Photograph Credit: Public Library

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you will find multiple ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
2. Chuck E. Cheese
3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Participants

Possibly all readers – our local library has multiple programs: babies, children, teens, and adults. Something for everyone!

Program Length

Determined by each county – all four of our summer reading programs end on July 27, 2013.

Goal

Promote a love of learning by reading books.

Requirements

Varies from county to county, but our process is to register at our local branch, obtain a reading log, choose either set number of books or set number of hours, and log minutes read.

Redemption

Once the participant reaches a goal, bring the reading log to the branch where registered, and receive a reward.

Reward

Varies. The economy has definitely hit hard these last two years as we have seen a rapid decline in the prizes for summer reading through our public library. However, my children are challenged by the goals, and we press on to success.

Babies’ Rewards

This category is for children from birth to 35 months old with the following reward:

• Receive a FREE board book after completing 40 spaces on the early literacy activities log.

Children’s Rewards

The prizes for my children consist of the following:

• Safety light-up reflector when they read 40 books or 10 hours.
• Reading medal, minor league baseball ticket voucher, and entry into two drawings when they have read a total of 80 books or 20 hours.

Teen Rewards

The prizes for rising 6th graders to 12th graders consist of the following:

• Flashlight with pen and lanyard when they read or listen for 10 hours.
• Minor league baseball ticket voucher, waterpark discount coupon, and entry into a bike drawing when they have read or listened to a total of 20 hours.

Adult Rewards

The prizes for adult reading is as follows:

• Coupon for a FREE Starbucks beverage and entry into three drawings after reading 3 qualifying books.

Among the benefits for participating in our public library summer reading program, we gain admittance to fun performances throughout the summer. From puppet shows to best-selling authors to comedy acts, we enjoy FREE shows, practice our reading skills, and earn prizes.

Rather than comparing the prizes from year to year, we are grateful for the opportunity to win prizes including a trip to a baseball game. As you check your local library, you might find the prizes significantly down from previous years. Focus on the goal, encourage reading, and enjoy the FREE rewards. Happy summer reading!