In India, a henna tattoo signifies the relationship between the bride and groom’s family. The deeper the skin is stained, the deeper the relationship will be.
In Arma, a henna tattoo signifies the kickoff to the summer reading program.
Julie Roles, Erie, has been traveling around southeast Kansas to area libraries and presenting a program based on the art of henna. Henna is a mixture of a plant (lawsonia inermis), lemon juice, oil and water.
“Henna tattoos are an ancient art form, but it’s interesting to see how the teens use them,” Roles said. “A lot of times, the teens take this ancient art form and use band names. They’re using stuff from way over there and using it with stuff from right here. It’s a mix of the ancient and modern worlds.”
But beyond the henna tattoos, Friday’s event marked the start to the Arma Teen Summer Reading Program. The program meets every Thursday at 10 a.m. in the month of July for events and activities.
The weekly get-together is also a time to turn in sheets marking the number of pages each teen has read each day that week. Winners receive prizes and awards.
The summer program is, itself, a part of the teen program in Arma that has been fairly successful for a small town like Arma. The program meets once a month with activities and games for the students. A few weeks ago, the teen program took a trip to Books-A-Million in Joplin with $450 provided by the Pritchett Trust. The teens took three hours to decide on 49 books for the young adult section of the Arma Library.
“There’s not very many activities in Arma for teens,” said Brenda Banks, library board member. “This is a safe place to come. It’s a lot more fun to read if you pick out your own books for the library. I’d die and think I went to heaven if I got $450 to choose my own books.”
The students have also been a vital support structure for the library, as many of the students have volunteered their time to help with the kids’ program, to reshelf books, to vacuum the library and to help in any number of ways. The group also helps with the library newsletter.
“It’s difficult to run a library without the help of teens and adult volunteers,” Banks said. “We have only one paid position. The library really relies on their help to make it happen.”
The group is only seven to 10 members strong, depending on the week. But that group is strong.
One teen works in the library as part of the Kansas Works program and Banks said the teen takes home a new book each night and turns it in by the time she shows up to work in the morning.
Banks said each of the students has good grades in school and “makes good choices.” Whether the success of the teen program at Arma is because of the program or because of the teens, Banks couldn’t be sure.
“It takes some effort to read a book, and to come into a library and be responsible for that book and turning it in on time,” Banks said. “It’s a good thing to come out here and volunteer. [It’s] kind of some job mentoring.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
