BERLIN -- As part of National Read Across America Day, representatives from the Ocean Pines branch of the Worcester County Library visited Showell Elementary School (SES) to talk to students about books and becoming a member.

Library representative Robin Long began the presentation by revealing that, not only was last Friday Read Across America Day, it was also the 108th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. According to Long, Dr. Seuss “helped people learn to love to read.”

She cited one famous example. According to Long, singer Taylor Swift was so inspired by the rhymes in Dr. Seuss books that she began writing poetry herself. Eventually, Long said that Swift put her poetry to music that in turn led to her current career.

On reading in general, Long explained to students that libraries like the one in Ocean Pines have evolved to include more than just the written word.

“We have music books and audio CDs that help you become better at math … You can learn how to play guitar by watching a DVD,” she told the kids.

Even traditional books have new applications in a modern library.
“We have books you can read and listen to at the same time,” she said.

All of the advances in technology and multimedia availability don’t replace the simplicity of the book itself, however, which Ocean Pines library representative Shirley Martelo proved by reading aloud to the students.

Besides talking to SES about everything the library can offer, Long and Martelo told students about library cards and how they would be able to use them to access books, CDs, DVDs, videogames and online programs like Bookflix.

According to Linda Jo Hulburd, technology coach at SES, Bookflix is an Internet resource with “many wonderful books for free for children to listen to and read along on the computer.”

Access to the site is available free of charge to anyone with a library card number.

A card also allows students to visit the Ocean Pines library whenever they want. According to Long, of the 359 new cards created by the library in February, 288 of them were for SES students.

“We thank you for keeping us in business,” she said.