Whitehall Library Promotes Children's Programs
Walking into the children's section of the library can be a nostalgic experience and one can easily recall summer hours spent their reading. The walls are lined with shelves full of books and stuffed animals; a paper snake hangs from the ceiling. This highly decorated area of the library is in the care of Lorraine Santaliz, who is responsible for children and teen library programs.
Santaliz is the Youth Services Librarian, but she prefers the term Children's Librarian. She has been a dedicated employee of the library since December 2002. Her job includes buying books and designing programs for readers of ages 14 and under. Children's events include the annual Summer Reading Program, Simply Stories, Story Time, and other pre-planned events. The library gets money for these programs from their annual budget and donations that they receive. Attendance is encouraged through brightly colored flyers and word of mouth.
The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) was created by Santaliz and fellow librarian Diane Case to bring in more teen activities. The program had its first meeting in April 2007. Santaliz and Case wanted to have a place where their children could be during the construction of the mall, so the librarians put them to work volunteering at the library.
"It [has] definitely grown much bigger than we expected," says Santaliz.
Advanced planning is one of the most important elements in the library's events. It impacts Story Time and Simply Stories. These events require Santaliz and Case to choose a theme for the event, as well as a book and a craft. When neither of them has time to lead the event, they secure a retired teacher to read the children a story. Four to five months out of the year, Santaliz and Case are busy with various activities. This is because of the Summer Reading Program.
Santaliz is also in charge of the annual Summer Reading Program. This program is where most of the library's money is spent. It entails students from grades twelve and under reading over the summer and logging the books that they read. These books are recorded online, including the number of pages, title of the book, and author of the book. Each year the summer program has a different theme and prizes that are decided in advance.
Santaliz' focus on youth activities created popular and useful events at the library, including the Summer Reading Program and the Teen Advisory Board. She, alongside Case, hope to help more students discover the joy of reading.