Change of reading seasons – The Woodstock Independent

Change of reading seasons – The Woodstock Independent

The Woodstock Public Library reading program is back!

What is usually dubbed the summer reading program, has been re-imagined as the winter reading program for patrons who might have missed out on summer prizes.

“At first, we decided to do a winter reading program just so we could use up the badges and lanyards we put together for the summer,” Young Adult librarian Kate Tripp said, “[but] the more I thought about it, the more important it was that we try to have a ‘regular’ reading program where the kids could come in and get prizes – or at least as regular as we could make it.”

Tripp explained that young patrons look forward to the summer reading program all year long, but the turnout for the past summer was less than half of what the program usually sees.

Part of that could be attributed to the fact that the library was closed, meaning the kids could not come in to turn in their reading logs. Logging was completed online, but Tripp said she knew some families had a difficult time with the change.

Support from businesses

The winter reading program will be similar to the summer reading program. For every three hours youths read, they can earn prizes. They also can earn a raffle ticket for weekly prizes or the grand prize.

Returning this winter is the opportunity for children to choose prizes including books, toys, and coupons to local businesses, while teens are able to earn other prizes such as chips, candy, books, coupons to local businesses or water bottles.

“We have had great support in years past from local businesses like Kingston Lanes,” Tripp said, “and this year we were able to add coupon prizes from Casting Whimsy and Read Between the Lynes.”

The winter reading program began Dec. 1 and will end Jan. 20. Students can log reading hours with the timer on the Beanstack app, which can be accessed through the library’s website,  or patrons can stop in at the children’s desk to pick up paper logs. Craft kits will be available in the children’s department.

Books are available as e-books, digital picture books, audiobooks, and digital magazines through Digital Library of Illinois, TumbleBooks, and RBdigital to aid in contactless reading as well.

Published at Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:02:34 +0000