Sign-up is now
open at for the 2020 Summer Reading Program, and while
the annual effort to promote reading promises plenty of books and prizes, it
will have a different look than past years.
There will be no in-library events including the featured
weekly performers, but there will be virtual Storytimes for young kids, book
discussion groups for adults and crafts and activities for all ages from June 1
through July 31. This year’s theme of “Imagine Your Story” highlights fairy
tales, fables and make-believe stories.
The coronavirus pandemic may have shortened the summer
agenda, but it hasn’t diminished the importance of reading for youths and
adults. Libraries use summer reading programs to help stave off the “summer
slide” in students’ reading capabilities, library Director Michelle Mears said.
And with many local students being out of school since March, the library is
making it as easy as possible to register.
Youths from babies to teens and adults can sign up online
at rhcl.org/summer or by calling the Belt Branch at 816-232-5479, the
Savannah Branch at 816-324-4569 or the Bookmobile at 816-205-7100 to speak to a
staff member. In-person registrations will be taken when the library reopens to
the public on Tuesday, May 26.
Everyone who registers will be entered into prize
drawings for gift baskets and three $100 Walmart gift cards. Participants who
reach their reading goals will earn a second entry for the drawings as well as other
prizes. Youths will receive a cloth book bag full of activities to do at home
when they register.
While youths and families look forward to the many summer
events at the library, Mears said, the library opted to cancel all in-person
programs to keep everyone safe from possibly spreading the coronavirus in
crowds.
“We are very disappointed that we can’t bring the
performers to our communities this year,” Mears said. “We want kids to be safe,
and we know there could be many parents who might not bring their kids to these
events to keep them safe, so we had to weigh those factors and cancel the
programs.”
The library will announce online programs on its online
calendar at rhcl.org and on Facebook. Some events are already posted while
others will be added throughout the summer.
