The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County celebrates successful reading program with worm race
Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County's Main Branch celebrated the close of its 2023 Summer Reading Program with the unique but time-honored tradition of worm racing Monday.
Attending children had the chance to pit worms, provided to them by library representatives, against each other in an approximately foot-and-a-half-long race to the finish line, with prizes offered at the competition's end.
"The library has been doing a worm race now for several years," said Jennifer Cesta, public relations coordinator for library system. "It's tradition, and kids love it."
Some kids were more hands-on with the worms than others. Tessa Filtz's worm won the race's first round, even though she said she does not like worms, choosing not to touch it herself. Meanwhile, Olivia Perdue was more adamant to nudge on her worm.
"I almost won, but (the worm) wanted to turn around," Perdue said.
Both girls are members of PLSJ's reading program, which began on June 5 and will end Saturday. Participation opportunities are offered to kids, teens and adults, and individuals in each age category receive a reading log list that, if completed, earns drawing tickets to win prizes. Checks on the log list can be earned through reading books, listening to audio books, watching certain films or attending PLSJ events.
Teens who read four books have the chance to win a Nintendo Switch, said Cesta, but all who complete their log list will win a book. Adults who read five books have the chance to win a Kindle Fire, one from each PLSJ branch, and all adults who complete their log list will receive a PLSJ notebook.
An alluring prize for kids is four tickets to Kings Island amusement park in near Cincinnati, which is among a number of other prizes that kids can enter their tickets for.
Filtz said she read around 10 chapter books this summer. Perdue said she likes to listen to audio books, and she is currently listening to "Ms. Jojo Is a Yo-Yo," a book in the "My Weirder-est School" series. Both girls have attended events at different PLSJ branches, including story walks.
Perdue's grandmother, Diana Pettengill, said she appreciates PLSJ's events because they give kids something to do. Also, she said of Perdue, "She's learning to read better."
George Wear, 9, recalled one of PLSJ's previous events, which was a visit from ventriloquist Mr. Puppet. Wear said his favorite puppet was one named Stinky.
George Wear attended the worm race with his siblings: Lucy, 14; Esther, 7; and Alice, 5. Esther Wear said her favorite character from Mr. Puppet was a sheep dog.
Lil Hoover, 8, said she likes the library and visits it between once a week and every two weeks. A member of the summer reading program, Lil Hoover said her favorite book she has read this summer is "Dog Man" by Dav Pilkey.
Lil Hoover said she is the biggest reader in her family, although she has some competition from her mother, Allie Hoover. Those two were joined at the worm race by Lil Hoover's grandmother, Cathy Hoover, and siblings: Liz, 12; Luke, 11; and Dominick, 9.
The summer reading program has been a yearly occurrence since 1949, to the best of SPLJ's knowledge, Cesta said. The summer reading program will return again next year, but for now, there is still plenty to do at one of PLSJ's branches.
"The next 'reading program' the library has coming up is for teens," Cesta said. "It will run September through May. Teens who read six books will get a free 6-inch sub from Subway. Participants will receive one coupon per person per month. The coupon is only valid at participating Jefferson County restaurants -- Wintersville, Steubenville Wal-Mart, Steubenville-next to Kroger, and Toronto.
"The library offers programs year-round for all ages. Visit in person or go to the website at steubenvillelibrary.org to learn more. We also have a newsletter that lists events for all ages and can be mailed or e-mailed. Visit or call your library branch to receive it," she added.
Emma Gray, sanitarian in training for the Jefferson County General Health District, attended the worm race and offered kids coloring books that doubled as informational booklets on mosquitoes and ticks.