Publication Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2005
'Joust Read'
'Joust Read'
(July 20, 2005) Summer reading events focus on medieval activities
Chuan-Mei Lee
With the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" books popular among teens, the Palo Alto City Library is hoping to attract youth in grade sixth and up with a series of summer reading events called "Medieval Mondays."
In the past the library hasn't focused on teen programming, said Laurie Hastings, the teen services librarian at Main Library. But this year the library is making a big push to reach teenagers with two more events centered on medieval times.
"We want to ensure that teens become library users and lifelong learners. We want to have them continue to use the library throughout their older school years and adult years. We want them to feel that the library is a cool place to be," she said.
The first event, a Medieval Mystery Party, drew more than three dozen teens to Mitchell Park Library July 11. After watching a skit staged by library volunteers, audience members were asked to figure out who'd kidnapped the queen's pet dragon. Those who answered correctly walked away with gift certificates, but everyone was treated to pizza and cookies.
Two more "Medieval Mondays" events are in store for August. Between Aug. 8 and 12, teens can participate in an online "quest" by logging on to the library's Web site for a list of questions that can be answered by consulting library databases. On Aug. 15, Main Library is hosting a haiku writing workshop, where teens can learn about this ancient form of Japanese poetry.
Hastings says that taking part in the library's summer reading programs help youngsters keep their reading skills sharp while school is out. But she also said that the library's programs emphasize reading for pleasure outside of school.
"The whole purpose of the summer reading program is to promote recreational reading," Hastings said. "We're really trying to make it as easy as possible for kids to find a good book and read it. And the books are just flying off the shelves."
Books set in fantastical places have been in high demand. And so it makes sense that a medieval theme would attract youngsters to the library's summer reading program.
The teen summer reading slogan "Joust Read" was actually developed by the National Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of 32 state agencies and associations that work together to develop summer reading program materials that libraries nationwide can purchase at low-cost.
Palo Alto librarians say that the pre-packaged materials, such as a notebook of ideas and a bibliography of reading suggestions, have made it easier and more inexpensive for the library to put together its programs.
Library volunteer Olga Souverneva, a student at Palo Alto High School, said the program is fun. She made many of the decorations in Main Library and also performed in Monday's mystery party skit.
"A medieval theme is playful and fun, and it's something that people will come to," said Olga Souverneva. "It's magical, and that's what reading is."
Just ask 10-year-old Sierra Leder, who also attended the mystery party. "I'm a big fan of reading," Leder said. "I'm an only child, and so I don't have people to play with so getting lost in a book is very enjoying for me."
Eleven-year-old Catherine Stevens and her mom Rosemary Stevens thought the mystery party was "pretty cool." For Catherine, the event was a fun activity, but her mom also thought it was a good way to bring in learning.
"I liked it because the children have to listen to a story and come to conclusions," Rosemary Stevens said. "It's an important skill to have and practice in a fun setting. And you get rewarded if you do it right."
E-mail a friend a link to this story. | 
