As a public library, we at Ignacio Community Library (ICL) offer a robust Summer Reading Program every year for children. The current iteration includes Tuesday Storytimes, Wednesday storytime & activities, a book-tracking element with prizes via our Beanstack mobile app, and family-based all-ages programs. You are likely familiar with this program, as ICL has offered some version of this program since the early 2000’s. Many public libraries offer a version of Summer Reading that is aimed at adults, as well. This year, ICL is jumping on this trend and joining the bandwagon. 

This year, the ICL Summer Reading Program (SRP) runs June 5 through July 24. Starting on Wednesday, June 5, when you sign up your kids for SRP, you can sign up yourself for Adult SRP, too! Adults will have the opportunity to log the first book they finish and receive a prize! When the adult participant finishes the second book during the program and completes the form, he or she officially completes the program and will receive a second, even nicer prize! Adults complete the program after finishing only two books (participants select their own books to read) but may continue to read as many books as they can (or want) to read for the duration of the program; each completed book and form entitles the adult to one additional entry for the grand prize drawing at the end of July. Adult SRP participants also receive an additional entry into the grand prize drawing for each Adult SRP program they attend. 

The Adult SRP program events this summer include two Try Virtual Reality events, each on the third Thursday of the month (June 20 and July 18) from 4 to 6 p.m. All ages programs will also qualify for Adult SRP prize drawing entries, so attendance at the Tie-Dye Party on Tuesday, June 18 at 2:30 p.m., or Crafternoon on Tuesday, July 13 at 2:30 p.m., will also qualify each participant for an additional grand prize drawing entry. 

There are many potential benefits to hosting Adult SRP in our community. For one, evidence suggests that it is beneficial for children to witness their adults reading. Another advantage is that Adult SRP includes parents in the whole Summer Reading process, and it’s fun for adults, too! Hopefully, adults and kids will have fun with SRP and use the library more, in general. 

We hope to see you and your family here at ICL for Summer Reading this summer!