Summer is almost here, and the Columbia County libraries are gearing up for the summer reading program.
The summer reading program is for all ages, and the children’s, young adult and adult departments all have activities going on. The event runs from May 19 to July 14 with a kick-off on Wednesday, May 24, said Natalie Pulley, children department manager at the Columbia County Library.
“For the kick-off we’re going to be doing mostly things from the desk. They can come in and pick-up little craft kits and usually try to have each staff member plan something,” Pulley said. “It’s going to run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day.”
The program officially runs through July 14, but participants can turn in their logs for their challenges until the day before school starts, Pulley said. Each department has challenges for participants to complete. Young adults and adults who participate in the program have a chance to be entered into a raffle for prizes. The young adults can win a blue tooth speaker, and the adults can win a Kindle Fire. All submissions to be entered in the raffle are due by July 14.
In the children’s department, Pulley said the kids can pick to either read 30 titles or for 1,000 minutes. In the young adult department, Sabrina Mueller, the young adult department manager, said there will be an increase in programs, such as maker spaces and young makers along with a game night each month and a young adult book club.
“That is one of the medals they can get in Beanstack if they sign up for the young adult book club,” Mueller said.
For the young adult challenges, the young adults can read eight books, 16 books and 24 books. Mueller said the more books they read, the more entries they will get for the blue tooth speaker prize.
In the adult department, Mallory Harris, adult department manager, said there will be the regular programs, clubs for a variety of interests, technology classes and two challenges. The challenges are to either read five books or do a bingo or some other type of activity.
“If they do five books, they get a ticket for the raffle, and if they also do the activity version, they also get another ticket,” Harris said. “The raffle is for a Kindle Fire.”
Besides the reading challenges, there will be performers and presenters at the library. Most of the performances will take place once a week on Wednesdays around 2 p.m., Pulley said. But there will be a few night performers for people who work during the day.
On June 7 will be the 2nd annual Putt-Putt in the Stacks will June 7 at the Columbia County, Harlem and Grovetown libraries as a Friends of the Library fundraiser. There will be six holes at the Harlem and Grovetown libraries and 12 at the Columbia County Library. The cost will be $5 at the Columbia County library and $3 at the Harlem and Grovetown libraries.
Participants can register for the program and log their activities or reading on Beanstack, https://gchrl.beanstack.org/reader365. While registering online is encouraged, paper logs are available for those who don’t have access online
The summer reading program will take place at all three Columbia County libraries, which are in Evans, Harlem and Grovetown.
