Devon Van Brogen, with the Science Center, doing a liquid nitrogen experiment. Photo by Coltrane Carlson-Raccoon Valley Radio
The Jefferson Public Library wrapped up its Summer Reading Program with a visit from the Science Center of Iowa on Thursday.
Youth Services Librarian Bailey Mount said after last week’s successful Greene County Libraries Association (GCLA) program with children’s book author Kelly Crull, she described how she was also able to get the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) to come to Jefferson as a fitting way to finish off this year’s Summer Reading Program theme, “Unearth a Story.”
“Then I kind of looked at our budget and went, ‘We have a little bit of extra money,’ thanks to sponsors like Chirp (Coffee) and Home State (Bank), and I went, ‘I want to do something for the older kids too.’ Because the GCLA one, you know, trending with the kids that use the library, the most in Greene County tends to be towards younger. When I saw that the Science Center did something that was skewed a little bit towards older, we said 7-18 for this, I went, ‘This is going to be fun.’ And also, I personally think it’s really to end a program about dinosaurs with something ice-themed.” 
SCI Presenter Devon Van Brogen went through the different phases of matter, including gas, liquid and solid, along with exploring the different temperatures that impact those and the stages of pressure. He talked about his favorite part of doing programs like he did on Thursday at the First United Methodist Church.
“Especially a one-on-one kind of interaction or a small group, it feels very rewarding when I’m explaining a topic that can be kind of complex for some kids, and then I can see they start to get it. Especially if they start then asking me more specific questions beyond that.”
Mount added that the final party for the Summer Reading Program followed the presentation from the Science Center.