Library's Summer Reading Program Aims To Plant Tree of Knowledge

The Melrose Public Library summer reading program, "Go Green," starts today, with craft projects, the annual scavenger hunt and special surprises all happening at the library today between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Children and young adults will be able to see the fruits of their labors if they reach the goal of 10,000 reading hours this summer, as the Trustees of the Melrose Public Library will purchase a tree to be planted in the sidewalk space in front of the library when the goal is accomplished.

In the meantime, Linda Walsh, assistant director at the library, said summer reading program participants can monitor their progress on the "tree" in the library's lobby.

"It's not a real tree," she said with a chuckle. "As they sign up, their names are written on leaves — each leaf has a kid's name. Then, for every five books that they read, they get a Popsicle stick, which is going up like bark on the tree in the lobby."

Exactly what kind of tree the trustees will purchase if the young readers reach 10,000 reading hours hasn't been determined yet, Walsh said.

Keeping with the "green" theme, Walsh said that children will also write down on paper hands how they're going to "give the earth a hand" this summer, with those paper hands displayed in the library's windows.

"They're writing down what they're going to personally do to be more green," she said. "We are trying to use as much recycled material and all those types of things in our program this year."

The summer reading program runs until Friday, Aug. 13.