This year’s Summer@HPL reading program launches June 6.

Staff report

The Homer Public Library will kick off a new season of reading this Saturday with the launch of its annual summer reading program, themed “Plant a Seed, Read.”

Kids of all ages and their families are invited to a Garden Party at the library on June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where they can register for the summer reading challenge and enjoy activities including planting a garden, circus games and a skit featuring local teens.

Over the next two months, HPL will host a range of free activities for children, teens and adults to encourage and support a love of reading and will award prizes to participants who reach their reading goals. 

“We have planned a great docket of events for kids of all ages to read and grow this summer,” HPL Youth Services Librarian Cinda Nofziger said. “We’ll have a music workshop, arts and crafts, a photography workshop for teens and much more.”

Themed events during this year’s challenge include planting a library garden, house plant workshops, nature journaling and a fairy house workshop.

To complete this year’s reading challenge, registered participants must read 16 hours across two months. They’ll be awarded a prize when they reach the half-way point and will receive a book as their final prize. But that’s not all — additional reading completed beyond the set challenge will provide opportunities to earn additional prizes, which will be given away at the End of the Summer Reading Program Party on Aug. 1.

The summer reading program might include a lot of fun and games, but there’s also a serious side to the library’s annual efforts to support community reading. According to a May 21 press release from HPL, research has shown that reading over the summer prevents “summer reading loss.” 

“Studies also indicate students who read recreationally outperformed those who don’t. Students read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests,” Nofziger said. “Our library is committed to supporting lifelong learning and educational enrichment for all families.”

Registration for the reading challenge opens on June 1 at the Homer Public Library. 

Registration for specific events is available now on the library’s website. 

To learn more about Summer@HPL, call 907-235-3180 or check the library’s website.