Mid-Continent Public Library’s annual Summer Library Program for all ages will begin June 1 and run through August 24. This year, the Library is asking kids and teens to read for 20 minutes a day for 20 days. Those who do will earn a free book and the chance to win prizes. Adults can earn a commemorative enamel pin by setting a good example and reading for 20 minutes a day as well. In recognition of Missouri’s bicentennial in August, the theme of this year’s program is “Show Me!”

“The goal of our Summer Library Program is to make sure kids continue building those critical literacy skills that can sometimes take a backseat over a break from school,” said Haley Lefholz, MCPL Youth Services Librarian. “This is a vital part of ensuring they head back to class ready to learn. Especially after the past year, with all the stress and challenges, this program is a great opportunity to make sure kids are continuing to learn and grow, and also having fun and feeling good about their accomplishments.”

Every reader age 0-19 who reads for 20 minutes a day for 20 days will receive a free book and will be entered into a drawing to win prizes from one of the Library’s Community Partners, including Science City, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, and the Kansas City Zoo. If they read for another 20 days, they’ll get a second free book and be entered to win a grand prize family membership from one of the partners. And, if they read 20 minutes per day for another 20 days (a total of 60 days), they’ll get a third free book and be entered into a drawing for a Kindle Fire. Adults can also qualify to win tickets from Community Partners and tickets to radio station KFKF’s Throwback Throwdown concert.

Participants don’t have to just read traditional books; every time a reader engages with text, or practices early literacy skills, this can count toward their daily reading. This could be a young reader helping with a recipe or shopping list, a teen checking emails, a family reading a newspaper article together, listening to an audiobook, and of course, time spent with a book. All reading can be tracked online through a free tracking app called Beanstack or on paper logs that can be picked up at any MCPL branch.

More information about the program, including how to sign up and log reading, can be found at mymcpl.org/ShowMe .

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story