Amy Kay
Hooked on Books
Co-created and delivered by over 2,200 public libraries across Canada, The TD Summer Reading Club (TD SRC) is a bilingual program made possible by the partnership between Library and Archives Canada and sponsor TD Bank. The TD SRC is a free summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities offered at all branches of the County of Lennox and Addington Libraries, as well as online. Tots, kids, teens (and even adults!) are encouraged to read and explore Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, to discover the joy of recreational reading.
The TD SRC inspires kids to uncover the fun of reading their way, which is the key to building a lifelong love of reading, and supports literacy skill development. Studies show that kids who keep reading all summer long have greater success at school in the fall. The benefits of the program are clear: 2021 surveys indicate that 97 percent of kids read more often over the summer; while almost all participants maintained their reading skills, 78 percent of parents and caregivers agreed that their child’s reading skills improved.
Participants can sign up in any library branch or on the READSquared platform (http://countylibrary.readsquared.com/) where they can earn points for reading books and completing missions. Points can be cashed in for brag tags and other summer goodies from our prize store. Extra points can be earned by obtaining special event codes at any of our library programs.
We still have an array of fantastic events planned, including StoryWalk®, art attack, tie dye and more! We will celebrate summer reading success with fun games, tattoos and a bouncy house at our end of summer parties in all our library branches. Visit our website (www.countylibrary.com) for more information.
Besides joining the TD SRC here are five more ways to help keep your kids engaged in reading this summer:
- Make reading an adventure – read aloud anytime, anywhere! Try reading to a favourite stuffy or maybe even a younger sibling or cousin.
- Ensure reading materials are readily available – we love weekly trips to the library for free books! You can often find affordable books at secondhand stores and yard sales.
- Be a role model – let them see you reading! Magazines, flyers, ebooks and audiobooks, it all counts.
- Encourage choice – have children choose subjects that interest them. They’ll be more likely to pick up a book and stick with it.
- Create a comfortable and fun reading space – any place can be a reading space! Indoors or outdoors, make it cozy and unique, add a book or two (or more!).