Highland City Library Family of the Year

Davis Fleming, one-month-old son of Vindie and Lincoln Fleming, has already held his first library book, and it is very likely he will become an avid reader just like his siblings, Livvy (14), Jude (12), Reese (10), Wes (8), Jackson (6), and Sterling (3). He will discover that about once a week his family spends some time at the library, attending story time, participating in crafts, and checking out books. He’ll be able to watch them counting up their books for the summer reading challenge and receiving prizes as they meet their goals.

In the future when Davis needs help finding a book, he’ll have plenty of help finding a good one. Sterling will point him to the Llama Llama books. Jackson will recommend Another Brother by Matthew Cordell. Jude, Reese, and Wes especially like Epic Athletes books. Davis may have to wait a few years to read Livvy’s favorite, A Man Called Ove, but his family will certainly help him find many more books until he’s ready for that one.

The Fleming family has always found the Highland Library a very friendly place to be. Once when they were picking out books, one of the librarians knew that Jackson loved Star Wars books and gave him a book that was too damaged for the library to keep. He was thrilled, and his mom was delighted to see that the librarian had noticed his preference.

The Flemings enjoy doing many things together, playing games, playing sports, paddle-boarding in the summer, and sledding in the winter. Reading is their favorite year-round activity, though. They started the habit of coming to the library often when their oldest daughter was a baby. Vindie and Lincoln feel that it has helped the kids develop a love of reading at an early age.

When the Flemings return from a library trip, they lay out all of the books in the living room and spend the next few hours reading and enjoying the new books. Davis will soon see the books spread out on the rug and find it’s like a magic carpet, taking him to visit many places. He may be tempted to chew on a few, but this family will engage him in reading early, and he’ll soon be turning the pages himself.

The Highland City Library loves families like the Flemings. The storyteller says, “I love seeing them at story time! The boys are super sweet and respectful and always take interest in the craft.” The library director appreciates them, too: “They are here so often and are so pleasant they feel like friends instead of just patrons.” 

The Hunt Family

Library Patrons of the Year from Cedar Hills

Lily Hunt was just a toddler when her family first stepped inside the Highland City Library. In the years since Rachel and Charlie Hunt bought their first home in Cedar Hills, they have made many, many visits with their three children, Lily, 13; Ethan, 11; and Sadie, 7. Over the years members of the family have participated in just about every program the library has had. They love Story Time, Lego Club, Junior Explorers’ Club, and the summer and winter reading programs. Sadie especially likes searching for the elf and the leprechaun (and getting a prize when she finds them). Ethan just loves all the books. Lily is a fan of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and was always so happy when the next book came out. During the summer, the Hunts are often at the library every week so the kids can get new books and collect their prizes. They have checked out over 4600 items over the years.

As a mom, Rachel appreciates the kindness of the librarians, who learn the kids’ names and greet them on a first name basis. The librarians really enjoy the family, too. Devin commented, “The Hunts are super friendly and have come to so many programs over the years!” Calli added, “They come frequently and are always very polite.” Before leaving, the children always gather up a big stack of books to place in their library basket at home. One of the biggest changes the family has enjoyed is that the library changed the number of items that could be checked out from thirty to one hundred at a time. That gives everyone plenty of choices!

Rachel has always been a reader. She was one of the kids who read the entire new Harry Potter book in a day. She and Charlie have tried to instill the love of books in each of their kids. They always have a family book they are reading. Some favorites have been Little House on the Prairie, Artemis Fowl, The Boys Start the War, The Haymeadow, and Anne of Green Gables. The kids have personal reading time every day, and Mom still reads to the younger two every night.

Charlie laughs that Rachel has a book problem. She says, “I really do love collecting books and growing my own personal library at home, but there is something magical about going to the library and having so many different books at your fingertips. We love the Highland Library!” And the Highland City Library loves the magic the and enthusiasm the Hunt family brings with them each time they come to refill their basket of books.