Around 20 children and family members from across South Carolina made the trip to pick up the medals and certificates of achievement the kids had earned in the Talking Book Services reading program.

Several special guests also took part: Lexington County Public Library librarian and storyteller Suzette Hawkins entertained the children and their families with interactive tales; the Chick-fil-A cow stopped by to give the children hugs and restaurant coupons; and Talking Book Services user Stacy Brown of Columbia made balloon art - from tigers to swords - for the children.

The theme of the state's vacation reading program was “Once Upon a Time." Public libraries planned activities to encourage children to read and enjoy books over the summer. The program was customized for participants in Talking Book Services, administered through the state library. Large print and Braille readers from preschool level to age 12 were invited to take part in the activities, which ran from May 8 through July 14. Eighteen kids participated.

“We are very proud of our young patrons who have read books this summer,” said Pamela N. Davenport, Talking Book Services director at the South Carolina State Library. “Reading during the summer helps to preserve all the learning they encounter during the school year. Our summer reading program is designed especially for the blind, low vision and physically handicapped children in our state. Our motto is, ‘There Is More Than One Way To Read A Book.’ ”  

Talking Book Services is a federally funded program administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Library of Congress and the South Carolina State Library.

The program is open to people who are unable to read or use standard printed materials because of blindness, low vision, missing arms or hands, lack of muscle coordination, prolonged weakness, or physically based reading disabilities, such as dyslexia. An application with disability certification is required to take part.

WLTX-TV was there to record the story .