From the September 2004 American Libraries.

Summer Reading, 2004—Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Public libraries nationwide bustled with the sound of music and visits from clowns and four-footed friends during 2004 summer reading events.

Marion County Library
The All-Girl Air Band performs June 1 on the steps of Marion County (S.C.) Library.

Grand Rapids PL
Sled dogs from the Iditarod receive some love June 22 at Grand Rapids
(Mich.) Public Library’s
main branch.

Newark PL
Artist Donald Crews, together with his daughter Nina Crews (middle) and his wife Ann Jonas,
kicks off an exhibition of the family’s joint artwork July 14 at Newark (N.J.) Public Library.

Loudoun County PL
Visionary Lakota Hoop Dancer Kevin Locke July 22 at Loudoun County (Va.) Public Library.

Houston PL
Bonzo Crunch, from Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, juggles July 9 at
Houston Public Library’s Dixon branch.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Discover New Trails @ Your Library program patron narrows her selection June 13 at
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Polk County PL
Laura Way gets close to an Appalachian Mountain Marionette at Polk County
(N.C.) Pubic Library
July 21.

Syosset PL
Bonnie Kim and Emma Sun make colorful collages for “New York Is Read, White, and Blue”
August 2 at Syosset (N.Y.) Public Library.

Somerset County PL
Local baseball team mascot Sparkee poses July 8 with a
Somerset County (N.J.) Library System patron.

Pulaski County PL
Miss Carol, children’s librarian at Pulaski County (Ky.) Public Library, perches on a
billboard for eight hours July 16 after 1,573 children enrolled in summer reading programs.

asheville pl
Participants experience a reptilian close encounter during “Snakes Alive” July 7
at Asheville-Buncombe (N.C.) Library System’s South Buncombe branch.

 

Cumberland County
Children meet a young python July 21 while “Discovering New Trails”
and the animals they might encounter at Cumberland County (N.C.) Library
and Information Center, Fayetteville.

 

Palm Beach County
Dewey, the library owl, welcomes visitors June 5 to
Palm Beach (Fla.) County Library System.

 

Richmond Memorial Library
Capturing the “New York is Read, White, and Blue” statewide theme,
a 23-foot train stops June 21–August 13 at Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia
for a “Whistle-Stop Campaign” and (below) a participant models a
Statue of Liberty crown at Rockville Centre Public Library.

Rockville Centre

Orange County PL
A covered wagon awaits summer reading registrants at
Orange County (Calif.) Public Library’s Dana Point branch.

 

Des Plaines PL
Young adult volunteers Caitlin Glitz (left) and Loren Andrade are jailed
July 1 at Des Plaines (Ill.) Public Library during an
“Explore the Reading Trail” event.

 

Pacolet Library
The Cat in the Hat, portrayed by Elliott Denkers,
visits Pacolet (S.C.) Library May 27 during a kick-off event.

 

Enoch Pratt Free Library
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller signs a helmet July 21
at Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Hampden branch.

 

Ela Area PL
Armed with a musical medley of junk, Mitch Martin (left) and Vince Romanelli
perform as The Bucket Boys August 6 at Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

 

Poquoson PL
A group of 1st through 5th grade students tune up their homemade instruments
June 23 during the “And All That Jazz” program at Poquoson (Va.) Public Library.