Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

August 4, 2010, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Wegner continues to make reading fun

By Peter Spicer

Neillsville Public Library Children’s Librarian Kathy Wegner is enjoying her 20^th year working at the library and with the library’s Summer Reading Program.

Wegner has coordinated the Summer Reading Program since 2000 and has been involved with the program since 1991 when she began working at the library as a substitute.

Wegner’s mother, Angie, who still works at the library, began working there shortly before she talked her daughter into substituting there.  Wegner then began working part time at the library in 1996 and became the children’s librarian in 2000.

Wegner also runs the library’s Inter-Library Loan program, which allows the library to borrow books and loan books to other libraries in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.

In 2009, the Neillsville Public Library borrowed 1,204 books and sent out 300 books to other libraries.  This June, the library borrowed 94 books.

Wegner is a lifelong Neillsville resident; she and her husband, Wayne, have two children and five grandchildren.  The Wegner’s son, Bryan, lives in Neillsville while their daughter, Carrie Ann, lives in Green Bay.

Over 130 youth are involved in the Summer Reading Program this summer, but coordinating the fun begins early each year for Wegner.

Wegner begins scheduling performers for the over three-month long program in January.  She works with other area libraries to schedule performers for the same day, saving the library on performer’s travel expenses.

The Summer Reading Program, which is held for children ages five through 12, began June 9 and runs through Aug. 14, said Wegner.

Students choose the number of books they plan to read at the beginning of the summer program and then are awarded by Neillsville businesses for meeting their goals, said Wegner.

The Clark County Dairy Promotion Committee donated treats for those who signed up for the Summer Reading Program June 9.

Students in the summer program meet at the library each Wednesday night to make crafts and learn about many subjects from the guest presenters.

Presentations and activities this summer included: Sky Schultz, who led a program about water; three Craft Day programs; Curt Sturtz, “The Bassmeister,” who led a program about fishing; Randy Peterson, who provided music and storytelling; a Remnants of the Rainforest program; musician, story teller and humorist Tom Pease; and story teller Tracy Chipman.

The Friends of the Library, Pamida Foundation and Wisconsin Valley Library Service funded the presentations.

Neillsville FFA members helped students make crafts, said Wegner, who explained local businesses provide ice cream treats for the students.

Students who meet their reading goals receive coupons from Neillsville business, including Subway, Holiday Station, Haines Strike Time Lanes, A&W, Mary’s, Hansen’s (did not find balance of article on another page, sorry.)

Kathy Wegner, Neillsville Public Library Children’s librarian, poses in front of the large “Make a Splash-READ” wall mural located in the children’s section of the library. She is also wearing the theme shirt for the 2010 Summer Reading Program. (Photo by Nancy Halterman/Clark County Press)