As the school year comes to a close, it is time to make plans for summer activities. One of those activities should be reading. There are several reading programs available. Your children’s school might even send home a recommended reading list. My sons’ school even sent home a bag of books they can exchange halfway through the summer. The one opportunity available to all is the 2019 Indianapolis Public Library (IndyPL) Summer Reading Program.
This year is a special year for IndyPL because the program is celebrating 100 years of existence. The theme is Keepin’ It 100. To mark this occasion, the library compiled a list of 100 favorite books for kids and teens. The program began June 3 and continues through July 27.
To register, you can go to any library branch. The closest branch to my home is the new Michigan Road branch, but I could still register my children at the Nora branch. To sign up, you provide your child’s name, school district, school, grade, and library card number. Don’t worry if you don’t have a library card yet. You can sign up for one while you are there. It is important to fill out all of the information especially your child’s school because the public library informs schools to let them know which students participated. Many schools reward students once they return the following school year for participating.
After you sign up, you will be given a card for each of your children. Do not lose this card. One year, I lost my sons’ cards, and they had to start their points over. No amount of sob stories will get you those points back. Secure your card in a safe place or you will have angry children.
The library has signs and a pamphlet to inform you how many points a book is worth. You can check out those books and return them. This is the important part. Do not place the books in the book bin. You have to take them to the summer reading table, so the points can be punched on your card. As you earn points, you earn prizes. Since this is the 100th year of the program, readers earn prizes for every 100 points they earn.
My boys are already signed up. Maybe we will see you at the library!