Teens and adults can register for Summer Reading, log reading time and more here. Children participating in the R2 club can enjoy fun games and activities here.
The St. Tammany Parish Library is over the moon with this year’s 2019 Summer Reading Challenge "A Universe of Stories", designed to inspire patrons of all ages to dream big, believe in themselves, and create their own story.
The library invites participants to launch into this astronomical adventure to read as many minutes as they can and to visit a galaxy far, far away at area branches where they can blast through fun, free events before the end of the summer with the children’s, teen and adult summer reading challenges.
Registration for the 2019 A Universe of Stories Summer Reading Challenge officially begins on Friday, May 24 and will end on Saturday, August 10. Here’s how to register:
Children 0-11: Stop by your favorite branch to sign up and receive a prize.
Children 6-11: Regular sign-up is in person at your favorite branch; however, this age group may also participate in the “R2 Club”. R2 pre-registration starts Saturday, May 19. Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “A Universe of Stories” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours.
Teens 12-18 & Adults: Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “A Universe of Stories” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours.
Children ages 0-11 are to read 12 hours during this period. Upon reaching the 12-hour goal, children will earn a certificate of achievement and cool backpack. Children ages 6 to 11 who participate in the R2 Club will complete missions to earn brag tags and collectible beads. For every mission completed they will be entered into a prize drawing for an Ozobot robot or a Kindle Fire!
Teens ages 12–18 and Adults ages 19 and up will also participate in the 12-hour reading challenge to win prizes. In addition, teens and adults can play bingo and/or attend programs to win extra prizes. Those who have completely filled in their bingo card will be entered into random drawings for gift cards.
Special “A Universe of Stories” events have been scheduled for all age groups throughout the summer at all library branches. The summer reading challenge kicks off with the A Universe of Stories SRC Launch from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24, at the Slidell Branch, 555 Robert Blvd., and then again the following evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at the Madisonville Branch, 1123 Main St. Join us for crafts, challenges, outdoor sky viewing, glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt, silent disco, LED hula-hooping and a whole lot more!
Children’s events will explore all things about space, space travel, aliens, robotics and more through storytelling, crafts, music, science experiments and other activities, including a visit from a real rocket scientist and star shows in an inflatable planetarium!
Teen events will include D.I.Y. craft projects, music, Friday Night After-Hours events plus Workshops for Art, Cooking, Anime, Creative Writing and more.
Scheduled programs for adults ages 19 and up throughout the summer at the St. Tammany Parish Library branches include craft classes, movies and science presentations just to name a few!
Public libraries offer children and teens a constructive way to spend the summer. The Summer Reading Challenge seeks to instill a lifelong love of reading in St. Tammany Parish youth and to involve them in rewarding and stimulating activities at the library. Studies have shown that the effects of summer reading programs improve reading comprehension skills between school years.
While all library programs are free and open to the public, registration is required for each event by calling the branch where the event will take place or by visiting the library’s events calendar.
For more information on the Summer Reading Challenge or other library programs, call your local branch library, check the calendar of events on sttammanylibrary.org, or contact Children’s Services Coordinator Tanya DiMaggio at 985-893-6280 ext. 2017, Teen Services Coordinator Jennifer Rifino at 985-626-9779 ext. 3004 or Adult Programming Coordinator Jillian Boudreaux at 985-893-6280 ext. 2010
