FINDING ADVENTURE IN THE LIBRARY: THE JOYS OF READING

Participation this summer in reading programs for youngsters at libraries in Cape Girardeau County appears to exceed previous years. That is encouraging in a world that bombards youngsters with 24-hour-a-day television and an endless stream of home videos. Without parental intervention, many youngsters easily could concede an entire summer to television viewing in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes.

But more than 2,300 preschoolers through teen-agers are participating in Celebrate Read, the theme of this year's summer reading programs at the Cape Girardeau and Jackson public libraries and Riverside Regional Library, a public library that serves rural areas. Approximately 1,000 youngsters participate at the Cape Girardeau library, more than 600 participate at the Jackson library, and more than 700 participate in Riverside's central and branch libraries.

For the children, the programs are designed to entertain and encourage curiosity about all kinds of topics. For older participants, programs offer a marathon of enjoyable reading and information.

The librarians who oversee the programs say a number of parents, mostly those of preschoolers, stay with their children throughout the reading sessions. Some parents, who must remain with children who aren't used to being away from Mom or Dad, are setting a good example by being at the library.

Increased interest in the programs also can be attributed to the Parents as Teachers program, a state-mandated premier program that provides parents of preschoolers with information on what to expect in the way of childhood development. Parents as Teachers emphasizes that a child is never too young to read, or be read to, and parents realize it.

More attractive summer reading programs are offered by the libraries, which have been involved in the program for about 15 years, and that too has stimulated additional interest among children and their parents.

It is good to see that Celebrate Read has attracted so many young people this summer. Through the program they learn how much fun reading can be, and that learning too can be fun. They are establish good reading habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.