Library's Summer Reading Program Goes Digital

Every summer, Lewis County Public Library offers a literacy program for all ages that includes reading challenges, prizes, and fun programs to attend. The library has re-imagined delivery of the program to ensure the safety of families during this time of CDC-recommended social distancing. As Summer Reading goes digital, the library will offer new and engaging virtual and interactive programming for readers of all ages with this year’s theme of “Imagine Your Story: Happily Ever Hohenwald.”

The 2020 Summer Reading Program will include online tracking through the READsquared app, where participants earn virtual badges and real-world prizes by logging minutes read, completing exciting quests, playing educational games, submitting book reviews, and participating in other interactive challenges. Participants will also be encouraged to be “fairy godmothers/fathers” to our town, earning points for badges and prizes by doing good deeds that help make Hohenwald a better place for all.

Events will look different this year as well. Most programming will be offered virtually through the Facebook LIVE, Zoom, and the library’s YouTube page. Special codes that unlock extra badges or prizes will also appear throughout virtual programing. A limited number of in-person programs will be offered multiple times throughout the summer to a limited, pre-registered number of attendees. “Take and make” activities will also be offered. The goal of the kits is to offer screen-free activities for families that encourage creativity.

Prizes are a popular part of the annual program. This year, instead of earning a weekly participation prize, summer readers will follow the links in the READsquared app to select their own prize from an online menu. Prizes earned will go into a treasure trove. On July 25th participants will be able to pick up their prizes at the library through curbside pickup or by appointment. Prizes will be mailed to those who are unable to pick theirs up on the designated day.

All ages can register on READsquared and find a challenge for their age group. Participants may download the app from their app store or log in through the website http://lewislibrary.readsquared.com to access the library’s summer activities. In the app, participants will need to search for Lewis County Public Library, TN to ensure the correct library is selected. Parents have full access to all family accounts, reading, activity and statistics while allowing family members to have individual accounts. One-click logging provides parents with an easy way to log reading for all family members.

As a community partner in education, Lewis County Public Library encourages families to read during summer break to keep their reading skills sharp. Our summer reading program has always served as an educational bridge to prevent “Summer Slide,” during which students may lose up to two months of skills, with educational rewards and entertaining activities. The typical “Summer Slide” has been enhanced by the Coronavirus as students transitioned from classroom to online learning in March of this year. Our new digital format for the summer reading program addresses the unique challenges that COVID-19 has created. Studies even suggest that children who participate in summer reading programs have better reading scores by the end of third grade than students who did not participate.

“Imagine Your Story: Happily Ever Hohenwald” will run from June 9 through July 18, 2020. Families are invited to join together to encourage learning and literacy all summer long. The 2020 Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library with support materials provided by the Tennessee State Library and Archives. For more information, call the library at 931-796-5365 or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lewislibrary.