The Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library is gearing up for summer by launching its annual Reading Buddies Program, and this year it’s expanding to serve local families better.
The program, which runs through July and August, pairs children in Grades 1 to 5 with volunteer mentors for one-on-one reading support. Each buddy meets with a volunteer for an hour a week at the library to read books, play literacy games, and participate in other fun and educational activities.
Youth Services Specialist Cassie Wood said the initiative will keep kids learning throughout the summer.
"With the hopes of maintaining the literacy skills that they have gained throughout the school year and to avoid the summer slide," she explained. "So when they're not engaging necessarily as much with reading, because there's a lot going on in the summer, we don't want them to fall behind for the new school year."
New for 2025, the library is also offering Reading Buddies for English Language Learners (ELLs). Open to children in Grades 1 to 8 who are learning English as an additional language, this program focuses on building both literacy and speaking skills. Two special events are planned to help participants connect and grow their English confidence in a supportive environment.
Applications are now being accepted for both programs, with the library also seeking volunteer mentors, including bilingual volunteers who speak French.
"We usually target high school volunteers for this program, but adults are also welcome to apply," Wood added. "So we are actually in need of more volunteers. We already had quite a lot of reader applications, but we would really benefit from more volunteers."
High school students can count their mentoring hours toward community involvement requirements. All volunteers receive training, scheduled for June 27.
The deadline to apply is Friday, June 6. Applications and more information are available through the library’s Youth Services department or online at www.osngupl.ca/reading-buddies.