Tulsa City-County Library’s No. 1 goal is that the children of Tulsa County will grow up able to compete globally. The participation in the Summer Reading Program of over 40,000 children, tweens and teens each year helps move us toward that goal. In post-program surveys, parents and caregivers reported that 50 to 70 percent of the children who participated in the Summer Reading Program increased their reading skills, voluntary reading, amount of reading and library usage.
Thanks to the generosity of area businesses and organizations, children, teens/tweens and adults can earn valuable prizes by reading books this summer. The Summer Reading Program inspires youths to become lifelong readers and library users by providing incentives, events and a welcoming atmosphere that fosters a joy of reading.
Every Hero Has a Story is the theme of the 2015 Children’s Summer Reading Program. Beginning May 26 through August 1, children may sign up online to participate in the program. Children may read or listen to eight books to earn a medal and a book of coupons for free entertainment and food. Coupons include admission to Oklahoma Aquarium, Tulsa Zoo and Tulsa Drillers game, as well as Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s, an original glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme and much more. If they read 12 or more books, they will earn a bonus prize – a superhero duck toy.
Medal winners who have completed kindergarten or are in first through fifth grade may enter a drawing for prizes including bicycles with helmets, a birthday party at ONEOK Field for a Tulsa Drillers game, a fishing outing with News On 6 meteorologist Dick Faurot and more exciting prizes.
The theme of the Teen/Tween Summer Reading Program is Unmask! Participants may sign up online, and read six books to complete the program and earn a flashlight and coupons for free entertainment and food items. Those who complete the program may enter a drawing for prizes that include a Kindle Fire, laptop and $100 Old Navy gift card.
Migrations is the theme of the Adult Summer Reading Program for ages 18 and older. Register online, read or listen to four books, and then visit any TCCL branch after June 15 to collect coupons for free treats from our sponsors Panera Bread, Mazzio’s and Wendy’s, and to enter to win a Kindle E-Book Reader.
The Great Migration of 1915 to 1970, when nearly 6 million black people left the American South for cities in the North and West in pursuit of a better life, is the subject of The Warmth of Other Suns by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson. Tulsans are invited to participate in the annual communitywide reading initiative One Book, One Tulsa, featuring Wilkerson’s book, and enjoy a series of events including book discussions and musical programs in several library branches from May 26 through July 29.
Visit www.TulsaLibrary.org/summer to sign up for the Summer Reading Programs or call 918-549-7323 for more details.
By: Larry Bartley
Communications Director
Tulsa City-County Library