Dundee Township Public Library notes

Dundee Township Public Library

Eleven area teens were honored Aug. 1 by the Dundee Township Public Library for their participation as volunteers for the library's 2007 Children's Summer Reading Program, which ended July 28.

They were among the 22 young people who logged more than 527 hours during the "Mission Read: To the Library and Beyond," this year's theme for annual event.

"We could not run the successful programs we've had over the years without the helping hands of our teen volunteers," said Heidi Hohman, department head.

"They do everything from registering readers, handing out book lists, help participants figure out the rules, assisting with the special crafts and programs held around the theme."

According to Hohman, when the library calculated the value of the work donated at the minimum wage rate of $5.85 per hour, the teens saved the library more than $3,082 in the eight weeks the program ran this year.

The 1,429 children who signed up read a total of 4,830 minutes, with 730 who finished the program by completing all of the required reading projects and received prizes.

According to Hohman, Meadowdale Elementary School in Carpentersville won the recognition for the most improved participation in the summer reading program, with Immanual Lutheran School in East Dundee in second place and Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in third.

Teen volunteers include: Jennifer Loni and Michele Olszynski, both of Sleepy Hollow; Michael Atten and Lynnette Grant, both of West Dundee; Samantha Bara, Ali Featherstone, Josh Gospodarek, Kevin Lipp, Jackie Payne, Celeste Rouer and Josh Voltz, all of Carpentersville.

This year's participation showed an increase of 29 percent more children who registered when compared to last year's figures.