Lifetime of literacy
Summer reading program a tradition in Gallup

Elijah Martin, 7, ties his Chuck Taylor high-tops after having a go at the inflatable slide outside the Children's Library in Gallup on Saturday. The slide and other festivities were organized to kick off sign-ups for the children's summer reading program in Gallup. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Adron Gardner

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — Janice Spiros has a long love for summer reading programs.

She still has the old newspaper clipping from the Gallup Independent that shows her holding her own summer reading certificate and posing with Octavia Fellin, Gallup’s legendary city librarian. Spiros, the Miyamura High School librarian, is filling in as the interim librarian at the Octavia Fellin Public Children’s Library this summer, and Saturday she and library staff members and volunteers sponsored a Summer Reading Carnival in Gallup’s Downtown Walkway.

“We just want the youth to understand how fun reading can be,” Spiros said of the event. The purpose of the carnival was to kick off the summer reading program, she explained, let parents know about the different library programs, and encourage children to spend time reading this summer.

The carnival seemed to be a hit with the hundreds of children who attended the carnival, which featured registration for the summer library programs, free games, an inflatable slide, food treats, and a “salon” with temporary tattoos and spray-in hair dyes. Local children’s book author L. Claire Freeman was also there with copies of “To Where the Wind Howls Down,” her adventure story about a Native American boy.

“I’m having a great time, and I’m going to be in the parade,” 7-year-old Elijah Martin said. Although he was busy playing a number of the carnival’s games, Elijah said he was looking forward to riding on the library’s flatbed trailer later that afternoon during the Lions Club Parade and throwing candy to the spectators.

“They’re loving it,” said Lydia Rangel, who brought her 10-year old granddaughter, Aiyana Hudson, and her friend Crystal Diaz. “For 10-year-olds — you know how picky they are.”

Sporting rainbow-dyed hair from their favorite carnival attraction, Aiyana and Crystal talked about their favorite books. “I like reading the ‘Twilight’ books and ‘Harry Potter,’” Aiyana said, adding that the first “Twilight” book is her favorite. Crystal, on the other hand, said she preferred the second book in the series.

Nicholas McLaughlin, 14, a fan of “Lord of the Rings” and teen fantasy novels, was enjoying the carnival although he was working as a volunteer. He became involved in the carnival, he said, because he is spending his summer volunteering at the library — something he hopes to do in the future as a paid summer job.

Nicole Ramirez, 7, expressed enthusiasm for all the carnival attractions, particularly the games, the food, Miyamura High School’s purple pirate mascot and the “Sonic guys” — mascots from the fast food drive-in. Nicole also expressed enthusiasm for reading. “I like to read because you can imagine the stories,” she said. Nicole explained she likes chapter books with fewer illustrations so she can use her imagination more.

Mary Ellen Pellington, Gallup’s new director of the Octavia Fellin Public Library, said books also captured her imagination when she was a child living in New Jersey. One book in particular, “Blue Willow,” had a major impact on her life, Pellington explained, because it sparked an interest in traveling to see how other people lived.

As a librarian, Pellington said she encourages parents to read early and often to their children, to make reading fun, to be aware of their child’s reading level and skill, and to turn to librarians for suggestions about good children’s books.

Children who read during the summer do better academically in school, she said, and research has shown students’ library use correlates to higher SAT scores.

“The concept ‘reading is fundamental’ is more than a statement,” Pellington said, “it’s a reality.”

In addition to all the activities Pellington and Spiros were supervising at the carnival, the librarians said they were also looking forward to their own first-ever contribution to the Lions Club Parade. They, along with librarian Kathy Rowe of Tohatchi High School and Allison Dollar of Stagecoach Elementary, had formed the Octavia Fellin Public Library Book Cart Drill Team and would be performing a number of book cart drill routines as they walked in the parade.

There is actually a national book cart drill team competition, Pellington said, and she is recruiting more community members for future Gallup parades. Spiros predicted that once folks see “what a hoot” the drill team members are having in parades, more people will want to join.

Participants don’t have to be librarians, but a love of reading and a good sense of humor would presumably be helpful.