Image-File, Valley Publishing

Image-File, Valley Publishing

Image-File, Valley Publishing

Image-File, Valley Publishing

Image-File, Valley Publishing

Jesus De la Rosa, 35, and his wife Ofelia were just as entertained watching the magic show as were their two daughters, 5 and 8 years old. The De la Rosa's were taking part in a summer kids program (up to 12 years of age) offered at the Northwest Library located on the El Paso Community College Northwest Campus during the summer on Saturdays.

Bob King was in the middle of his windup and all the young kids were learning about how reading is fun. In the midst of coaxing the youngsters toward the notion that reading is really "very cool"; Bob the Magician would interject a few simple magician tricks to keep the kids laughing and screaming.

De la Rosa said that they have been bringing their kids to the library for a couple of years now. He indicated that the kids really enjoy the shows and that his kids are reading more as a consequence.

Librarian Ana Hernandez explains that a more diversified program takes place during Monday-Friday. Its called the "Teen Hangout" and it is a program that has been initiated at the EPCC Northwest Campus for several years during the summer. "This is a partnership program between the El Paso Community College Library and the El Paso LIbrary System of the City of El Paso." Hernandez indicates that "Their are a number of activites for teens and pre-teens". The programs include activites and demonstrations such as "Sign Language, Exercise Classes like Hip-Hop dancing... Belly Dancing."

"The Saturday Summer Reading program offers many presentations "every Saturday at 1:00 P.M. We have entertainers, magicians, story tellers... this weekend we will have a story teller from Las Cruces. Teri Alvarez is a wonderful story teller, a gypsy story teller".

"The kids register for the Summer Reading Class and commit to read one book a week. At the end of the week they get a prize for reading that book. At the end of the summer if they have read eight books a week they will receive a certificate. All the kids are invited to a end of summer party." said Hernandez.

Hernandez indicates that there are a number of venues and approaches but "the emphasis is on reading... also children learn to come to a library, learn about the resources that are available at the library and also about all the different types of books and topics that are housed in a library.

Programs and/or demonstrations include yoga, martial arts, dancing, singing, computer literacy, web graphic design, self-defense, beauty & poise which will include a fashion show, and a magician and comedian shows.

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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon

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