Children’s Wing a Draw for Summer Readers

The East Hampton Library’s children’s addition, which opened in June, has paid immediate dividends in the form of a marked increase in participation in its children’s summer reading program.

The new children’s reading room is a large, bright, open space equipped with new computers, tablets, and other learning technology. The approximately 4,000-square-foot space also allowed for 10,000 additional books. “We realized that we did not have enough children’s books as compared to other libraries on the East End,” said Dennis Fabiszak, the library’s director. “We felt we didn’t have enough selection for them.” Since the June 21 opening, he said, 5,000 books have been added to the collection.

The summer program encourages reading through incentives including prizes for signing up and for fulfilling a commitment to read a specified number of books, depending on age group. After completing their commitment, participants could continue reading to qualify for raffle tickets for additional prizes, including Lego and science kits.

Library officials, said Alexandra Giambruno, head of the children’s services department, were surprised and delighted at the level of interest. “People would come up to the desk and say, ‘Can we sign up for the summer reading program?’ In the past, that wasn’t the case. We always had to suggest that they do that,” she said.

This year, 693 children participated in the summer reading program, up from 480 in 2013. Of this year’s total, just 50 opted to chart their progress online, with more than 90 percent choosing to keep a pen-and-paper record. “You’d see them coming in with their reading record,” said Lisa Houston, who heads the library’s young adult services. “They were so excited to show me how many books they read. The actual physical aspect was important, and the physical interaction with us. We made a big deal of it, because it is.”

“They wanted to interact with the librarians,” Mr. Fabiszak agreed. “They wanted to feel like they were working with the people in the space, not just an anonymous thing they did online from home. It gave them a reason to come back, and to tell their parents and grandparents that they wanted to come back here. And that’s great.”

The final tally impressed the library’s officials, with 10,690 books read by summer reading club members. The children’s accomplishment, Mr. Fabiszak said, demonstrates a need that was met by the children’s addition. “Our summer reading club proved that having more books on the shelf is really what the kids in our community wanted and needed,” he said. “It’s great to have that immediate response.”