THE two-week Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Summer Reading Program ended on June 17 with participants receiving prizes, such as gift certificates, books, back-to-school supplies, and toys.
For Isamu Santos and Sumai Castro, both 7 years old, the program activities were a lot of fun.
A first grader at San Vicente Elementary School, Santos said, “I’m going to join again next year, and I’ll tell my friends to also join.”
As part of the reading program, the participants went on a field trip.
“Me and my friends went to a house, and there was a man and it had canoes in it,” Santos said. “I saw a guy making a canoe…and their teacher was there, a guy named Tony [Piailug], and he taught them how to read the stars and make canoes,” Santos added.
Castro, a first grader at Mount Carmel School, said she, too, will join the reading program again next year. “I had a lot of fun doing the activities and during the field trip to the Chamorro Village,” she added.
What’s next
JKPL Director Erlinda Naputi said they will “go out to the community and reach out to all those underserved children who were unable to come to the library.”
She said the JKPL team will be at the MIHA housing in Garapan and in Koblerville.
“We’re working closely with the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. Corporate Director Jessie Palacios and program manager Dave Chargualaf,” she added. “We’re getting a location in both areas so we can provide the children living there with the same opportunity provided to the children that come to the library.”
As for the reading challenge, Naputi said July 3, 2022 is the last day to submit the participants’ reading log sheet booklets.
She said JKPL will announce the winners on Aug. 6, 2022.
“We have really good prizes this year,” Naputi said. “Docomo donated $250 worth of in-kind donations for families that are reading together as our grand prize.”
She added, “Our summer reading program has always been very successful and it wouldn’t have been that successful if it wasn’t for our supporters, sponsors and our donors. We would like to make sure that we acknowledge each one of them and we’re thanking them from the bottom of our hearts, and I want them to know that every penny that comes into this library it goes out to every single community member that comes in. Whatever investment you make into this library it goes out to the community and not just for certain individuals but for everyone involved.”
This year, the sponsors are 670 Rocksteady, Bank of Guam, Bridge Capital LLC, Chong’s Corporation, D&Q International Distributors, Docomo Pacific Saipan, E-Land Group, Gold’s Gym, Friends of JKPL, Hong Ye Hardware, Hyatt Regency Saipan, J.C. Tenorio Enterprises, Joeten Motors, Joeten Superstore, Lollipops, Lady Diann Torres Foundation, Marianas Pacific Distributors, McDonald’s Saipan, M.S. Villagomez Incorporated, Oh My Grill!, Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Pacific Advisory Services, Pacific Trading Company, Priority Care, Saipan & Northern Islands Municipal Council, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Office of the Governor, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Rep. Roy Ada, Rep. Sheila Babauta, Rep. Angel Demapan, Rep. Leila Staffler, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, Senate President Jude Hofschneider, Sen. Karl King-Nabors, Sen. Vinnie Sablan, and Sen. Teresita Santos.
San Vicente Elementary School first grader Isamu Santos is one of this year’s JKPL Summer Reading Program participants.
Sumai Castro, a JKPL Summer Reading Program participant, is a first grader at Mount Carmel School.
JKPL Director Erlinda Naputi said they will also reach out to the community and the underserved children who are unable to come to the library.
JKPL held its closing ceremony for this year’s Summer Reading Program on June 17.
JKPL held its closing ceremony for this year’s Summer Reading Program on June 17.
