Sunny Days Signal Start of ‘My Summer Reading Club’
By City of Arlington, TX
Posted on May 21, 2014, May 21, 2014

Summer Reading Club

Everyone is invited to get a jumpstart on summer fun by attending the 2014 Kick-Off Celebration of My Summer Reading Club on Saturday, May 31, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Arlington ISD Professional Development Center, 1111 W. Arbrook Blvd. The Arlington Public Library is working with community businesses, organizations and school districts to sponsor a summer filled with reading that meets the community's educational and recreational goals. Students, families and adults from the entire community are invited to attend the event.

Performers, storytimes, crafts and other activities are part of the Kick-Off Celebration. Library staff will be on hand to explain how it works for each age category and to answer questions about this year's My Summer Reading Club programs and prizes. A new component for 2014 is a special website, MySRC.org. All participants may register here beginning June 1 to log hours, check scheduled activities for the whole family, and view prizes and incentives. This summer's themes for various age groups have been inspired by science and technology education in addition to reading and literacy.

My First Summer Reading Club is for little ones, 0-4 years old. In addition to regular weekly storytimes, special events will introduce children to science and build pre-literacy skills. Reading and skill-building activities done at home are logged to earn age-appropriate prizes. At the Kick-Off Celebration, families can get complete information, lots of hands-on fun, storytime and a special performer.

Fizz! Boom! Read! is for kids, ages 5-12. More than twenty special programs are planned, including science demonstrations, magic shows and storytellers. Older students, 10-12 years old, are offered robotics competition, chess camp, drama camp, and math and science camp to capture their imaginations this summer. Incentives include Texas Rangers tickets, swim passes and t-shirts. Prizes may be earned by logging five hours of reading.

Spark a Reaction is for teens, ages 13-17. They may choose among special interests in robotics, writing, crafts, coding, gaming, journalism and photography. Teens are invited to hang out at one of the APL Youth Technology Centers- Teen Zone at Northeast Branch, the Lab at East Arlington Branch, or the Studio at the George W. Hawkes Central Library. Gift cards are awarded for hours of reading logged. Teens are also invited to volunteer at the library this summer.

Where Do You Read? invites adults to join in the spirit of recreational summer reading by sharing how, when and what they are reading. Adults may join SRC at the same time with their child or grandchild for a gift of a Family Fun Bag while supplies last. Prizes for adults, awarded by random drawing, include a Family Staycation Grand Prize valued at over $500, and three Kindle Fires. This summer brings a new edition of last year's popular Geocaching Challenge, awarding a limited edition pathtag to those who locate ten geocaches around the city.

Librarian David Jackson will conduct another active game by taking the MiniLiNK library van to a different area attraction each week. Find clues to his location on Twitter (#wheresdavid?), Facebook, Instagram, and MySRC.com and stop by for extra prizes.

My SRC Final Celebration will be in the Hall of Fame at Globe Life Park, 1000 Ballpark Way, Saturday, August 2, 3-5:30 p.m. All ages of SRC participants are invited to attend.

Library Day at Globe Life Park will be Sunday, August 17, beginning at 2 p.m. Children and teens who have earned a Texas Rangers Reading Certificate can get a free ticket, join a special parade on the field and watch the Rangers vs. Angels game. Discounted tickets are available for family members.

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