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Fostering book love in summer
When the public libraries closed their doors in March, we didn’t realize how long of a haul we were in for. Never again will we take for granted the thrill of picking out anything we want for free at our neighborhood library branch.
Libraries can reopen in Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan, and there’s no telling when that will happen. While we can’t enjoy the free AC just yet, we’re counting on the libraries for summer reading programs to help our kids foster a love of books, entertain themselves and ward off the summer slide.
We miss the library. We hope to be back in there soon. In the meantime, check this summer’s digital offerings from Seattle-area library systems by using the arrows above the image.
Seattle Public Library
Seattle Public Library (SPL) has offered summer reading programs for more than a hundred years — that’s right, since 1919 — and a global pandemic isn’t going to get in the way.
This year’s summer activities are online and the theme is “Every Day Is Earth Day.” Program elements include:
- An activity guide for the youngest readers, available in eight languages
- Book recommendations for kids up through fifth grade
- Story times and other content viewable on the library’s YouTube channel
- A reading log
- A coloring sheet
- A teen library challenge card to play and win prizes
No library card? All kids and teachers in Seattle Public Schools can use the library’s online resources with their student or employee ID number. Through Library Link, you can access e-books, graphic novels, movies, animated picture books and research databases.
Also, students in Seattle schools can now pick out a book and a lunch at the district’s meal sites on weekdays (locations here). Just bring the book back and trade it for a new one when you’re done.
Grown-ups get to play, too. Every summer, SPL offers Book Bingo for adults. Download the Bingo card, and if you hit Bingo, you can enter to win prizes.
Itching to learn a new skill? Kids and adults can ask a librarian to put together a free personalized learning plan. It can be about learning anything from writing cursive to baking macarons to making a face mask.
One timely and important offering from SPL: The library’s digital selection of books about race are always available without a wait.
King County Library System
The best news we’ve heard in a while is that some King County Library System (KCLS) branches are open for curbside pickup, as of July 1. Hooray!!! More on that below.
Everyone, even kids who can’t yet read by themselves, can participate in KCLS’ annual summer reading program. This year’s theme is “Imagine Your Story,” and the challenge is to read 1,000 minutes between June 1 and August 31. Everyone who reads at least 500 minutes can enter to win prizes. Log your reading on Beanstack or download a printable reading log.
Online fun:
- Register for live Zoom events for all kinds of cool activities, from making origami stars to a Harry Potter book group. Browse the calendar.
- If you can’t make it to a scheduled activity, you can always check out the recorded activities and story times on the KCLS YouTube channel.
To use the curbside pickup service, schedule an appointment on the myLibro app, call the phone number when you arrive at the library, or simply talk to the staff through a glass door. Return borrowed materials at the book drop, where they’ll be quarantined for at least three days before they’re checked back in and made available to the next patron.
Through July 15, you can pick up holds you made before libraries closed. After July 15, you can place new holds. Check the website for a list of branches offering pickup service and book returns, plus each service’s open hours.
And even if you don’t take advantage of book pick-ups and drop-offs, it doesn’t mean you’ll run out of reading material. Browse the library’s e-books and audiobooks, and a list of recommended books.
KCLS also has a selection of e-books and downloadable audiobooks on race, justice and privilege that you can check out without any wait.
Pierce County Library System
The great thing about the summer reading program from the Pierce County Library System? It’s free and open to everybody. Read books, track your progress and check out fun virtual programs: You don’t have to have a library card, and you don’t even have to live in Pierce County. (You do have to live in Pierce County to win a prize, though.)
What should you read? Start by browsing book lists for all ages. Graphic novels, e-books, magazines — anything and everything counts for your reading log, even listening to an audiobook. Log your reading with Beanstack and earn digital badges. Or you can track your progress on printable reading logs; there are logs for wee readers, kids, teens and adults.
The library isn’t holding any in-person events or programs during this COVID-19 summer; instead check out activities and story times on the Pierce County Library’s YouTube channel, and join the library’s Facebook group for families.
If you don’t have internet access, the library is making grab-and-go activity packs that you can pick up later this summer.
Update 7/20/2020: Starting today, the following Pierce County Library branches are now open for curbside holds pick-ups: Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Parkland/Spanaway, South Hill, Summit, Sumner and University Place. Find out details on curbside pick-up on the website.
More regional library systems
Everett Public Library is also offering curbside library services — woo-hoo! Curbside service is available at the main library six days a week. Kids, join the summer reading program, log your hours and earn a free book when you hit 24 hours of reading.
At the Tacoma Public Library website, you can download printable reading logs and creative kits to use at home. (No prizes; darn that coronavirus!) Check out the events calendar to find fun online activities.
Sno-Isle Libraries serves Snohomish and Island Counties with some 23 branches from Edmonds to Oak Harbor. Like all library buildings, these remain closed, but Sno-Isle delivers a multi-faceted online summer reading program with reading logs and book recs for kids and teens, plus an online escape room activity and virtual art and reading events. Check the calendar of online events.
The best kind of takeout is “library takeout,” which you can now get from select branches in the massive Timberland Regional Library system which serves Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and surrounding towns in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties. (Masks are required for the contact-free holds pickup.) Sign up for the summer library program; check out the story times, STEM activities and virtual performances on the library system’s YouTube channel; and browse the calendar for cool events. (Sadly, no prizes here either.) While the library buildings remain closed to the public, wifi and wifi printing are available.
