If your summer plans involve crossing off your reading list or trying new activities, the Pima County Public Library's annual summer reading program intends to reward summer bookworms of all ages for their efforts.
This year's theme, "Our Story, Our State," celebrates Arizona's centennial. Participants will keep track of their goals in a Reading Passport, available at all Pima County libraries throughout the county.
A new twist to the program this summer is that participants are allowed to set their own goals, which can be anything from reading a certain number of hours or books or writing a story or downloading an e-book for the first time.
"Part of our goal this year is to make reading fun and make sure that it's not something that people have to do or that it's a chore," said Kenya Johnson, community relations manager for the Pima County Public Library. "It's about saying, 'OK, this is what I want to do this summer' and achieving that."
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Readers are also asked to choose six activities from a list of 100 to keep track of in their Reading Passport. The activities include things that can be read, written, explored, created and done online, such as sending an Arizona postcard to a favorite author, visiting an Arizona museum, designing a state stamp or posting online a video about your favorite place in Arizona.
Participants also receive an Arizona Adventure Pass with coupons for discounted admission to attractions throughout the state, including Colossal Cave, the Arizona Historical Society and the Phoenix Zoo, that can be used to knock off some of the activities on their lists.
At the end of the summer, those who have accomplished their goals are invited to a concert with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters at Hotel Congress. Children get to attend a finale event at the Reid Park Zoo, and teens are treated to a VIP party at a rock concert featuring local teen bands.
About 40,000 readers participated in the program last summer, and the library hopes to increase adult and teen participation this summer.
"This year's program is very much focused on appealing to all ages, and that's part of our overall goal and message as a library - that reading and literacy is a lifelong activity from the time of birth to the time that you're a senior citizen," Johnson said.
Online
Visit www.library.pima.gov for more information about the summer reading program.
Contact reporter Veronica Cruz at vcruz@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.
