Lambton library summer reading program appealing to more age groups

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Lambton County Library is including reading challenges for adults, as well as kids, in this year’s nautically themed summer reading program.

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Challenge Yourshelf, the stream for adult readers, invites them to complete activities and reading challenges, and offers draws for $50 and $100 Tourism Sarnia-Lambton gift certificates, said the library’s Vanitia Campbell.

The program normally focuses on keeping youngsters’ academic skills sharp during the summer break, she said. In past years, there have been prize draws, but no reading element for older readers.

“But now that we have Beanstack, adults are typically creating accounts to manage for their kids,” she said of the library’s recently adopted reading-tracking app or seasonal reading challenges. “So we figured while they’re reporting the reading for their kids, it’s an easy way for (parents) to report their own reading and get involved that way.”

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“And it’s also really good for kids to see adults reading and modeling that, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we get everyone involved with the reading portion of the program this time?’ ”

The program, which runs July 3 to Aug. 13, includes age-specific An Ocean of Possibilities registration packages for younger readers, and a Make Waves program for teens that also encourages exploring the outdoors and helping the community.

The benchmarks vary, but reading is rewarded with free books.

A series of themed events are planned, including pirate parties, story walks, readings featuring the Canadian Coast Guard and conservation authorities, art projects, escape rooms and more.

For more on the evens, and how to register with Beanstack and join the reading program, visit lclibrary.ca.

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This year’s nautical theme was selected to spark interest and fit with the various programs, Campbell said.

“Because we’re on a waterway, it was a lot easier to get in programs about the fish hatchery in Point Edward, or bringing the coast guard in for a program, and that kind of thing,” she said.

There are programs kits available via library locations for 2,300 children and 200 teens, after 2,012 kids and 96 teens registered last summer, she said.

Kits include a passport with activities, reading list recommendations, information on different activities, a flying disc and craft supplies, she said.

Beanstack, used by the Lambton library system for the first time in its winter reading program this year, went well, she said.

“We maybe had slightly fewer people register I think this year, but the people that registered for winter reading read 3,000 more books than the year before,” she said. “So very happy with how that’s encouraging people to read and report their reading to us.”

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