Well-read - Library celebrates end of summer program

Sidney Public Library's summer reading program this year encouraged participants to get excited about science.

The program came to a close on Tuesday with awards and a special invention presentation by 12-year-old Benjamin Bashtovoi. Bashtovoi invented a book-finding device that would roll along the library shelves to find books for those who don't know how to use the library's system. A person searching for a book would simply type the title into a computer, which would send the information to the device that Bashtovoi called the Book Worm. The invention would then find the book by rolling along the shelves using a grid system. This would leave the librarians free to do other work instead of finding books for library patrons.

The library's summer reading program opened at the end of May with a movie night hosted by the Friends of the Library. It continued with science demonstrations two times per week featuring investigation stations. Although 212 kids and young adults signed up for the program about 100 completed it. To complete the program participants had to attend at least two science demonstrations and read 10 books. Kids from two years old through high school took part in the program.