Dig this! Summer reading program “Dig into Reading”:

May 24 to July 20 at all Pima County Public library branches, including one near you.

520-791-4010, www.library.pima.gov. Click on the images for more information about summer reading events.

More About Summer Reading 2013

Children will receive a game board when they sign up. Each time they reach a goal, they can visit their library to pick up stickers, special lists of recommended activities, activity booklets with coupons for a variety of destinations, and more. If they complete all of their goals, they can receive a pass for one admission to Breakers Water Park.

Summer Reading Times lists the fun events and activities scheduled throughout the summer. It also includes book recommendations for all ages, how to choose books for children, discount coupons, and ideas for things to do to “dig” into and stay active this summer.

Dig into the public library collection for lots of good books this summer.

A wonderful way to spend time over the long, hot summer months is to vist your local branch library (or the Joel D. Valdez Main Library downtown) and read! And this year the reading program highlights Arizona’s Centennial.

From the Pima County Public Library’s website.

Summer Reading Preview – Our State, Our Story: Celebrating 100 Years of Arizona

Summer Reading is on the horizon. This year it begins on May 24 and runs through July 21. On May 24, mosey on in to your library to pick up your Reading Passport and Arizona Adventure Pass. This year’s program also includes activities that will keep you and your family exploring, doing, creating, writing and reading all summer.
What’s New?

Along with the fantastic fun programs and events that come with Summer Reading each year, this year we are rolling out a new way to think about Summer Reading. This year it’s going to be about reading, writing, creating, doing, and exploring. It’s going to be about reading for pleasure, encouraging a love of reading for all ages, and participation in creative, challenging and exciting activities.

Everyone (adults, teens and kids) who joins Summer Reading this year will receive a Reading Passport and an Arizona Adventure Pass. Your Reading Passport is where you’ll set your reading goal and log your activities. (Have your passport stamped as you meet goals and complete activities.)

Decide Your Reading Goal
What’s a good reading goal? Set your reading goal of minutes or number of pages. Make it your goal to read all of the books in a series or all of the books by a certain author. Maybe you’ll want to read 10 books about horses. Got a stack of magazines you’ve been wanting to read? That’s a reading goal—something that’s a challenge, but not a chore.

Choose Six Activities
In honor of Arizona’s Centennial we’re going to give you a list of 100 activities. Throughout the summer you’ll choose six appealing activities from the list to complete and log in your Reading Passport. You’ll find things that are easy to do as well as others that are more challenging. Your Arizona Adventure Pass will come in handy since it includes passes for fun activities and interesting venues all over the state.

Summer Reading Night at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Who? Readers ages 2-14, your Adventure Pass is your ticket for free admission with one paid adult admission to Summer Reading Night on Saturday, June 23.

SummerQuest
You will have completed the journey with your fellow SummerQuesters when the hidden image you seek appears. How many of the quests will you fulfill to reach the goal?

SummerStory
Are you more the writerly type? SummerStory may be right up your alley. Each week the story will continue with an installment chosen from those you (teens 13-18) submit.
Finale Events

After you’ve accomplished your summer reading goals we want to help you celebrate!

Wrock out with those wizard rockers Harry and the Potters at the Hotel Congress on Thursday, July 19. Thanks to Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange and the Hotel Congress for joining with the library to make this event free and fun for all ages.

Kids who accomplish six activities will receive a pass to a finale event at Reid Park Zoo on Saturday morning, July 21!

The Summer Rock Concert returns this year. Talented local teen bands will play at this free, all ages, concert on July 21 at 8 pm. Teens who have completed 6 activities will receive a backstage pass to an exclusive VIP pre-party.

Wow! What a great way to continue to celebrate Arizona’s 100 birthday (February 14, 2012). Enjoy the summer by reading!

Read, read, read this summer at the Pima County public library! For more information, go to your local Pima County branch library or online at: www.library.pima.gov.. Here’s descriptions of each program (kids. teens, adults) from their website:

—For Kids
Pick up your free Make a Splash—READ! game board at any library beginning May 27, and use it to keep track of how many hours you read. Or, you, a parent or another responsible adult can log your hours online.

For every six hours you read, you earn prizes – stickers, pencils and much more!

All who read 24 hours by July 18 will receive a reading certificate and an Adventure Pass, which includes a ticket for four people to the Tucson Toros baseball finale at Hi Corbett Field on Sunday, July 25.

Six hours of extra reading earns you a pass to Breakers Water Park and a free paperback book.

—For Teens
Teens can pick up a free Make Waves @ Your Library reading booklet at any library beginning May 27, and use it to keep track of how many hours you read, or log your hours online.

You’ll earn prizes and gift coupons good at community businesses for every 10 hours read. Prizes include a $10 gift certificate to Bookmans and a backstage pass to the Make Sound Waves Rock Concert finale, where you’ll be able to party with performing bands in the Joel D. Valdez Main Library’s parking garage.

You can register online beginning May 27th or drop by your neighborhood library for additional details.

—For Adults
On June 5, 7:30-9:30 pm, bring your friends, family and picnic and celebrate Make a Splash-READ! with outdoor evening events at Himmel Park’s Amphitheater. Imagine classic instrumental surf tunes blasting from a ’49 Flathead Woody at our kick-off event, a concert featuring surfing music by a local favorite The El Camino Royales.

In July, catch the ultimate wave without leaving the state: it’s a screening of the film Endless Summer, the first and most influential film of the surf movie genre. That’s July 17, 8-10 pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

Then Make a Splash – READ! by tracking the hours you spend reading, as well as rating and reviewing books online. Just for signing up online (beginning May 27th ) with your email address, you’ll earn a chance to win our weekly drawing for a $5 Bookmans credit voucher.

Those who reach their personal reading goal will earn a Pima County Adventure Pass, a guide filled with coupons for reduced-price admissions to attractions throughout southern Arizona, including a discount towards a purchase at the Friends of the Library Book Barn.

Make a splash. Just check out your local library and read!