The New Brunswick Public Library's free summer reading club allows kids to keep their reading skills fresh while on vacation

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It is extremely important for school aged children to continue to read during the summer months, especially beginners. By not reading for ten weeks, children run the risk of falling behind in September.

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Joining a summer reading club can be a greatboredom-buster during the summer months, as wellas a way to keep reading skills up to par.

Making reading something that your children want to do over the summer can be a challenge, but once again, the Moncton Public Library is offering a fun way of encouraging children to keep reading.

"What's bubbling at the Library?" is the question of this summer's reading club, its theme being science and all the fun that can be had with it. The summer reading club has become a yearly tradition offered by the province's libraries and bookmobiles.

Of course, those who are probably the most excited about this summer's reading fun are Josiane Vautour and Melanie Hebert, the enthusiastic coordinators of this summer's reading club which is open to all children and free of charge.

Registration runs from June 16 until August 22. Upon registration, each child is asked to commit to reading a certain amount of books throughout the summer. The number of books is entirely up to each child.

When asked her opinion on whether or not smaller attainable goals were better, as opposed to setting higher, possibly unobtainable goals, Josiane explains that it all depends on the child.

"When a child commits to an unrealistic, doubtfully attainable goal, their parents or librarian usually help them set a more realistic goal," she says. Of course, it is always easier to read more than planned as opposed to struggling to meet the goal.

Once a goal has been set, each child is given a logbook which helps keep track of books read. Every five books read, and/or once the set goal has been met, the child can return to the library with the logbook and have it stamped.

At the end of the summer each child that manages to read the books that they have committed to reading, receives a certificate.

According to the libraries' statistics, last year's reading club had a decline in registration, so in the hopes of reaching more children in the community, staff visited local schools, promoting all that the library has to offer this summer.

After one such visit, an impressed teacher contacted the library to say that she planned to take her entire class to the library so that every child would have the opportunity to register for the reading club before the end of classes. The Moncton Public Library prides itself on offering activities in both English and French to its young readers.

This summer's activities include Summer Storytime for kids ages 3 to 5 on Thursdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. beginning July 3, Summer Fun for children ages 6 and up on Wednesdays and Tuesdays at 2 p.m., beginning July 9, and Pajama Storytime for kids ages 3 to 6 on July 24 and Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

For additional information, you can contact the Moncton Public Library at 869-6000.