The Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Challenge will run from June 1 until July 10 and offers several activities and rewards for readers ranging from preschool age to adults.
The 2020 reading program was all virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic, but this year the library will have several in-person events planned outdoors, including the weekly story time for the youngest participants, after-hours laser tag, a family scavenger hunt and wild painting for teens.
The summer reading program typically has more than 600 participants. Last year the numbers were down slightly with 565 participants but there were more adults, with 199 people age 18 and older who registered, said the library’s executive director, DeeAnna Sova.
Participants register online through Beanstack. The website has a schedule of all events, including the story time for children from 9 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday at the amphitheater beside the library at Ninth and Bethel streets. The Friday reading will be a repeat of Wednesday’s reading. In the event of rain, story time will be canceled.
Beanstack is also the place that participants record their reading time, book reviews and activities.
“As you read and participate in activities, you will earn badges, prizes and raffle tickets,” the library’s website states.
Planters Bank sponsors the reading program. This year’s theme, Wild About Books, is reflected in a large, temporary mural inside the library and other designs throughout the building.
At the end of the challenge, readers use the raffle tickets they’ve earned to vie for prizes. Some of the raffle prizes include a Razor scooter for children, wireless earbuds and a Kindle Fire 8 for teens, and Pioneer Woman knives and gift cards for adults.
This promotional flyer has more details about raffle prizes and activities.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
