Summer program in full swing at library

By Anastasia Harbuck

Published: June 25, 2008

The Eufaula Carnegie Library welcomed Aisha Dickerson of the McWane Center Wednesday as part of the library’s final summer reading program event for June.
Aisha introduced her audience to several of her six and eight-legged friends including a fuzzy rose-haired tarantula, a giant millipede and a Madagascar hissing cockroach.
She also shared interesting facts about the insects with her audience like an insect’s exoskeleton is made of chitin, arachnids like spiders and scorpions have an open-pulmonary circulatory system and that some scorpions’ stings can be venomous but not deadly.
The McWane presentation Wednesday was one of four summer reading program events this June. Other programs have included musician Mark Seymour, wildlife educator Vicky Beckham Smith and juggler Brian Bruggerman.
Rose Maddox of the library’s youth services said that all of these programs have been well attended.
“We’ve had a really good turnout,” said Maddox. “At some of our programs, we’ve had more than 100 people.”
She went on to say that juggler Brian Bruggerman was an especially big hit with both children and teenagers.
The library’s program for teens “Metamorphosis @ Your Library” will begin in July. This program will include three presentations by Vicky Beckham Smith including one program on insects July 1, “Our Fine Feathered Friends” July 8 and a program about manatees July 15. All programs are at 2 p.m.
Maddox said that this summer’s reading program is coming along especially well. She reports that 86 children have signed up for the reading program compared to last summer’s 70. She said steep gas prices are causing a lot of kids to stay in town this summer and the reading program is a perfect break for the summer doldrums.
Maddox said all “reading logs” for the summer program must be turned in by July 25, for children to receive their prizes for participating. Prizes will be available Aug. 1.
To learn more about the summer reading program, contact Maddox at 687-2337 ext. 16.