Some professions have “busy seasons.” For accountants, it’s early spring. For librarians, it’s the summer. We plan almost a full year ahead to prepare for the influx of patrons we (very happily) help with book recommendations, museum pass reservations, and program attendance. We realize you might have more time on your hands than you know what to do with for the next two months, and we hope you’ll spend some of that time with us, at the library.
As a staff member here at the LPL, I have the special privilege of knowing in advance some of the upcoming programs before they’re announced to the public. Our July/August 2018 newsletter will be released by the end of the month; some of you reading this now may even have it in front of you. If not, trust me when I tell you the Library will be a busy place this summer!
A staple of any public library is summer reading. Regardless of your age and reading preferences (Audiobook? Not a problem!), we have the summer reading program for you! If you’re going to be reading this summer–and you know are–why not win prizes along the way? There are so many ways to fit in time to read, whether it’s a paperback on the beach or an audiobook during a long car ride, there’s no excuse for not reading this summer. To make the deal even sweeter, we’ve already begun summer loan for our regularly circulating books (not including our new books that will still be due back within 14 days). This year’s theme is “Libraries Rock,” which means you will notice some music inspired decor throughout the Library and programs related to music.
Adults
Adults can register online or in-person beginning Monday, June 18th. The great news is that you don’t even have to live within the Levittown School District to join our Adult Summer Reading Program. Log and review your books online (the reviews can be be a simple “I liked it” or “It stunk”), and once you’ve logged at least three books you will receive a completion prize, in addition to an initial prize just for signing-up. On Wednesday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m., there will be a Summer Reading Wrap-up Party featuring guest speaker Carol Fitzgerald, founder and president of the Book Report Network, who will share the best new and upcoming titles to keep everyone excited about reading when summer is over. To help kick start your summer reading, join us for An Evening with Susan Henderson, author of The Flicker of Old Dreams. For further summer reading suggestions, check out these lists from The New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and Popsugar.
Teens
Teens and children are encouraged to join our summer reading programs, too! Avoid the “summer slide!” Discover new worlds, new facts, new perspectives in the pages of books! Online registration for teens is now open and you can start logging your minutes immediately. Really, if you know a teen, stop what you’re doing and tell them to sign up and get logging! If 600 minutes are logged by August 6th, teens will receive an invitation to a wrap-up event at the end of the summer. Teens from outside the Levittown School District are welcome to join, as well. As an added bonus, teens who refer someone from grades 7 to 12 who did not register for the Summer Reading Program the previous year will earn a “library buck” to put toward mystery bag prizes. For each friend referred, a buck is earned. Everyone will receive a registration prize and other opportunities to win prizes throughout the summer.
I know 600 minutes sounds like a lot, but let’s break that down. The last day of school is June 22nd. If you start reading on June 23rd that gives you 45 days, meaning you would only have to read about 13 minutes a day to reach 600 minutes by August 6th. Minutes can include reading magazines, textbooks, or even DMV instruction manuals. It’s that simple!
All students entering grades 6, 7, and 8 in the Levittown School District are required to read Because of Mr. Terupt over the summer. All those minutes you spend reading or listening to Because of Mr. Terupt? Those can be logged and counted towards summer reading! The Young Adult Department will also help to host several events related to Levittown Schools’ Summer Reading Extravaganza, including voluntary book discussions and accompanying parent programs, to allow parents a chance to explore our Innovation Station and learn more about the Young Adult resources offered at the Library while the teens discuss Because of Mr. Terupt separately. On July 10th there will also be voluntary afternoon and evening Read-Alouds of Because of Mr. Terupt. As an added incentive, students who visit the LPL over the summer could potentially win an opportunity to have breakfast or lunch with the author! If you’re a student entering grades 6 to 8 in the Levittown School District, ask for a raffle ticket from one of our YA librarians, fill it out with your information, and drop it in the box designated for your middle school. The more you visit, the greater your odds of winning!
Children
Moving on to our younger readers, children can register in-person beginning Monday, June 18th in the Children’s Room. Even babies can sign-up! Our Read-to-Me Music Makers is for children up to 5 years-old (not yet entering kindergarten) and their parents. Reporting is done in person in the Children’s Department and Read-To-Me Music Makers participants who report for the first time will receive a ticket to Big Jeff and the Bouncy People on Wednesday, August 15th at 11:30 a.m. All children, those not yet in school and children entering or continuing in school, will earn a prize each week they report, by reading either two books a week or reading at least one book and completing an activity (activity suggestions will be provided when children register). Older children who read longer books can report the number of minutes they spent reading that week.
Reading is not only an amazing way to encourage early literacy, but it’s also a great bonding activity for families. For example, read aloud together as a family–make up voices, act out scenes, and make the experience something fun and memorable. Also, don’t discredit wordless picture books, as they give readers the opportunity to help make up the stories themselves. Children will model what they see, and if they see the adults around them reading they will be more likely to want to read themselves…another great reason why the whole family should join Summer Reading Programs together!
Children who report at least three times will receive a certificate; Those who report for all six weeks will receive an additional certificate. Everyone will receive a goody bag at the end of the summer. The first time a child entering grades K to 6 reports on their reading they will receive a ticket to our Open House in August, where we will have a dance party (complete with a DJ and giveaways!), face painting, balloon creations, crafts, and opportunities to win raffle prizes. Children who join one of our Summer Reading Programs will also be eligible to participate in our weekly guessing games for a chance to win additional prizes.
Like the middle schoolers, children entering grade 5 will be required to read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library over the summer. Of course, the time spent reading this great book can also be used towards your summer reading tally. Beginning June 25th–the same day children can begin reporting for the Summer Reading Program–parents can also register their soon-to-be-fifth-graders for the Summer Reading Extravaganza held at the Library, where children will play games, discuss the book, and try to “escape” from the library. The date of the event will vary depending on the elementary school your child attends, so be sure to check our newsletter for more details. As an added incentive, there will be boxes on display in the Children’s Room designated for each elementary school. Every time a rising 5th grader visits the library they can ask one of the librarians in the Children’s Room for a raffle ticket to fill out and place in their school’s box for an exciting raffle drawing in September. The more they visit, the greater their odds at winning!
Middle schoolers also have the option of joining one of our most popular programs: Pack-A-Book for Lunch! Children entering grades 6 to 8 can sign up in the Children’s Room for this weekly program, which meets Thursdays from 1:00-3:00 p.m., from July 5th-August 9th. Children can bring lunch with them, and everyone will eat together, discuss books, and play games. We always have a big turn out for this program. It’s a great chance for everyone to socialize and have fun. Also, keep in mind that children entering the sixth grade are in a special spot: they can join the Children’s Summer Reading Program, the Teen Summer Reading Program, and Pack-A-Book for Lunch!
Lastly, there are two more ways you can be a part of the Levittown Public Library summer reading community. First, if you have not yet started our Reading Challenge, there’s still time! Challenge brochures can be found in the Reference, Young Adult, and Children’s Departments. Read at least five different books matching the challenge criteria, have your brochure stamped by an LPL staff member, and return it to the Circulation Desk by August 1st, 2018 to be entered in a raffle to win a gift card. Secondly, we’re asking our patrons to show us where they’re reading this summer! Whether it’s your backyard pool, a park in Europe, or a beach in the Caribbean, take a picture and show us where! Tag your picture @levittownpl, or use hashtags: #Travelingbooks and #WhereAreYouReadingWednesdays.
Please consult our newsletter or give us a call for all the details about our summer reading programs, including our Summer Reading Programs. We hope to see you this summer!
Happy Reading,
Jess
