It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Did you sing that in your head as you read it?  I did as I typed it.  Why am I singing?  Because summer reading is underway and the library is THE place to be!  Summer reading, and awesome events, are available for all ages but let’s focus on what we’ve got to offer teens this summer.

Just to be clear, when I say “teen” I mean anyone entering grades six through twelve in the fall.  I know it can be a scary thing for a parent when I call their eleven year old a “teen” but that’s just the way we break things down.  Deep breaths, Dad, just because I’m calling her a teen doesn’t mean you have to!

Okay, so here’s what’s happening this summer for “teens”…

Reading = Winning

Yup, we’re into bribery.  You read, I give you prizes.  Once you get signed up, and you can do that at any of our six locations, just start reading.  We don’t care what you read we just want to know how many minutes you spend reading.  So if you sit down to breakfast and get really interested in the ingredients listed on the box of your favorite cereal and spend the whole morning reading every cereal box in the house it counts.  Just be sure to check the clock and give your self credit for all those minutes pouring (haha) over your Wheaties. 

So what exactly are you winning and exactly how much reading are we talking about?

·         250 Minutes = Knickknack of your choice (ear buds, syringe pen, sticky notes, etc.)

·         500 Minutes = Book of your choice

·         750 Minutes = Water bottle or backpack

·         1000 Minutes = T-shirt

Plus, with each of those we’ll also give you an entry in to our grand prize drawing for the winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or a $100 gift card to the location of their choice.  Want more chances to win?  Keep reading.  If you read an additional 1000 minutes, 2000 total, you’ll get another book and 10 more entries.  There are five bonus activities like writing book/game/movie reviews, attending a library program, reading non-fiction, and using new library resources that can also earn you additional entries.

More Than “Just Books”

I’m a librarian so of course I looooove getting teens to read but I’m also excited about all the AMAZING events we’ve got planned.  This past Friday we kicked-off our teen programs with a mad scientist themed party complete with science experiments, a viewing of Back to the Future, and free food.  Next up our weekly teen and tween (ages 9-12) programs start up.  We’ll have weekly programs at Main, Waverly and Brooklyn.  And there are still two more after-hours events for the summer.  Tweens are taking over the library on June 20^th and our life-size game night for teens is on July 25^th.  Both of those programs require registration so be sure to check our website  for more information and permission slips.  You can find the complete schedule of events for all ages on our calendar.

One of Many "Mad Scientists" at the Kick-off

Another Mad Scientist From the Kick-off

Happy Summer Reading Season,

Cassie Jones, MLS

Teen Librarian

Morgan County Public Library