Summer Reading's Not Just for Kids

Every summer at the end of August, at least one parent comes in asking, ‘Do you do anything for summer reading?’ Children’s Librarian Vida Lashgari said.

But by then, of course, it’s too late.

It’s not too late now, however, since the Summer Reading Program is just getting started at the and . And there are programs for every age.

In the children’s section, called Kids Place, kids are invited to pick up prizes as they complete certain thresholds of reading. Simply registering for the program – done online through the libraries’ website – qualifies kids for a free summer reading t-shirt.

Later prizes are a coupon for a free Rita’s ice cream, a rubber wristband with a message and a free paperback book. At the end of the summer, kids have compiled an online list of the books they’ve read – something that makes their new teachers happy.

This year’s theme is “Dream Big – Read,” and aims to keep kids reading through the summer to stop summer learning loss and continue cultivating a lifelong love of learning.

Upstairs, readers in grades 7 through 12 can participate in the Teen Summer Reading Challenge, with the theme “Read Into the Night” by keeping track of the number of pages they have read. Increments of 250 and 500 pages earn teens “book bucks” that can be spent in the Teen Store at the library.

Adults, too, can participate in their own summer reading program. Those 18 to 108 are invited to join the reading challenge called “Read, Click, Explore” by listening to audiobooks, reading books and watching movies. After every three recorded items, adults are eligible for a prize: first, a jar of library jam; second, a euro oval sticker; third, a Farmington Libraries pencil; fourth, a raffle ticket for an Amazon Kindle Fire.

In addition to the summer reading program, there’s lots to do at the library during the summer months, Lashgari said. There are over 80 programs offered for all ages with topics as widely varying as a spa day, when kids made their own soap, lip balm and salt scrub to jewelry-making programs, Captain Underpants-themed programs, and dinosaurs for little ones. View more programs here.

To sign up for summer reading of any age, click here. The reading list for kindergarten through fourth grade can be viewed here; for fifth and sixth grade click here.