Chautauqua Circle donates books to PCS library
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Last week Kristine Camphouse and Lori Berquist, both of Perry, donated several books to the PCS library in Pittsfield on behalf of the Abbie A. Hatch Chapter of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. The books are part of Chautauqua’s Young Readers program, an initiative to engage middle school age children in reading and imaginative exploration. (Submitted photo)
By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Last week Kristine Camphouse and Lori Berquist, both of Perry, donated several books to the PCS library in Pittsfield on behalf of the Abbie A. Hatch Chapter of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.
The Chautauqua organization, based in New York state, was founded in 1878 to “provide a structured, four-year correspondence course in adult education.” The program was rooted in the idea that education was a lifelong process accessible to everyone. Its initial goals were to promote reading habits in fields like art, science, and literature, and to ‘open the college world’ to the general public.
The Chautauqua Youth Literary Program, also known as the CLSC Young Readers program, began in 1994 reflecting the Chautauqua Institution’s modern expansion into youth programming. The program was created to engage young visitors in reading and literary discussion, mirroring the tradition of the adult CLSC.
Each summer, a selection of books are chosen for their quality, the variety of their styles and subjects, and their appeal to young readers. While aimed at 9- to 14-year-olds, these books will also delight younger and older readers.
By combining a curated reading list with engaging activities, the young readers program aims to reinforce the importance of literature and imaginative exploration. The local Abbie A. Hatch Chautauqua circle consists of men and women of all ages from all over Pike County.
The Abbie A. Hatch reading group was formed in 1882. The group is named for its founder, a longtime Griggsville educator, who led the group until her death in 1920. The group continues today with a strong membership of residents who are bonded with the goal of lifelong learning. The Abbie A. Hatch Circle is the oldest club in Pike County, the only Chautauqua circle in Illinois, and is the oldest Chautauqua circle in the country.
The books donated by the chapter include: Grace Notes, by Naomi Shihab Nye; Squire, by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas; Light and Air, by Mindy Nichols Wendell; Wrecker, by Carl Hiaasen; Stranded, by Nikki Shannon Smith; They Call Me Guero, by David Bowles; Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen.
The Abbie A. Hatch Chautauqua Circle has been donating books to the Griggsville-Perry Middle School library in Perry for several years. This is the first year that the group has donated to PCS.
