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By James Ensor
Hometown Weekly Reporter
You couldn’t miss it. A massive inflatable obstacle course stood behind the gazebo in front of the Medfield Library on Tuesday, August 23, to celebrate the end of summer and the library’s Summer Reading Program.
“Today is just a reward for the hard work of the kids who did the Summer Reading program,” said Kim Tolson, Children’s Librarian. “We have about forty total kids here today, and our Summer Reading Program had somewhere around 520 kids, so it’s our highest number yet.”
Medfield’s babies and toddlers had the chance to participate in a summer program oriented around stories and other early childhood literacy-based activities. However, for all the kids aged 5-12 got to participate in the Summer Reading Program proper.
On the day, kids eagerly lined up to race each other through the two lane inflatable obstacle course parked out front of the library. A pair of local parents called it “a great event, it’s free, fun and always nice to get the kids outside.”
This is far from the first extracurricular activity the library has held for its Summer Reading Program participants. Many will recall the outdoor movie nights that Tolson and volunteers diligently set up, as well as other activities like the Mad Science Hour in the children’s section upstairs.
Looking to the fall, the library has already started planning a multitude of activities for our local youth. Chess club and Just Write club are continuing clubs; new to the roster is a Minecraft Club. Minecraft is a game that allows players to create their own universes on their computers. The most exciting addition to the library’s programming might be the tech programs for kids that will be beginning in the fall.
One of the technology staff members at the library will be teaching basic coding, as well as some basic activities with the 3D printer. The kids will be learning about designing with 3D printing technology by using TinkerCAD, and the library will be mounting an attempt to even have the kids program their very own robot.
