Celebrating the Summer Reading Buzz 2013

dlr Libraries ran a Summer Reading Buzz from early June-mid October this year. It was the second year that it took place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and this year it really captured the imagination. Over 600 children completed the challenge of reading 10 books each and we know that over 15,600 items were read, the length and breadth of the County. For 2013, we joined forces with our colleagues in the other 3 Dublin authorities ( Dublin City, South Dublin and Fingal) and also those in Kildare and Longford. The Cathaoirleach Councillor Carrie Smyth attended the event on 17 th June in Tallaght Library where the Summer Reading Buzz was officially launched by Frances Fitzgerald TD, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Cathaoirleachs/Lord Mayors from each of the participating authorities joined in the gala opening. On 9 th November, An Cathaoirleach Councillor Carrie Smyth was present at an event in the newly refurbished Deansgrange Library to mark the grand finale of Summer Reading Buzz 2013 in dlr Libraries.

The idea of the Summer Reading Buzz is simple. Children joined up at their local dlr branch library in June where they were given a Summer Reading Buzz Membership Card. For every book they read, they got a bee stamp in their card. Other incentives included bright, colourful bookmarks, Summer Buzz pencils and after 10 books were read, a Summer Buzz wristband and a certificate. Once completed, membership cards were posted into a special post box beehive in each branch library. At the end of October, a draw took place in each library and the top 3 names picked out of the hive from each library were invited to the celebration on 9 th November in Deansgrange Library. Children were presented with gift vouchers and then all names were put into a hat for an overall prize of a Sony digital camera. The lucky winner picked out of the hat by An Cathaoirleach was 8 year old Alyssa O’Leary who was one of the winners from Shankill Library. Congratulations Alyssa!

The Summer Reading Buzz is an excellent opportunity to encourage children to keep reading and enjoying stories over the summer months. dlr Libraries would like to acknowledge the many, many children who participated in the Summer Reading Buzz in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2013. We hope that children and their families continue to enjoy the many free and enjoyable resources available to them at their local libraries. We look forward already to Summer Reading Buzz 2014!