Paso Robles Masons establish new award for summer readers at library

Posted: 11:30 am, July 22, 2014 by Publisher Scott Brennan

Members of the Paso Robles Thaddeus Sherman Masonic Lodge 196 gave the Paso Robles City Library staff and their young patrons a lot to smile about on Monday when they presented an $850 check to the Paso Robles Library Foundation. The donation will be used to establish a new award for young readers called the Masons Summer Reading Award, as well as help to purchase paperback book prizes for teens who participate in the library’s summer reading program. Pictured here from L-R are front row: Children’s Services Librarian, Heather Stephenson with story time friends Ximai Manuo, Ruth Schulte, Marie Schulte, Lucy Schulte, Faith Patterson and Acel Patterson. In the back row (L-R): Bob Ellis of the Masons, Karen Christiansen, Paso Robles Library Manager, Mayor Duane Picanco, Mason Master Thomas Irwin, City Councilman Steve Martin, Masons Franz Wagner and Connie L. Jarvis, Paso Robles Library Foundation board member Sally Martinus, and Masons Runo Lemming, Jerry McKinnon, Jerry Harbick and Marlin Lea.

The Paso Robles Thaddeus Sherman Masonic Lodge 196 has announced a partnership with the Paso Robles City Library to support young readers in the Paso Robles community. The lodge’s $850 donation, made through the Paso Robles Library Foundation, will be used in part to launch a new program at the library called the “Mason’s Summer Reading Award.” Participants ages 2-12 who complete the “Fizz, Boom, Read” program this summer will be entered to win the chance to choose a new book, purchased courtesy of the Masons, to be placed on the shelves of the Paso Robles Library in their name. The remainder of the Mason’s donation will be used to help supply paperback book prizes for the teen summer reading program, “Spark a Reaction.”

“The Mason’s Summer Reading Award is an important way for us to give back to our Paso Robles community,” said Thomas Irwin, Master of the Thaddeus Sherman Lodge 196. “ One of the missions of our organization is to focus on supporting literacy. What better way to do that than to reward these children who keep reading over their summer vacation! Our hope is that we will be able to help keep these young readers involved, engaged and visiting their public library for a long time.”

The Masons’ donation will be accepted on behalf of the Paso Robles Library Foundation by representatives from the City of Paso Robles including Mayor Duane Picanco, City Councilman Steve Martin, Library Manager Karen Christiansen, and Children’s Services Librarian Heather Stephenson.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about this wonderful new partnership with the Masons! This is such an exciting way to encourage children to keep reading over the summer,” commented Stephenson. “To personally select a book for the Paso Robles City Library collection, will surely be a source of pride for our lucky winners who persevered to finish the summer reading program. The book, with their name inside, will stay in the library for many years to come and be a symbol of that accomplishment.”

The Paso Robles City Library is located at 1000 Spring Street and is open Monday – Friday 10 am.-8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information on library programs and events, please call (805) 237-3870 or visit www.prcity.com/library.