Brooks, Legislators Encourage Students to Participate in Summer Reading Program

Legislator Steve Tucciarello hands out bookmarks at the Gates Public Library.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and several County Legislators rallied young readers across the County to promote participation in the inaugural Monroe County Summer Reading Program. Brooks was joined by Legislators Jeff McCann, Rick Antelli and Mark Cassetti at the Greece Public Library; then was later joined by Legislator Steve Tucciarello at the Gates Public Library and was joined by Legislator Ciaran Hanna at the Fairport Public Library.
 
“We are asking young readers across the County to take part in the Monroe County Summer Reading Program because we believe the summer months should be a time for learning,” said County Executive Brooks. “Enhanced reading skills are the foundation to a stronger education which will surely benefit these students when they return to school in the fall.”
 
Brooks launched the Monroe County Summer Reading in June. Registration for the program is through the Monroe County Library system, encouraging more young people to apply for a library card and become more active within their library branch.  Check out the Library's website at http://www3.libraryweb.org/home2.aspx for more information on the County's Summer Reading Program.
 
More than 10,000 students from across the County have signed up for the program; including nearly 1,700 in Fairport and Perinton, 1,100 in Greece and 240 in Gates. Registration is through the Monroe County Library System.
 
“This program is an enjoyable way to get students to read more during their summer vacations which will benefit them when they return to school in the fall,” said Legislator Hanna.
 
“The ultimate goal of this program is to make reading fun for children,” said Legislator Tucciarello. “By partnering with the County’s library system, this program will allow more children to sign up for a library card and become more involved with their library branch.”
 
“The generosity of the Summer Reading Program’s sponsors will surely help get more kids to read this summer,” said Legislator Antelli. “We encourage all kids – public, private and home-schooled – to sign up.”
 
Students who sign up for the Monroe County Summer Reading Program will receive a bookmark they can use to help track their reading. The top readers in their age range will be eligible for one of over 650 prizes, which have been donated by several local businesses and not-for-profit agencies:

• ·         Strong National Museum of Play
• ·         Greater Rochester International Airport
• ·         Seneca Park Zoo
• ·         The Lamberton Conservatory
• ·         Dentzel Carousel at Ontario Beach Park
• ·         Rochester Museum and Science Center and Strassenburgh Planetarium
• ·         Rock Ventures
• ·         George Eastman House
• ·         Bill Gray’s and Abbott’s Frozen Custard

Selected students will be asked to participate in the “Knowledge Bowl” competition; which is scheduled to begin in September. First round locations include Fairport, Greece, Chili, Pittsford, and Webster.