Libraries, which includes the Cinco Ranch Branch and the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch libraries, Fort Bend County resents special reading clubs during the summer to encourage reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. “Build a Better World™” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Club. Registration for the 2017 Summer Reading Clubs will begin on Monday, May 29, and continue through August 31, at all Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) locations. Library programs and activities for children begin during the week of June 5, and continue through July 29.
Children from infancy through school-age are invited to come to the library to read a lot of great books, see some exciting programs, and join in some fun activities to kick off a great summer! Younger children will enjoy the “Summer Reading Club for Children,” while students in grades 6-8 can participate in activities for older kids in the “Middle School Summer Challenge.” Teens in high school can participate with adults in the “YA/Adult Summer Reading Club” to complete individual online challenges and win prizes.
There is no charge to join the Summer Reading Clubs, and they are open to everyone, regardless of the county of residence. Participants may register at any Fort Bend County library, or they may register online by going to the FBCL website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) and clicking on the “SRC Sign-Up” image, which will become available on May 29. When the online registration form has been completed, readers will then have their own online page on which to record their books and reading time.
Reading rewards can be redeemed beginning Monday, June 5. The last day to pick up awards is August 31. Prizes must be collected from the “primary library of use” that the reader indicated on the registration form.
Summer Reading Club for Children
Younger children are encouraged to read or listen to as many books as they can and they will earn rewards based on the total number of books they read or have read to them. For the first five books read, the child will receive a bookmark. The rewards continue with a certificate for 10 books, a pencil for 15 books, and a reading trophy for the first 20 books read. For every 20 books read, the participant’s name will also be written on a picture of a builder’s block to be displayed in that branch library.
The names of readers who complete the goal of reading 20 books or more will be entered into a drawing for gift cards — donated by the Friends of the Library organizations — from area stores. One winner from each library location will be selected in a drawing that will take place in August.
Middle School Summer Challenge
Exciting free activities are planned, while area readers in grades 6-8 participate in the Middle School Summer Challenge by logging online the time they spend reading.
For the first 10 hours (600 minutes) of reading, each student will receive a mystery prize. Upon completion of 20 hours (1200 minutes) of reading, they will receive a trophy. The names of participants who complete 20 or more hours of reading will be entered into a drawing for a $25-gift card – donated by the Friends of the library — that will be awarded to one lucky reader at each branch library in a drawing that will take place in August.
YA/Adult Summer Reading Club
Adults of all ages, including young adults in high school, may participate in the YA/Adult SRC by reading books and participating in optional weekly “challenges” that can be completed individually at home online. Completing the weekly challenges will gain readers additional entries for the monthly drawings for an FBCL stainless steel insulated bottle. The monthly drawings will take place at the ends of June and July at each branch library for readers who log in and record their reading each week.
All YA and adult readers who complete the goal of reading five books will earn a dual highlighter/pen. In addition, the names of participants who complete at least five books will be entered into a drawing for a $25-gift card – donated by the Friends of the library — that will be awarded to one lucky reader at each branch library in a drawing that will take place at the end of July. An ultimate grand prize will be awarded to one lucky reader in the library system. Participants in the YA/Adult Summer Reading Club who complete the program by reading five books will be entered into a drawing for a 16 GB Fire HD 8 tablet with a red case, which will be awarded to one winner in the library system on July 31. The last day to pick up awards is August 5.
The Summer Reading Clubs are sponsored by Fort Bend County Libraries, the Friends organizations that support the county library system, and by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality children’s summer-reading program materials for public libraries.
For more information, call the branch library nearest you, or the library system’s Public Information Office at 281-633-4734.