For Laura Peniche, signing her three children up for the summer reading program is tradition.
“(Itap) so I can keep them engaged in the summer,” she said. “And the Arapahoe Library District does a great job of having different activities and events for the entire family.”
Entire family is right. This year, Peniche will join her kiddos in the seasonal page-turning action because the library districthas opened up its for the first time in several years. Adults who sign up and read four books over the course of the program (June 3 to July 30 this year) will be entered into a drawing at their local branch for a “book lover’s bag” that includes three books and other items. Smoky Hill and the Koelbel library each will give away two bags.
“I love the thought of going all ages this year,” said Cindy Mares, the districtap manager of strategic programming. “I think its biggest benefit is getting all the families reading together so parents can model behavior for their kids.”
Of course, a key part of the program is combating the “summer slide” Peniche referenced. By keeping school-aged children reading and learning when school is out, they are more likely to be ready for their assignments and not need weeks of review lessons when classes resume, Mares said.
Opening the program to adults allows the library staff to shine a light on services for adults, such as the deep catalog of e-books, stockpile of cutting-edge technology like virtual reality headsets, and the personalized book recommendations available from librarians.
Mares said more than 10,000 kids participated in the district’s summer reading program last year. She hopes enrollment will grow by at least another 1,000 people this year — including adults. Age-appropriate rewards, including books, stickers and coupons, will be doled out to all kids who hit the program’s benchmarks.
As for Peniche, she said she’s happy to sign up for the summer reading program because it gives her another reason to bring her kids to events like the Old West-themed summer reading kickoff party the family attended at the , last week. The family particularly enjoyed the musical set by
“Itap great to expose them to something else other than books at the library,” she said. “Itap really hard to find places for children to come that are inclusive culturally and age-wise and have events the whole family can attend.”
Lizet Mechandrie, a library specialist at Sheridan, said since the branch’s multiple adults have asked staff about joining a summer reading program. She said the summer is typically a time the library is filled with families and now parents and even grandparents can join youngsters in the action.
In addition to the musical performance, the Sheridan kickoff featured a photo booth, video game station and a table where people who signed up — with the help of teen volunteers Noah Grenball, 15, and Brianna Robinson, 12 — could pick up western-style sheriff’s badges and Cow Tales caramel candy.
Mia Yamaguchi, a librarian with the Denver Public Library district, signed up her kids, Raiden, 7, and Ayaka, 6, at the Sheridan event. She wasn’t aware it was open to adults this year but was excited to join. Raiden said he planned to pick out a book from his favorite genre — trolls — to get his summer session started, while Ayakasaid her goal is to read “a cat book.” Yamaguchi said she likes summer reading not only for the way it supports her children’s learning, but also because she believes it helps build a familiarity and affinity for libraries themselves.
“We don’t have all these books at home,” she said. “I think the best part about it is they get to come in and pick out their own books.”
To sign up for Arapahoe Libraries summer reading program, visit .