Local students help promote Read to Succeed

The Town and Country Library in Elburn enlists high school students in its Read to Succeed program in more ways than one.

The library alternates between the two high schools within the library district - Central High School in Burlington and Kaneland High School in Maple Park - to recruit models for posters promoting the program. Using students as models began three years ago when the library decided to use student athletes. Read to Succeed is sponsored by the Chicago Wolves American Hockey League team.

This year it's Central's turn, and members of the wrestling team and the color guard have posed for posters.

"I have a lot of fun taking the pictures," said Adult Services Librarian Catherine Korthals. "The students chose their own poses this year."

Korthals keeps some of the posters for the library, and distributes others to elementary, middle and high schools within the district of the chosen high school. The posters are always a popular item at the school that gets to provide the models.

According to Dwayne Nelson, youth services and reference librarian, students receive prizes when they return with their Read to Succeed form indicating that they completed 200 minutes of reading. Children choose their own books.

The Chicago Wolves donate tickets and caps. Nelson also gets donations from local businesses for free ice cream, pizza or bowling which are given as prizes. The forms are due back Feb. 2.

"We'll have an after school ice cream social and invite the Central High School hockey team to come and give us a demonstration," Nelson said.

For details, call the library at (630) 365-2244.

Dinner is Jan. 17: The Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Fisherman's Inn on Main Street Road in Elburn.

The cost is $50 per person, $90 per couple. Reservations are due Jan. 9. Call (630) 466-7895.