Summer reading program kicks off this week

Sign up for the Sweetwater County Library System’s summer reading programs started yesterday.

The theme of this year’s summer reading program for all ages is On Your Mark, Get Set, Read. Kids finishing fourth grade and younger are invited to sign up for the youth program. They will receive reading logs to complete throughout the summer. For each 200 minutes read, the kids will receive an entry into a prize basket drawing. Drawings will take place throughout the summer at the library’s summer learning events. Similar to the youth Summer Reading Program, the program for young adults – those in fifth through 12th grades – will complete reading logs for the chance to win prize baskets. The more they read, the more entries they will receive into the prize basket drawings.

The libraries also offer a summer reading program for adults. For every five books read throughout the summer, adults will receive one entry into a drawing for $50 in chamber bucks. There are two $50 prizes at each of the main libraries. The Summer Reading Program is designed to keep kids reading throughout the summer and to help avoid the summer slide, which is the loss of academic knowledge over the summer break. Along with tracking their reading, the libraries also have educational and fun programs throughout the summer.