It’s time! The Annual Summer Reading Challenge at the York Public Library is upon us. This year’s theme, Reading Colors Your World, offers an opportunity to be bold, get creative and color outside the lines. While this decades-old York Public Library tradition is going to look very different from past years, the library staff are ready to celebrate another summer of reading and enrichment with you!
Readers will once again use the online tool Beanstack (york.beanstack.org) to log their reading. The ultimate goal is to read as many days as possible to keep those literacy skills sharp throughout the summer. Participants from babies through 12th grade will receive a free, brand new book when they register thanks to generous donations from Kennebunk Savings Bank, the York School Department, Kids Free to Grow, WIC, and York County Community Action Corporation!
Why should kids get all the fun? Adults can register for the grown-up version of the summer challenge too, earning a free book from our very own Book Nook! The adult program has entertaining activities to help you get out and about this summer, and a variety of enticing grand prizes that support local businesses. Challenge your kids or grandkids to out-read you this summer and track your reading right alongside theirs.
Pre-registration opens on Monday, June 14, allowing participants time to set-up their accounts and ask questions before the official start of the program. Readers have from Saturday, June 26 until Saturday, August 7, 2021 to earn 100 points and complete the challenge. Points are earned by logging reading days, writing book reviews and completing activities. Each step of the way there will be opportunities to earn raffle tickets for a chance to win one of our grand prizes! There is something for everyone and you can choose where to put each raffle ticket.
In addition to this fantastic virtual challenge, we are pleased to announce that we are bringing back some in-person programs! We hope to celebrate the first official day of the summer challenge on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm with a special event. There will be a family storywalk, craft, raffle and the Kona Ice truck will be on site serving up some sweet treats and tunes! Visit our website at yorkpubliclibrary.org for more information about our First Day event, as well as the summer schedule for all of our upcoming in-person programs.
Calling all tweens and teens! Are you interested in helping out? We are looking for volunteers in 5th – 12th grade to help at the library. It takes a village to make the summer challenge happen and we need you! Our young adult (YA) volunteers can help out both inside the library and at home. Fill out our online form today to get started.
Our summer reading program would not be possible without the generous contributions from all of our community sponsors. Donations are still rolling in as of this publication. We wish to thank our friends at Kennebunk Savings Bank, York School Department, Kids Free to Grow, WIC, York County Community Action Corporation, Center for Wildlife, Kona Ice of the Seacoast, and Smitty’s Cinema for their support.
However you choose to add color to your summer, we hope you fill your days with books and entertainment from the York Public Library. To learn more about the summer challenge, please email info@yorkpubliclibrary.org or visit https://yorkpubliclibrary.org/events-news/beanstack/summer-challenge/.
