Summer reading clubs returning to public libraries

It’s Summer Reading Club time at Cumberland Public Libraries! Starting Saturday, June 15, all library cardholders between the ages of three to 103 can visit their local branch to get involved in this year’s clubs.

“The Natural World” is the theme of this year’s TD Summer Reading Club for children ages 3-12. Tying into this theme, all Cumberland Public Libraries will be offering a series of free programs exploring natural wonders and all the wonderful things our earth can does, and what we can do to protect it! These programs involve gardening, geology, science experiments, crafts, and so much more!

When you sign up for Summer Reading Club at your local library, you will receive a passport with 3 goals that can be done in any order. For each goal you complete by August 26, you will receive prizes and a ballot for our end-of-summer prize draw for a new bike. Once you’ve completed all 3 goals, you’ll receive 3 bonus ballots for the bike! The goals are:

- Visit the Library: stop by a library during the summer and colour in the corresponding square for that week. When you’ve completed five of the 10 weekly visits during the summer, bring your passport to the library for a sticker sheet and a free book.

- Have Summer Fun: do one of the suggested activities, like listen to someone read a story, make a craft, or do a science experiment. For every activity you do, colour in the square on your passport. After 6 activities, you can win a pencil and a free book.

- Read 24 Hours: For every hour you read (on your own or with a buddy), colour in a block. You don’t have to read a full hour in one sitting; keep track of your time and fill in a square when you reach an hour. After 24 hours, you’ll receive a bookmark and a free book.

Summer Reading Club events for kids will begin at the end of June with a series of Kick-off Parties held throughout Cumberland County. At these parties, you can register for the club, celebrate Canada Day early with crafts and games, and borrow lots of great books to get you started on your Read 24 Hours goal! Contact your local library for details.

Students in grades 7-12 are invited to join our Teen Summer Reading Club. No registration is required - simply pick up a log book from your library or your school and complete the 25 book-related activities (such as reading for 2 hours, visiting a library, or following us on Instagram). For every activity you complete, you can submit a ballot at your library or online to win one of four prize packs at the end of summer: Awesome Outdoors, Get Creative, Movie Night, and Staycation!

Public Library’s Just for Adults – Summer Reading Club is open to all cardholders over the age of 18. No registration is required - simply submit a ballot for every Cumberland Public Libraries book you read over the summer. Ballots can be submitted at your local library or on the library’s website to be entered into monthly draw. It’s a great chance to win prizes for doing nothing more than spending some time with a good book.

For more information on these programs, check out our website: www.cumberlandpubliclibraries.ca.

Chantelle Taylor is the deputy chief librarian of the Cumberland Public Libraries.