January 25, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Talk of the Town with Susan McKinney

Every week we ask a village official three questions. This week we talked to St. Joseph Township Librarian Susan McKinney about the summer reading program.

This post is sponsored by St. Joseph Siding and Window.

What sort of events do you have planned as part of the summer reading program?
The reading program began on June 3rd and the library had had Kim Sheahan a Professional Storyteller.  Each week of our program we offer Drop-In craft time, adult coloring time and sidewalk chalk art.

Drop-In Craft Time is on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages three and up. The craft takes 10-15 minutes. Adult Coloring Time takes place Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and is for adults ages 18 and up. Sidewalk Chalk Art takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays for children ages three and up. Children can decorate our sidewalks and parking lot with their creative pictures.

We have Concerts on the lawn on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Our concert dates this summer are July 5 and July 26.  People should bring a blanket or chairs to sit on the south lawn and listen to some musical entertainment.  If it is raining, the concert is cancelled.

On July 12th will be the Summer Reading Program party from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The library will have the Mobile Scovill Zoo inside the library.  The grand prize drawing will be at 3 p.m. and we’ll have Inflatables on the south lawn 2 to 4 p.m.  This party is open to all area children.

Can people still sign up for the summer reading program?
  Yes, people can sign up for the reading program until the last day which is Saturday, July 6th.  All log sheets must be turned in by Saturday, July 6th for eligibility in the grand prize drawings.  We have a children’s program (age 3 to completed 6th grade); a teen program (completed 7th grade to completed 12th grade) and an adult program (age 18 and up after high school).


Why do you think it is so important for the library to have a summer reading program?
The main reason to have a summer reading program is to encourage people to continue reading when they are not in school.  Summer Brain Drain happens if we do not continue reading.  Summer Brain Drain (also called Summer Slide) is the phenomena where you forget what you learned in the previous year of school.  Reading stimulates brain activity so that the children retain more of what they learn.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Kids say… what does a farmer do?

December 22, 2019

December 22, 2019

This week we asked students at St. Joseph Grade School to tell us what they think a farmer does. What...

Employees help co-worker during time of need

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

The staff at the St. Joseph Subway wanted to help April Patton. Manager Adam Porter said his co-worker said she...

Friends hope to help Heritage alumni battle illness

February 15, 2019

February 15, 2019

Heritage alumni Anya Knecht makes food for her friends, family and coworkers. She sends cards and handmade gifts to others....

Senior Spotlight… Hannah Rajlich

June 18, 2019

June 18, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we talked to Hannah Rajlich. This post is sponsored...

Fine arts student of the month… Kabriel Schuster

August 29, 2019

August 29, 2019

Each month a committee of teachers selects a fine arts student of the month from nominees from the drama, art...

10 things you don’t know about me… Dina Fox

June 5, 2019

June 5, 2019

My husband, Kerry, and I met when I was 18 years old in the middle of a snow storm.  We’ve...

A familiar face joins Longview Bank

November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021

Sara Bryan has always had a passion for helping people. That passion was instilled in her by her father who...

‘They want to show their support of the law enforcement and their family’

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Jim and Jen Wagner support their community, so when a friend came in to their store, Wagner signs and Graphics,...

Success of students, FFA is what Duitsman will remember about her time at SJO

July 30, 2019

July 30, 2019

This August will be a little different for Katie Duitsman. The former St. Joseph-Ogden High School agriculture teacher will not...

Running for a good cause

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

John Lubinski has a sizable commute each day to get from his home in St. Joseph to his place of...

Senior Spotlight: Libby Rowland

May 13, 2019

May 13, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. First up is senior Libby Rowland. What will you be...

Kids say..

April 27, 2019

April 27, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

St. Joseph PTC sponsoring school supply drive

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

Katie May doesn’t want any child in St. Joseph to start the school year without the supplies they need. The...

Kids say…Would you like to be a farmer? Why or why not?

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

Every week we ask area students questions about being a farmer. This week we spoke to kids at PVO South....

10 things you don’t know about me… Jim Cotter

August 19, 2020

August 19, 2020

My favorite childhood memory is going to Kings Island with my family every summer on vacation My first pet was...

Comments
Leave a Reply