>The Lanesboro Public Library has just completed another successful summer reading program. 112 readers signed up to find out “What’s Cookin’” at the Lanesboro Library and 26 of those readers qualified for the grand prize drawing. Over the course of the summer, 164 reading prizes were given away to local readers. Furthermore, 39 separate readers completed over one hundred book reviews in order to qualify for the weekly drawing at the library.

Throughout the summer, the Lanesboro Library hosted a variety of programs for area children. At the beginning of June, the summer reading program was kicked off with “Food Tales from Around the World,” performed by Rochester storyteller Kevin Strauss. The Upper Iowa Dog Training Club also visited the library to instruct kids on dog safety. Area children competed against each other by creating edible concoctions in the first ever Iron Chef Competition. Magic Norm the magician visited the library and demonstrated that reading really can be magic. Finally, over the entire summer, volunteer storytellers visited the library twice a week to read stories and sing songs with area children. Total attendance at these programs at the library exceeded over six hundred people.

The summer reading program enabled many readers to become winners over the summer. Through writing book reviews, participating in the iron chef competition, and completing reading logs, the following readers were prize winners: Esme Decker, Rachel Eversole, Jenna Dyreson, Brooke Lambrecht, Alex Knutson, Halle Scott, Olivia Obritsch, Sarah Eversole, Sam Stocker, Abby Stocker, Weston Ohl, Mitchell Walbridge, Travis Troendle, Sophie Pieper, Morgan Ming, Evan Thiss, Claire Pieper, Marcus Walbridge, Anthony Brazee, Tate Pieper, Alyssa Gathje, Joe Gathje, Alexis Lea, Abigail Butler, and Wyatt Miehlisch.

Special thanks to the Friends of the Library for funding the kick-off performer. Also, thanks to the following business who donated giveaway prizes: Rhino’s Pizza & Sub Shoppe, Commonweal Theatre Company, Spoiled Rotten, Associated Bank, and Pedal Pusher’s Café. Finally, great thanks to the numerous volunteers who helped make the 2008 summer reading program a huge success.

Photos of the entire reading program can be found here.