Friends Sara Elliott, Alicia Zgheilo, Eliana Thoren, and Rachel Shapiro, all 13, of Westford, sat together at a table and kept each other company while they worked on their projects.
Walker’s business is “pop up,” meaning that she and her business partner do not have a brick and mortar location. Instead, they travel to various venues. “We do a lot of libraries,” she said.
Many of the teens attending the art workshop also participate in the Young Adult Summer Reading Program, for students entering grades 5 through 12. According to Jess Dyment, Young Adult Librarian, there are 347 people signed up this summer. This is Dyment’s second year running the program. She came up with this year’s theme, which is “Where is Potato?” Potato (pictured below) moves to a new spot each week, and if participants find him, they get a ticket to enter a weekly raffle.
Participants can also earn raffle tickets by submitting a weekly reading log, completing the monthly scavenger hunt, and attending a program, like the Reverse Painting Workshop described above. Raffle prizes include sketchbooks, Squishmallows, board games, signed graphic novels, and a Bluetooth speaker.
Dyment said that most of the participants are already active readers who don’t need a lot of encouragement. She said the tweens and teens in the program often come in and talk with her about books, which she loves.
Adults Can Earn Prizes Too
Like ice cream? Like to read? You’re in luck. The library's summer reading program for adults, Dig Into Something New, runs through August 19. Participants set their own reading goals, and everyone who reaches his or her personal goal receives a coupon for a Kimball’s ice cream cone.
Justin Liberti, Head of Reference and Information Services and coordinator of the program, said there are 377 residents signed up. He says it has been fun to see what type of goals people submit. Regular readers vow to read a book a week, while others commit to reading one to three books throughout the whole program. His favorite goal came from someone who said they wanted to read a foreign language book, in French. Another person wanted to “develop a habit of reading,” which he thought was great.
In addition to the ice cream certificates, those registered for the program are automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the Silver Unicorn Book Store in Acton. On August 11, there will be a grand prize drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Evviva Trattoria in Westford.
Adults have also been enjoying a variety of programs at the library this summer. On Thursday, July 20, a dozen people gathered in the Meeting Room to hear a presentation by Kevin Martin, author of Big Trees of Northern New England. Martin, of Epping, NH, is a boat builder as well as a big tree enthusiast.
Brothers Rene And Jerry Marchand were there with their cousin, Richard Brouellard. Rene said the three are canoe builders, and also spend a lot of time outdoors, so this event was a good fit. Jerry, who lives in Chelmsford, said he often visits the Westford library to utilize books and periodicals he is unable to find at his own branch.
As it turns out, there is a remnant of a big tree on the JV Fletcher Library property. The Champion Black Oak, which was more than 200 years old, had to be removed in August of 2020 due to safety concerns; an arborist had determined via ultrasound that a large portion of the tree’s trunk was hollow. There is still a portion of the trunk on the property (see photo).
A remnant of the Champion Black Oak, removed in 2020 due to safety concerns.
There are two other big trees in Westford still standing – a Shagbark Hickory in the Prospect Hill Wildlife Sanctuary on Hildreth Street, and a Northern Catalpa at 134 Concord Road.
Want To Join The Fun?
To find out about and register for additional offerings taking place this summer, visit the library’s Events page.