Summer fun at the Dayton Library

More than 50 Dayton youths have spent the past six weeks learning that reading is fun.

The Dayton branch of the Lyon County Library hosted a summer reading program, "Discovering New Trails," which concluded this week with a party and raffle of prizes donated by area merchants. The students began meeting June 16.

"I've really had fun this year," said Brandi Barnhart, the one-year library employee and five-year volunteer who was in charge of this year's program.

"We've done a lot of things over the last five weeks," Barnhart said after the fifth-week puppet show. "The (readers) had five weeks to read five books, or to listen."

Students were divided into four age groups - Listening Bookaroos, with children 6 and under; Reading Explorers, ages 6 through fifth grade; Sheriff's Book Posse, sixth through eighth grades; and Teen Trailblazers, ninth through 12th grade.

They met each Wednesday or Thursday for crafts, special programs, weekly prizes and, of course, reading adventures.

Programs have included puppet shows, a hike and a visit from a Pony Express re-enactor. The students also wrote summer journals.

- Sally Taylor