OCEANSIDE — The weekly bookmobile stop at John Landes Park brought some extra fun June 13.To kick off the Summer Reading Program for kids, teens and adults, Clint Perry and The Boo-Hoo Crew performed outside the bookmobile while readers checked out books.The Summer Reading Program gives incentives to readers of all ages to read a good book. Children receive a small prize each week they read for 30 minutes, five days a week. Teens and adults are given food and entertainment coupons for every three books they read and then write about in short book reviews. Adults also receive a book bag just for signing up.
“Parents are asking if we’re still coming during the summer so children can keep up with their reading,” Guillermo Valencia, library technician and bookmobile driver, said. “We’re really, really excited about the Summer Reading Program.”
The bookmobile stops weekly at Libby Lake Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, and John Landes Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Both stops are located near community recreation centers. There are between 100 and 200 patrons who check out books at each stop.
“It’s really important to have the bookmobile,” Valencia said. “We serve people who don’t have vehicle transportation to the Mission Branch or Civic Center Library. It’s a way for the city to reach out to patrons.”
The bookmobile has the same checkout procedures as the branch libraries. A computer checkout system allows patrons to return their books to the bookmobile or branch libraries.
The 42-foot bookmobile carries four computers with Internet access, one computer designated to games, and more than 2,000 books and DVDs.
Patrons can request a specific book online or by phone and it will be onboard the bookmobile for checkout the following week.
In addition to book checkout services, librarians hold a story time outside the bookmobile about four times a year.
The performance by Clint Perry and The Boo-Hoo Crew was an extra treat for readers. Perry played guitar and led children in active sing-alongs. Props were on hand for a singing teddy bear parade and bubble song, along with other favorites.
“He’s awesome,” Nickie Rail, a mother from Vista, said. “He’s super friendly and has great songs.”
Clint Perry and The Boo-Hoo Crew have a meetup group following and play at more than a dozen events a month.
On June 13 some new listeners also enjoyed the singing, marching and music.
The Summer Reading Program will be held through Aug. 4 at all Oceanside Public Library and bookmobile locations.
