If the kids haven't already started to lament, "I'm bored," trust us, they will.

So getting them involved in the Airdrie Public Library's Summer Reading Program seems like a good idea.  The Children's and Youth Services Manager at the library, Lindsey Skeen says this year they're a part of the TD Summer Reading Club.

"That means we're one of over 2,000 libraries actoss Canada that are putting on the same type of program.  It celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators, story tellers and it goes all week long for seven weeks of the summer."

Children going into kindergarten through aged 12 can be a part of the program.  Although reading is an integral part of the club, it's not all that goes on, according to Skeen.  "They'll be doing activities and crafts and they'll be sharing stories and being read to at times and interacting with each other and celebrating different aspects of Canadian stories and story telling.  But a big part of it is connecting kids with books and other types of reading."

The program this year focuses on Canada because of the 150th birthday celebrations.  "So much of the themes and activities that they'll be doing will be celebrating different parts of the Canadian landscape, heritage, the arts, science, technology, all that kind of stuff."

Skeen is excited that the Airdrie Library is one of a handful of libraries who are being paid a visit by the Summer Reading Club artist-in-residence.  "Her name is Slavka Kolesar and she'll be coming on July 7th between 10:00 am and noon.  She'll be doing a presentation and running a craft based activity with the children that attend."

The whole point of the Summer Reading Club, according to Skeen, is keeping kids reading over the summer.  "We want to do our part to prevent the summer slide.  Children who are in elementary school can fall a whole grade level over the summer because of inactivity with reading and other academic subjects.  If they keep reading over the summer they can maintain their grade level and they can enter the school year in September in great form.  We want to connect them to the library but we also want to connect them with books, magazines, any kind of reading they want to do."

 Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com