Summer reading program sign-up start June 3

The Rainier City Library is preparing to kick off its summer reading program and is encouraging anyone who wants to participate to signup from Tuesday, June 3 though Saturday, June 14. The program begins June 14 and ends on Saturday, Aug. 2.

“The idea of summer reading in general is to keep kids encouraged to read during the summer,” said Rainier City Librarian Allen Snider. “Every year, we do a summer reading program to keep kids reading to prevent the summer slide. Basically, right after kids get out of school, they stop reading and kind of lose interest and then they have to make it up when they get back.”

Participants in the summer reading program will have library-provided reading trackers that can be turned in for prizes. The goal is to encourage at least two hours of reading a week. “Every blank space is 10 minutes of reading,” said Snider. “So you sit down, read for 10 minutes, you color this in, or whatever you like to do with it, and then you can turn in any tracker with any amount of reading you've done over that week and pick a prize from our prize container. If you return a full, two-hour tracker that week, we'll stamp the date and enter it in a grand prize drawing.”

In addition to promoting reading throughout the summer months, the library is also offering events to encourage readers to play and engage with peers in other new ways. A current list of in-person events to be held at the Rainier City Library includes:

June 17-20 at 11 a.m., Endlessly Ever After: A Pick Your Path Story Time

Saturday, June 28, Calm Puzzle Time: All ages, bring your own jigsaw puzzle or borrow one of ours and relax with us.

Thursday, July 3 at noon, Learn to Crochet: Make your own dice bag. Ages 17 and under. Check Facebook for registration details

Wednesday, July 16 at 2 p.m., Intro to Table Top RPGs for Tweens and Teens. Ages 17 and under. Check Facebook for registration details.

Saturday, August 2 at noon, Learn to cross stitch. Ages 17 and under. Check Facebook for registration details.

The Rainier City Library is located at 106 W B St. and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, call 503-556-7301.