Boy, have we been busy!

The King County Library System’s Summer Reading Program began in June, and we’ve had excited kids of all ages coming into the Vashon Library to pick up their reading logs and, of course, their prizes.

This year the theme is “Catch the Reading Bug,” and if you have kids or grandchildren, then you know they love to learn about insects. We’ve had several wonderful programs, such as the Amazing Flea Circus and Magic Show, the Walk on the Wild Side series with Barbara Gustafson and the Backyard Safari celebration of nature.

The prize for completing 600 minutes of reading is binoculars and a chance to win a laptop computer. It’s been wonderful to see the children’s happy faces as we hand them their own binoculars.

This year, for the first time, “pre-readers” can participate in the summer running program. Parents read to their young children, ages birth to preschool, and the tots receive insect stickers and a book but are not eligible for the final laptop prize drawing.

In case you’re wondering, teens are not being left out of the fun. Our popular “Read Three Get One Free” program has a special summer edition. Teens in middle through high school can read three books, write thoughtful book reviews and receive a free paperback. Each month there is a drawing at each branch for a $25 gift certificate, and at the end of summer a drawing will be held for a laptop computer and an mp3 player.

The summer reading program runs through Aug. 31, so there is still time for your kids to sign up. The last day to collect prizes is Sept. 15.

Periodicals: Just Ask

People often ask me how they can request a new magazine subscription at our branch. Here’s how it works:

We review our periodical orders each January and decide what to add and what to drop; new subscriptions start in July. Our budget for magazines is finite, meaning that if we add a subscription you desire, we may have to drop one someone else likes.

We’ve had to let go of some old standard titles, such as “Forbes,” in favor of some new ones, such as “Outpost.”

We are always looking for new and interesting titles, so please let us know if there’s one you think might appeal to our patrons. Just write me a note, and I’ll put it into my periodical order file. When January rolls around, we’ll juggle the numbers, and, hopefully, your request will be filled.

We do try to add most patron requests, but it’s not always possible. Remember that if we don’t have a certain title, but it’s available at one of the other King County Library System branches, we can place a hold on it for you and have all but the most current issues brought here to Vashon.

Coming attractions

This fall we’ll be continuing our programming for all ages with regular story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, LateNight @ the Library for Teens, Study Zone, English Language Learners and Opera Previews with Norm Hollingshead. Plus, we’ll be hosting a visit from published Northwest poet Cal Kinnear.

So stay tuned, and pick up our monthly program calendar next time you’re in the library. Our programs are also listed in The Beachcomber, Island View and The Loop.

— Hester Kremer is the managing librarian at the Vashon Library.

The Vashon Library has added several new periodicals to its shelves and carries more than 200 titles.

For adults:

Bottom Line Personal

Dwell

Cloth.Paper.Scissors

Growing for Market

Hip Mama

Hobby Farms

Interweave Knits

Jewish Living

Mayo Health Clinic Letter

Money Magazine

Ode

Outpost

Real Simple

Shambala Sun

The Week Magazine

Wolf Tracks

Wondertime

Yoga Journal

For children and teens:

Animal Baby

Babybug

Twist

Z Magazine

For Spanish-speaking adults:

Newsweek (Spanish Edition)

People en Espanol

Siermpre Mujer

Tu Decides

TV y Novelas

These are only some of the magazines we carry. We have more than 200 titles.

Hester Kremer

Managing Librarian

Vashon Library