With help from a grant from the Missouri Secretary of State's Office, Missouri River Regional Library's annual Summer Reading Challenge has moved online.
The Secretary of State's Office awarded MRRL $955, which it used to install reading challenge/tracker software to track how much participants in the challenge read.
The summer program - called "Imagine Your Story" - rewards readers for completing a given number of books.
Adults (19 and older) who read or listen to four books will get to choose a free book. Once they complete four more titles (eight total), they will receive a second book and be entered into a prize drawing.
Adults are also asked to compete in a contest to design a bookmark. The winner will receive 50 copies of their design on 2.25-by-7-inch bookmarks. The artwork can be any medium, from paint or stamps to computer printed. Photography is allowable, if the photograph belongs to the designer. One entry per competitor, please.
Enter the bookmark by sending a digital version to [email protected] and include your name and phone number. Or hand in the submission at the reference desk in the library. Designs are due by Aug. 1.
Teenagers (ages 13-18) will earn a prize for every 10 hours of reading. They will receive a book or summer reading-themed prize. And, they will be entered into the end-of-program raffle for one of five Amazon gift cards.
Programs for pre-K (ages 4 and younger) and children (ages 5-12) will be based on hours of reading. Each program will have a single prize level - a bag of themed items and three books of the participant's choice from bins that will be available in the library.
Those who finish will be entered for a chance to win one of several age-appropriate raffle prizes. Names are to be drawn and winners notified Aug. 10.
To sign up for the MRRL summer reading program, visit mrrl.readsquared.com.