As summer temps begin to rise, Mesa Public Library is launching its annual offensive against the infamous 'Summer Slide.' Starting June 1 and running through August 1, the Arizona Summer Reading Program seeks to keep brains as active as the long days of the season. The aim is to encourage daily reading, and the setup is simple: log at least 20 minutes of reading a day, score points, and potentially snag some sweet rewards. According to MesaNow, participants of all ages can track their progress online, earning badges and racking up points through reading and attending library events.
The process incentivizes not just to read, but also to do so socially, engaging in a friendly scrimmage with family and friends for that 1000-point goal by summer's end. For every minute spent poring over pages—or pixels—readers earn a point, a simple enough equation even for the math-averse among us. "We want to make summer reading fun and accessible for everyone," Mesa Public Library Director Polly Bonnett imparted in a statement obtained by MesaNow, highlighting the program's ambition to bolster literacy for all ages.
Prizes are up for grabs at every major milestone—250, 500, 750, and 1000 points—ranging from restaurant coupons to free books, each subject to availability. Those who cross the finish line with 1000 points are also entered into a raffle for additional prizes, with the grand finale perhaps being the satisfaction of a summer well spent between the pages. Mesa Public Library's involvement in this literacy push is no small feat: studies cited by MesaNow show marked benefits for children who engage in summer reading when it comes to their education journey.
The theme "Color Our World" paints an artistic stroke on this year's program, rolling out two contests for the creatively inclined. Mesa's biking and art enthusiasts can try to artistically merge transportation with literacy in the Bike to Books Contest, while design hopefuls may submit their visions for a new special edition library card. Submissions for both are open from June 1 to July 31, with further details available on the library's official website. The mingling of art and reading promises to add a vibrant splash to the season's activities, ensuring there's more than one way to engage with the initiative.
For those interested, registration is now open and can be found on the Mesa Public Library website.
