TIMMINS -- Staff at Timmins Public Library are rejoicing after being nationally recognized for their work with the TD Summer Reading Club program

The library won the program’s second-place prize for its 2019 season, which comes with a plaque and $4,000 that it will receive when libraries can reopen.

Awards are given to participating libraries that showed innovation and effective approaches to their summer reading programs.

"We were thrilled when we found out that we had won 2nd place," said the library’s early childhood education advisor and program lead, Melissa Vieno. "All of our hard work and planning over the years, it paid off [...] and it tells us that we’re doing something right."

The Timmins library has been running its reading club for over 20 years. Some summers would see around 80 to 90 participants register — 2019 saw over 200.

Erin Auger, the library’s assistant director, believes the library’s persistent outreach, from online to on the street, played a big role in boosting its base of young readers.

She said community partnerships with local businesses, organizations like Science Timmins and even the local police department, helped drive more families into the library to sign up for the summer program.

"We really upped our game to compete against a lot of those larger libraries," Auger said.

Library staff said it’s especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep up with literacy in the household.

Reports suggest around 30 per cent of kindergarten children and 40 per cent of youth lack adequate literacy skills for their age.

Auger said investing in digital reading platforms like Hoopla and engaging with families through social media played a key role in boosting its young readership — and will be especially important as the pandemic progresses.

"There are so many ways for families to access materials if they have access to internet and they have a device," Auger said. “Children are still going to be able to Zoom with their team leaders to talk about their books."

Despite the facility being closed, the library plans to offer the summer reading club program again this year.

"It’s going to be a little bit different, but it’s still going to have the same interaction," said Auger.

The TD Summer Reading Club cancelled distribution of all physical programming materials this season. It’s working on switching to an entirely online program in time for the launch of its 2020 season on June 15.