Kids learn, play bingo at library event

Published 9:43 pm Friday, June 8, 2018

Signifying the end of another summer week, the Selma-Dallas County Library had its “Bingo Fun!” on Friday, June 8.

30 children attended the bingo event and participated in the educational activity provided.

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Set to occur every Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., “Bingo Fun!” had many children leaving the library with smiles on their faces.

Erskina Daniel, a parent whose children, Cookie and Plum Daniel, participated in the activity said that her daughters had a lot of fun.

Daniel has attended in many of the library’s activities prior and plans to continue to bring her children to every activity during the summer.

“I’m just happy that they have this program for the kids because it’s too hot outside and it gives you time to bond with your children,” Daniel said.

Daniel’s daughter, Cookie, won one of the bingo matches and received candy as a prize.

Colby Whitaker, a volunteer at the library who served as one of the callers during bingo, said he enjoyed conducting the event and viewed it a relaxing time for the children to have fun.

“All around it was a pretty good turnout, it’s one of our more relaxed events of the summer,” Whitaker said. “We like to keep this one pretty small and secluded from all the rest of the children’s department so it can function. I like doing it; it lets me get to see all the faces that are coming to all of our programs.”

Becky Nichols, Selma-Dallas County Public Library Director, said she could hear the children’s gleeful voices echo throughout the library.

“It sounded like a lot of fun,” Nichols said. “We had about 30 kids and they had a wonderful time. One thing that I like about bingo is that most of our programs are really big, like the petting zoo yesterday, but this is a small program, a small event. It’s kind of neat for people to get to know each other a little bit better and enjoy the library. I think it was great, we had two little boys that loved to play bingo, and they’re learning their words and numbers. This is an educational event; we’re not only having a good time, but we’re learning things, which is what the library is all about.”

Along with being educational, Nichols also designed the activities to attract children to the library and get them to enjoy a good book.

“All of the summer events are designed for a good time, but they’re also getting the children into the library to hopefully get them to read and realize the value of learning,” she said.