* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
           
          [2023 Summer Reading Club Kickoff Party ]
          [00:00:05]
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AT THE GRAND PRAIRIE LIBRARY. 
          DO Y'ALL HAVE AN EVENT GUIDE? THE END OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS HUNDREDS OF KIDS, TEENS AND ADULTS TO THE CITY'S MAIN LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE ALWAYS POPULAR SUMMER READING CLUB. 
          THE THEME FOR SRC 2023 IS ALL TOGETHER NOW, AND THE BIG KICKOFF EVENT SETS THE TONE WITH A THEME OF ITS OWN. 
          YAY. 
          OUR BIG KICKOFF TODAY IS OUR BE KIND SRC KICKOFF CELEBRATION. 
          SO AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYTHING IS BE THEMED. 
          WE HAVE BEEKEEPERS HERE. 
          THE QUEEN IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS PICTURE. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          SHE SAID BEEKEEPERS WHO BROUGHT REAL HONEY BEETS. 
          EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU CAN HEAR A VERY LOUD BUZZ. 
          SEE THE LITTLE WHITE LARVAS IN THERE? THERE WERE ALSO LOTS OF OTHER NATURE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO, INCLUDING PLAY AREAS, FACE PAINTING, ALL KINDS OF CRAFTS, A COMMUNITY ART MURAL, PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH SOME FAMOUS CHARACTERS. 
          AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF READING LOGS TO KEEP EVERYONE DOING JUST THAT ALL SUMMER LONG. 
          THE BIG REASON WE DO SUMMER READING CLUB IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT SUMMER SLIDE WITH KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL. 
          SO WHENEVER THEY'RE OUT OF SCHOOL, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN SHOWN THAT READING AND MATH SKILLS KIND OF DECLINE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. 
          BUT WE DON'T WANT THAT. 
          WE WANNA KEEP THEIR BRAINS ENGAGED, WE WANNA KEEP THEM LEARNING. 
          WE WANNA KEEP THEM GOING TO LIKE SOCIAL EVENTS. 
          SO WHENEVER THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY TO OUR PROGRAMS, WE'RE READING, WE'RE DOING STEM ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS SCIENCE AND MATH AND TECHNOLOGY, AND WE HAVE FUN AND WE ARE COMING ALL TOGETHER. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT THE LIBRARY'S ALL ABOUT. 
          THIS YEAR'S KICKOFF CELEBRATION DREW, 760 PEOPLE. 
          IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SUMMER READING CLUB, PLEASE VISIT THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE AT GPTX.ORG/LIBRARY.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.