Kickoff Event For Library’s Summer Reading Program Exceeds Expectations

The Ste. Genevieve County Library made scientists out of everyone at its summer reading kickoff event on June 1.

“This event was both exciting and inspiring to watch,” Ste. Genevieve County Library Director Shawn Long said. “The Bonne Terre Space Museum exceeded our expectations with their program, and to have them so close to home allowed our residents to experience something that not even the [St. Louis] Science Center puts on.”

The program involved going through the discovery of gunpowder and the importance of why rockets have fins, a demonstration on newer forms of rocket fuel, and ended with a show-and-tell including astronaut suit parts and even a toilet seat.

Participants also built their own stomp rocket using the same principles that they learned during the presentation.

Before participants left, they also participated in some hands-on library activities, including straw rockets, designing constellations and drawing on the library’s Summer Reading Rocket that will be available all summer.

“This was a great event and really exciting to see the turnout,” Long said. “We had over 120 people throughout the day and 60 watching the presentation. Add that to the 15 people signing up for library cards and countless participants who signed up to participate in summer reading we are really happy to see the excitement in this community for our services.”

For more information about future library events, check out the library’s Facebook page or contact the library at contact@sgclib.org or 573-883-3358.

(Information in a release from the Ste. Genevieve County Library.)

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