The Park Ridge Public Library wrapped its summer reading program with a free special event that was also a sendoff for kids as they prepare to head back to the classroom.
Library Director Joanna Bertucci told Pioneer Press that about 250 people attended the “Summer Reading Sendoff” Saturday on the library lawn.
“It went extremely well other than the heat,” Bertucci said. “I kept making sure everyone was hydrated. We just wanted everyone to have fun.”
Entertainers included children’s performer Rachel Bachman, who played acoustic guitar set to popular Disney tunes and other children’s music, and Jason Kollom, who returned for a second year with bubble art including gigantic bubbles children could run through.
The Hitmaker, who Bertucci said has been playing for 20 years and performed at many library Summer Reading events, also entertained.
“He’s an amazing musician,” Bertucci said about The Hitmaker. “He has a repertoire that is upbeat, good, sitting-outside-at-a-concert (music). He had really good vibes.”
The first 200 summer reading participants who checked in at the event received a voucher for free ice cream from Triple Scoop’d, which Bertucci said marked the fourth time the Park Ridge business had been at Summer Reading special events.
“People love Triple Scoop’d,” Bertucci said. “They do a lot for the community.”
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Summer reading participants who checked in also received a chance to win one of six $25 gift cards from Park Ridge businesses AriYARN Shop and Studio, Dick Pond Athletics, Easy Street Pizza & Beer Garden, Little Green Apple Hallmark store, Holt’s restaurant and bar, and Olson’s Ace Hardware.
“Friends of the Park Ridge Library contribute about $10,000 every year to our summer reading program. That funds the prizes and entertainment either at the kickoff or the sendoff. They underwrite the costs for all the prizes we give away,” Bertucci said. “We are so lucky to have their support.”
Bertucci explained that the Summer Reading Sendoff may have attracted residents of nearby Chicago, Des Plaines, Niles and Norridge because it was not restricted to only Park Ridge Public Library cardholders or summer reading program participants.
According to Bertucci, Summer Reading Sendoff in 2024 had a little more than 300 attendees but 2025’s slight attendance decrease was likely due to the 90-degree air temperatures during the two-hour morning event.
“In years past, older adults would come out with lawn chairs and sit and relax,” Bertucci said. “We didn’t see as many older adults as we usually do.”
The sendoff’s second year followed kickoff events in 2022 and 2023 to celebrate the library’s Summer Reading program, a tradition since 1924.
“Every year, from my perspective as an administrator, the program gets better and better,” Bertucci said. “We get a lot of positive feedback through the summer about the program. People are excited.”
According to Bertucci, nearly 3,000 residents participated in this summer’s reading program, which began June 2 with challenges and prizes for three age groups: kids, teens and adults.
“The summer is our busiest time. People have a little more free time,” said Bertucci, who added that the program aims “to keep people reading and engaged with the library and the community.”
Bertucci explained that challenges for kids from birth to fifth grade and teens from sixth grade to 12th grade included earning a free book for reading a total of 30 days.
Adults were entered into a drawing for a gift card to a local business after finishing four books, one each in categories that Bertucci said were a book with a color name in the title, a book with an eye-catching cover, a book set in another country and a book featuring an artist or artwork.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.