It’s summer, and summer reading programs at local libraries are starting up.

Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., summer reading program started last week and while registration has been slow, growth has been seen in its new adult program.

“We thought we might get 18 but we have 70,” said Marie Baldo, library director.

Each of the library’s three programs, children, teen, and adult, are geared towards each group’s age.

“The teens are doing a karaoke night with the Wii while the little guys are doing a craft making June 16,”?Baldo said.

The younger children also get to try to find the stuffed animal version of the program’s mascot, Buckey the Beaver, who graces the library’s entrance currently in a punk rock costume.

“The kids receive sheets of paper with clues to show them where Buckey is,” she said.

Adults in the adult program learn gardening techniques from a master gardener or quilting, Baldo added.

Other events include a musical petting zoo by John and Jordawn Wambeke on June 19 and a magic act by Mike Mullans on July 16.

The library will also be showing family movies during the summer reading program.

Baldo said the summer reading program continues to grow each year with the goal in mind to bring people to the library, particularly the younger children.

That goal is similar to the Stanfield Public Library, 180 W. Coe Ave., and their own summer reading program.

“Our goal is to keep kids reading with incentives so they don’t lose skills during the sumer,” said Cecili Longhorn, Children’s Librarian.

The library kicked off its summer reading program Monday with Ronald McDonald visiting the library for a second year in a row; reading stories to the kids and other fun activities.

The visit is just one of many things happening at the library during its program for preschoolers on Tuesday, the youth on Wednesday and teens on Fridays.

“The preschool kids are doing crafts, the youth are doing bookmaking and the teens are painting images on black paper with glow-in-the-dark paint,” Longhorn said.

The paintings will be put on display during the city of Stanfield’s July 3 steak feed fundraiser for the Fourth of July celebration, she added.

Other events include a visit also from magician Mark Mullans on June 20 and June 24 and interactive storyteller Eric Herman.

The library will also be giving out digital cameras and other prizes in a raffle at the end of the program July 30 to members of the teen and youth groups.

Teens and youth have to turn in weekly reading journals to qualify, Longhorn said.

“Each reading journal equals a raffle ticket,” she said.

The Echo Public Library’s, summer reading program is also starting this month.

The program begins at 3 p.m. June 23 in the library located at 21 S. Bonanza in Echo, with the theme “Be Creative at the Library.”

Participants will have craft and story time and help pain murals on the front of the Echo Masonic Lodge.

Later in July, the Umatilla Public Library, 911 7th St. will begin registering for its reading program.

Like the other libraries, art is the theme for the library with crafts, games and sidewalk art planned and is looked forward to by the kids.

“The kids look forward to it, especially arts and crafts ,” said Jen Admire, library aide.