Summer Reading is here! “Be Creative @ Your Library” is the summer reading theme for children in grades 6 and below.

Summer reading bags may be picked up at the library beginning today. Each child that stops by the library will receive a summer reading bag with all the information needed to participate in summer reading All the program information, reading logs and more will be included in the bag. Kids (and their parents) keep track of the time spent reading and listening to stories or other books and then earn prizes. Prizes are awarded at 5, 10, 15 and 25 hours.

The library encourages 30 minutes of reading and/or listening a day. Encourage your child or children to read for 15 minutes first thing in the morning and then find a book that you can read aloud together as a family in the evenings just before bed. Children who don’t read over the summer lose up to an entire grade level of reading ability. Help your child be ready to succeed this fall by setting aside time to read this summer.

Teen summer reading is back with a similar program to the last several years. Teens entering grade 7 and above fill out a short bookmark for each book read between June 1 and Aug. 21. They place the bookmarks in the envelope of the prize they’d like to win. A drawing for all the prizes will be held on Monday, Aug. 24 with prize notification to follow. The library will also hold several teen gaming events at the library. Dates are yet to be set. In fact, the library would like to know when you’d like to see us make the gaming equipment available, come fill out a brief survey at the library before June 5 and let us know how the library can better meet your needs.

New this year, is an adult summer reading program. “Master the Art of Reading” and fill out a brief bookmark for each book read. Place the bookmark in the envelope of the prize you would be interested in winning. Adult summer reading will run from June 1-Aug. 21 with prize announcement on Monday, Aug. 24. The Friends of the Library are generously sponsoring this summer reading program. Support the children of this community by showing them the value of reading, by reading yourself. Children hear the message that reading is important, but children follow examples and if they don’t see adults reading, they will most likely end up as non-readers. So do a child a favor and let them see you reading this summer.

This summer we are also offering a Grand Prize to one lucky summer reading participant. Each child who completes at least five hours of reading as well as each teen book entry, and each adult book entry will be entered in the grand prize drawing for a Wii console, with remote, and Wii Play game. Drawing will be held Aug. 24.