By Anthony Stanford –
There’s not a student within shouting distance who doesn’t know that the school year has officially ended. However, for students who haven’t heard, the Aurora Public Library (APL) Summer Reading Challenge is just getting started. This year’s theme is, “Reading Takes You Everywhere.”
Submitted photo
The Summer Reading Challenge is a great way for students to bridge the Spring semester and their return to school in the Fall by reading for pleasure and winning prizes. It’s a great way for anyone of every age to spend some time at the APL exploring the programs and fun activities offered by the Library.
Libraries have an awesome responsibility. They know that creating initiatives to encourage residents, especially children, to read during the Summer, and from an early age to consider the library as a source of learning, helps to maintain and improve their reading skills.
There are several other benefits of participating in the Summer Reading Challenge. Angela Van Vuren, Children’s Services manager, of the Eola Road Branch, mentioned a few of them: “The Summer Reading Challenge allows customers to earn rewards for reading, visiting the library, and participating in activities.
“Participants who read and complete activities will not only earn a prize, but be entered into a grand prize drawing for a chance to win items such as a Brookfield Zoo family membership, a Nintendo Switch, a ukulele, or tickets to the APL Foundation’s ‘Back to the 80s’ barbecue.
“The reading and learning-based activities will also help keep students from falling victim to the Summer slide. A Dominican University study shows students who don’t read during the Summer can lose up to two months of learning by the time they return to school in the Fall.”
Among those attending the Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff were Adrian Ringo and her son, Leonard. For his Summer vacation activity, Leonard chose the Summer Reading Challenge over a sports camp. Leonard’s mom said, “Leonard is an avid reader and lover of books so the reading program is perfect for him.”
It’s always great fun to visit any of the APL’s three locations, West Branch, Richard and Gina Santori Library, and Eola Road Branch, the Summer Reading Program offers another incentive: While visiting, customers can pick up paper challenge logs to participate in the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge and get started claiming prizes.
The program runs from May 21 through July 31 at all APL locations. More information about APL’s Summer Reading Challenge can be found at aurorapubliclibrary.org/summer.
Anthony Stanford is an author and Aurora Public Library Media Consultant.