Summer reading

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, June 2018; written by Lisa Pearson.

The weather might seem like March, but summer is indeed here, and the Ketchikan Public Library is ready for another season of reading clubs for all ages. We have 50 programs planned just for this month alone (yes, this is our busy time of year!). If you would like to see our full slate of events for June, our monthly calendar is available at the library and on our website: www.ketchikanpubliclibrary.org. We have something for everyone here at the library this summer.

The teen Summer Reading Club theme is “Rocking and Reading Through the Decades”, and the 2018 club was kicked off this last Friday with a celebration of the 1960’s. There will be decade-themed parties twice a month, and will include food, games, art, and a movie. As we move on through the years, teens ages 13-19 can shake their groove thing at 6:30 pm on June 22nd when the 1970’s are fondly remembered (by the staff, if not by the teens themselves). Teens don’t need to be a participant in the Summer Reading Club to attend, but it’s a great opportunity to sign up for the club and to earn tickets for the prize drawings.

Teens who do sign up for the reading club can win prizes such as VISA gift cards, gift certificates to local restaurants, book sets, iTunes cards and more just for attending events and coming into the library. Teens can also choose to fill out a bingo card of activities and reading challenges for a chance to win either a laptop computer or a karaoke machine. This club runs from June 8 to August 24.

Adults can get in on the fun with their own reading club, “Libraries Rock”. The kickoff event for this season is on Saturday night at 6:30 pm, when Dr. Christopher Clark (UC-Riverside) will be giving a presentation on his research with hummingbirds. On Wednesday, June 20th the Ratfish Wranglers will be performing an acoustic concert at the library at 6:00 pm and discussing the art of songwriting. Other major events during June and July include author visits, documentary film screenings, Alaskan storyteller Pete Griffin, and the 4th annual Flower Show.

Adult participants in the summer reading club can win prizes by spending time reading with someone: a child, spouse, friend, or pet. Weekly drawings will be held, and winners will have a variety of fun items to select from. You can also choose to earn tickets for our Grand Prize drawing by completing activities designed to get you engaged with your community. Summer is a busy time of year in Ketchikan, so the goal of the adult reading club is to encourage people to set aside a little time for themselves and their families each day. This club runs from June 9 to July 31.

There are two Summer Fun Reading Programs for children: one for readers and one for listeners. Readers have the opportunity to earn prizes by reading and completing a variety of fun activities at home and around Ketchikan. Readers can also earn tickets for the Grand Prize drawings by coming to library events, which include science programs, family films, LEGO days, gardening programs, and crafts. The Summer Fun reading program runs from June 9 to July 28.

For those tots who are not reading on their own yet, the Little Listeners option allows them to earn prizes for having books read to them and for doing special activities with their family. Preschool storytime will be every Thursday morning at 10:30, and special storytime guests during June include the Ketchikan Fire Department and the Ketchikan Police Department. Baby storytime is every Friday morning at 10:30 (and yes, even babies can participate in the summer reading program!). Best of all, the time that adults and older siblings spend reading out loud to Little Listeners counts for their own reading club as well.

So regardless of your age, or how busy you are during the summer, there are always opportunities to participate in a reading club at the library, chances to win prizes, encouragement to spend time with friends and family, and plenty of suggestions for good books to read.