(CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA) - Contra Costa County Library has launched its Summer Reading Program, offering reading activities, prizes and educational events for participants of all ages through Aug. 1.
Photo Credit: https://ccclib.org/summer/
The program is open to anyone and takes place across all 26 Contra Costa County Library branches.
Participants check off boxes for each activity or task they complete on passports available at Contra Costa County Library branches. People can also participate online through Beanstack, the library's reading-tracking platform. Participants can complete reading goals, earn prizes and enter a raffle for larger prizes.
Participants are divided into two age groups: ages 0-4 and ages 5 and older, including adults. Each participant must pick up a passport that corresponds to their age group.
For babies and young children, some activities include trying a new fruit or vegetable and arranging a playdate with a friend.
For participants ages 5 and older, some activities include cooking a new recipe and reading a genre they have not read before.
Prize distribution begins June 22. Even if participants complete their passport before then, library branches cannot distribute prizes early. The policy is intended to maintain consistency across all branches and give participants the same amount of time to complete their passports.
Participants can earn prizes such as free books and stickers and may also enter a raffle for larger prizes, including a Sony speaker or a LEGO set.
The program benefits all age groups. Parents and guardians can talk, read or sing to their babies, which stimulates brain development, expands vocabulary and promotes emotional regulation.
School-aged children can practice reading skills during the summer and prepare for the upcoming school year. According to library officials, continued reading can help prevent the "summer slide," a period when students may lose academic progress while school is out of session.
“It's not just for kids, but during the summer, we certainly encourage kids to continue to read, because it helps to prevent the summer slide, which is that time of year when students are out of school and they're not reading or doing homework that helps them keep up with pace of their grade level learning,” Brooke Converse, public information officer for the Contra Costa County Library, said.
For teens and adults, the program provides a way to stay engaged with reading and writing, which can help keep the brain active and healthy.
“When families, adults, and older children read, it encourages the younger people in their family to read, because they see that behavior from the older ones, and reading continues to enrich adult lives as well,” Converse said. “You can learn new things, and it keeps your mind wandering and constantly learning.”
Exploration Stations events are also being hosted at Contra Costa County Library branches and encourage hands-on learning.
One event will take place June 25 at the San Pablo Library. Attendees of all ages can learn about animals, astronomy and nature. Guest organizations include the Lindsay Wildlife Experience, East Bay Regional Parks, Bay Area Discovery Museum, the Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society, the East Bay Astronomical Society and Contra Costa Animal Services.
“Reading and literacy are the library's brand,” Converse said. “It's the number one thing that libraries encourage and want people and families to do every day, not only because it supports the libraries, but because it supports learning and literacy.”
To add to or correct any information in this report, please email me at yashi.s@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below.
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