As summer quickly approaches, the Mississippi County Library System is preparing for the upcoming Summer Reading Program. This year’s program theme is “Oceans of Possibilities.” Assistant Director, Billie Bowman, has led our staff in the hard work that goes towards the program and getting it ready for our participants.
Participating in the Summer Reading Program is easy! First, you must register yourself/your child. To register, visit https://ilovetoread.readsquared.com. Just for registering, each person will receive a prize of a necklace chain, a pen, and a bookmark. After this, each book read, review written, and activity/event participated in will earn points! There are point total tiers, and at each level, participants will earn a new prize and can choose a tag and bead to add to the necklace you received when you registered.
During the month of June, the libraries will host several performers. Kiwi the Skateboarding Parrot, Samuel Curtis and his tarantulas, Tommy Terrific Magician, Runaway Puppet Theater, and Marty Boone Balloon Magician will all be making an appearance at an MCLS location. Location, date, and time vary for each of these, so be sure to visit our website and social media for exact details.
We understand that the month of July is typically when families become busy with vacation and back-to-school preparation, which is why this portion of the program is offered mostly online. Each branch will have Take and Make Kits available. These kits can be picked up and taken home to follow the instructions and create. Once they have been completed, upload a picture of your craft to Read Squared for points.
Throughout the county, you may start to see yard signs that have been put out to promote the Summer Reading Program. These signs contain artwork by a local thirteen-year-old named Isabell. She did an excellent job illustrating an image that captures this year’s theme. This artwork is also featured on MCLS t-shirts and flyers for the Summer Reading Program.
With the program approaching, we also wanted to address the misconception that the Wilson location is closed. This library is in a construction zone until we can move into our renovated, temporary site. Despite the outdoor construction, the Wilson Public Library is open to the public. Hours for this branch are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. Any unexpected closings will be posted to the system-wide Facebook page (@Mississippi County Library System). This branch will be host to several performances and events which will take place at the Wilson Grange.
Exciting things are happening this Summer, and we cannot wait! We hope to see everyone at the library this summer and look forward to your participation in the 2022 Summer Reading Program. Don’t forget to find us on social media for updates about library programming.