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Date: 7/13/2022
WESTFIELD — This summer the Westfield Athenaeum is hosting its summer reading program, which started in June and runs through mid-August. The program has kids, teens and adults reading books to earn raffle tickets that they can use to enter drawings for different prizes for each age group.
For the first time since 2020, COVID-19 has not hindered the library’s summer reading program at all.
“The program has been remarkably successful since the library fully reopened in June,” said Executive Director Guy McLain. “Things are full steam ahead.”
Readers can sign up in person at the library, at 6 Elm St., Westfield, or can register at westath.org. Once signed up, participants can log their hours spent reading and how many books they’ve read to earn raffle tickets to put towards various prizes like air fryers or Beats headphones.
McLain also described the summer reading program as “Important for kids, with reading scores way down in the U.S. these programs help increase reading ability that would otherwise be lost over the summer.”
While these programs are important for kids, they can also be beneficial for adults. He added, “It motivates adults to read and engage in and share in the community in a fun way, also kids are more likely to read if their parents are also reading.”
This program does not require a library card to participate, but cards are easy to get at the Athenaeum. Benefits of holding a library card, in addition to taking out books, are access to free passes to museums like the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book, or discounts at other museums, or even free parking for 50 days at various Massachusetts state parks.
For those looking for their next book to read, Athenaeum librarians offer various services, such as recommending books based on a reader’s interests, reserving books for later pickup, and even free delivery of books for those who are not able to leave the house or travel to the library.
While the summer reading program has already been very successful this year, McLain hopes to see the number of participants increase as the summer goes on.