Although little wookies and stormtroopers won’t be able to attend in person this year, Airdrie Public Library (APL) will provide a number of intergalactic activities to promote literacy during a modified Star Wars Reads Day Oct. 17.
According to Eric Pottie, programming and customer engagement manager, Star Wars Reads Day is a way to celebrate reading and encourage children to pick up a book by connecting literacy with a universe they are already interested in.
“It’s easy to tell a kid, ‘We’re going to go to an activity full of Star Wars stuff, and by the way, there are books,’” he said. “You can get those kids that may not be as strong of a reader or kind of a reluctant reader.”
In the past, Pottie said, APL has hosted activities and games at the library on Star Wars Reads Day. Because of COVID-19, that’s not possible this year.
Instead, APL will distribute activity kits beginning Oct. 12. A total of 75 kits will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“They’ll be in the library, behind the front desk,” Pottie said. “You just go to the front desk and say, ‘I’m here to collect a package for Star Wars Reads Day,’” he said.
Then, on Oct. 17, APL will post videos online leading a variety of Star Wars-themed activities using the kits that families can participate in from their homes. The library will post one video to airdriepubliclibrary.ca every half hour from 10 a.m. until noon.
“We’re encouraging kids to come in the week of and grab that stuff so they’d be able to participate on the day of,” Pottie said.
Pottie said there is no age limit for people to collect the kits, but the activities are geared towards school-aged children.
During the course of the day, children will learn to fold Star Wars origami, create wookie bookmarks, design lightsabers and learn about planetary science from Don Hladiuk, the CBC Starman.
Many of the activities can be completed at home without the kits, Pottie added.
“Unfortunately, if you were the 76th person, you would have to get your own supplies, but we’re making it so no one activity is going to cost too much money,” he said.
Usually, fans will dress up in Star Wars costumes. APL is still encouraging that to happen, and families can post photos of their costumes to social media using #aplstarwarsread. Everyone who posts a photo will be eligible to win door prizes.
Ultimately, Pottie said, the goal of Star Wars Reads Day is to hook kids on literacy and learning so that they will develop habits that last into adulthood.
“We want every kid to love the library and feel they’re comfortable and confident to find what they need,” he said.
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
