The St. Tammany Parish Library is ready to get with the beat with this year’s 2018 Summer Reading Challenge "Libraries Rock." The Library invites patrons of all ages to read as many minutes as they can, and to visit area branches for fun, free events before the end of the summer with the children’s, teen and adult summer reading challenges.
Registration for the 2018 Libraries Rock Summer Reading Challenge officially begins on Wednesday, May 23 and will end on Saturday, August 11. Here’s how to register:
- Children 0-11: Stop by your favorite branch to sign up and receive a prize.
- Children 7-11: Regular sign-up is in person at your favorite branch; however, this age group may also participate in the “Patch Club”. Patch Club pre-registration starts Saturday, May 19. Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “Libraries Rock” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours.
- Teens 12-18 & Adults: Pre-registration will start Saturday, May 19. Log onto the library website sttammanylibrary.org and click on the “Libraries Rock” icon from home 24/7, or drop by any library branch during regular branch hours.
EVERYONE who registers will receive a kazoo, which will come in handy in playing the “One Library, One Song” tune at library events this summer: “We will Rock You” made famous by the band Queen!
Children ages 0-11 are to read 12 hours during this period. Upon reaching the 12-hour goal, children become rock stars and their name will be displayed on a “gold album” in their home library branch. Children ages 7 – 11 who participate in the Patch Club may also opt to earn collectible patches by reading certain categories of books and completing challenges in an online game. Each patch they earn will also get them a raffle entry for an iPad.
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 $50 gift cards.
Special Libraries Rock events have been scheduled for all age groups throughout the summer at the St. Tammany Parish Library branches. The summer reading challenge kicks off with the Libraries Rock Free Family Music Festival at the Abita Springs Trailhead on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Special musical guest Johnnette Downing will kick off the festival at 10 a.m., followed by Necessary Gentleman at 11 a.m., the Roots of Music at 12 noon, and the LPO quartet at 1 p.m.
Children’s events will include performances by Samba Man, Grayhawk, Didgeridoo Down Under, whole lot more! There will be music themed storytimes for all ages. Children ages 8-11 years old can participate in “Rock and Roll Middle School”, a series of hands-on activities that include the science of music, coding, playing the Native American flute and more.
Teen events will include D.I.Y. craft projects, music, Friday Night After-Hours events plus Workshops for Art, Cooking, ASL, songwriting, and more.
Adult events for those age 19 and up include music performances, dance classes, jewelry making classes, movie screenings, game nights and more!
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 at www.sttammanylibrary.org.
For more information on the St. Tammany Parish Reads 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. 2018, Teen Services Coordinator Jennifer Rifino at 985-626-9779 ext. 304 or Adult Programming Coordinator Jillian Boudreaux at 985-893-6280 ext. 2010
