For many, reading is just a way to pass the time. However, for those involved in a summer reading program, reading means getting free food, admission to events, and more. This summer, like the past four years, the Massanutten Regional Library is hosting a reading challenge from June 2 to Aug. 3.. The challenge has been gaining popularity since 2020, Head of Youth Services Denise Munro said.
“Participation has been growing steadily since COVID,” Munro said. “2020 was a downfall for everybody but we are growing. Last year we had our highest overall numbers ever. We had about 4,000 youths [registered last year],” Munro said.
Munro added that every year, prizes are also provided for every age group — 1-11, 12-17, and 18+. However, Assistant Librarian Samantha Bowman mentioned a new system coming this year that could help increase participation.
“I know we’re trying to reach even more people this year, and hoping for more registration as well. One aspect of it that I know is different is that the adult summer reading challenge has a bingo card associated with it on our digital platform we’re using Beanstack,” Bowman said.
For every completed book or activity, the participant can cross out an item on the bingo card. A filled-out bingo card marks a completed challenge, but adult participants are eligible for a prize drawing every time they read a book. One can choose which drawing they want to participate in and can enter up to 27 times.
Participants ages 1 through 11 can earn prizes for reading hours; for every two hours you can read a prize. You can win 5 prizes, or up to ten hours of reading. After the first 10 hours of reading, every two hours after that will win two raffle tickets to claim prizes on Beanstack, an app provided by the Library of Virginia, Munro said.
Participants 12 through 17 are also given prizes, but for the number of books read as opposed to minutes read for younger children. Every book read guarantees you a prize until one reaches five books.After completing five books, the participant’s name will be entered two times in a raffle of their choosing.
Munro said her child recently became interested in the challenge due to some new businesses sponsoring the prizes for the program.
“I know from my teenager, the free McDonald’s Big Mac helped a lot,” she said with a laugh.
This year’s program theme, selected by the Collaborative Summer Library Program(CSLP), is “Color our World,” and it’s designed to inspire art and creativity, according to the CSLP website. Bowman said she enjoyed the challenge because it encourages reading.
“Throughout the summer, children are out of school and don’t want to read,” she said. “Things like this, it gives them the opportunity to be encouraged to read. It’s keeping up the brainwork and keeping the educational variety kids need.”
