Summer reading programs encourage reading, offer prizes

ST. CLAIR SHORES/STERLING HEIGHTS/ROSEVILLE — Summer is in full swing and so is summer reading at local libraries where spending time enjoying a good book could enter you to win prizes.

Natasha Rogers, Sterling Heights Public Library public relations and program coordinator, said in an email that the summer reading program at their library is for all ages.

“We have programs for adults, teens, youth, baby and adaptive needs,” Rogers said in the email.

Readers of all ages can earn prizes as they read. Rogers said in the email children will have a silicone bracelet fixed with holes to put charms in. Adults will receive tickets to enter raffles for a chance to win various prizes.

“Once they register, they can stop by the adult reference desk to collect their raffle tickets and then they can add them into any of the drawings they’d like,” Rogers said in the email.

Teens will also receive tickets and can enter the raffles.

“They can add their tickets to any of the raffle baskets. Their finisher prizes will either be (their choice) a trip to Urban Air or a gift card,” Rogers said in the email.

To register for the programs at the Sterling Heights Public Library, visit a librarian at the library at 40255 Dodge Park Road or download the Beanstalk App. The program started on June 10 and goes to Aug. 10.

In St. Clair Shores, adult patrons have a chance to win gift cards to local businesses. Kathleen Harville, a St. Clair Shores Public Library online resource and reference librarian, said adults can earn entry forms by completing an e-book, audiobook, physical book or by reading five books to a child.

“Entry forms go into jars on our table,” Harville said. “Each week we do a drawing.”

She also said that there is a book bingo that gives patrons an extra entry form.

“That is your typical bingo, but it’s got different categories of books, or to try one of our databases, that type of thing,” Harville said.

Liz Drewek, a St. Clair Shores Public Library youth services librarian, said for children it’s a little different. Each registered participant receives a reading log or activity sheet. There are four categories for ages ranging from birth to 18 years old. The categories are: “wee readers,” which has birth to 2 and a half years old; beginning readers, from 2 and a half to around 7 years old; independent readers, from 8-11 years old; and teen readers.

The wee readers have certain activities such as singing your ABCs. The two middle age groups focus on minutes to read per day and teenagers have a lot of self-directed activities Drewek said.

“We don’t tell them what to read. They can choose for themselves is kind of how we work it,” Drewek said. “Just like they do on the adult side it’s, whatever, a self-directed choice.”

Drewek said the kids get entry forms for grand prizes when they register and that they get an entry form when they return the reading logs.

“We try to emphasize the reading as the more important part of it, but you know a little incentive doesn’t hurt,” Drewek said.

Harville said they gained a lot of support from the local businesses in the area. Adult prize winners are drawn weekly on Monday mornings and a few of the gift card prizes include Modern Cone, Buffalo Wild Wings, Brunch with Me and more. For children, Drewek said they have prizes from Whistle Stop, Modern Cone and others.

“Our programming is supported by the Friends of the St. Clair Shores Public Library,” Drewek said. “They do the adult summer reading as well. And then for youth services the Shorewood Kiwanis gave us a monetary donation to support all of the programming that we do for the summer.”

The summer reading program for adults has been around since the early 2000s and Harville said they were one of the first libraries in the area to host it. Drewek said the kids program has been there since around the 90s and usually planning starts in January.

“For the kids, it’s our biggest undertaking of the year,” Drewek said.

Drewek also said each year, the collaborative summer reading program gives out a theme. This year, the theme is “Adventure begins at your library.” Drewek made decorations for the kids’ area for the theme and patrons are excited to see what she’s put together.

They also have presenters and other events.

Harville said the adult summer reading program is not as involved. They have around four to five librarians working on the project.

“A lot of it is we just rehash parts of what we did the year before,” Harville said. “And the biggest part is just doing our decorations and reaching out to local businesses to get donations or to purchase gifts.”

Proof of residency is not needed to sign up for the programs.

Both the adult and child summer reading programs at the St. Clair Shores Public Library started on June 18. Registration goes until July 26 and can be done in person at the library, located 22500 East 11 Mile Road. The children’s program ends with a touch-a-truck event on Aug. 6. The last day to enter for the adult program raffle is Aug. 2 and the last drawing is on Aug. 5.

Jason Novetsky, a Roseville Public Library community relations and marketing librarian, said their summer reading program is for all ages.

“You can sign up online and use the READsquared app, which you can download, or you can sign up in person at the library,” Novetsky said.

He went on to say that each person who signs up gets a bag with a reading log and other information.

“For every book they read they earn points,” Novetsky said. “There’s also points for attending library programs or completing a number of challenges that we have listed in here.”

Patrons can keep track in a booklet given to them in the bag or in the app he mentioned.

Prizes for kids and adults are given out at the end of July.

Novetsky said he thinks people have fun at their events. They had a kickoff event and they will have a finale that is Olympics-themed.

Patrons are not limited as to what books they read.

“Whatever you want to read. We don’t say you have to read a certain kind of book,” Novetsky said.

Novetsky said they have had summer reading programs for a long time.

“The details of it has changed over the years but we’ve always had one,” Novetsky said.

“At least for decades we’ve had one.”

Those who live outside the Roseville area can join, but prizes are limited to those who have a Roseville library card.

The Roseville Public Library programming started on June 14 and goes until July 26.

Drewek, Harville and Novetsky said there are summer reading programs at other libraries.

“Every summer reading program is unique, so check out the other local libraries to see what they have to offer!” Rogers said in the email.

All libraries listed are part of the Suburban Library Cooperative which has more than 27 libraries under its umbrella. The reading programs vary by library, so check out their websites for more information.

For more about the St. Clair Shores Public Library, go to scslibrary.org.

For more about the Sterling Heights Public Library, go to sterlingheights.gov/2136/Library.

For more about the Roseville library, go to rosevillelibrary.org.