Library promotes reading for pleasure with summer program

The Saratoga library will begin its annual online summer reading program for teenagers on June 1 to encourage them to read in their spare time.

Teens can sign up online at the library website between June 1 and Aug. 17. The program will run until Aug. 31.

The new program, now online as opposed to previous years, will allow teens to participate even if they are on vacation.

Students will be able to log the books they read over the summer online by entering the book title, their rating and an optional review. Although the library has recommended books, any books will count as summer reading.

According to Birgit Vogler, the teen librarian for the Saratoga Library, every teen who logs at least one book in the program will receive a free book, a coupon for another free book at the Book-Go-Round and a coupon for Saratoga Chocolates in downtown.

Everyone logging books will be entered into weekly drawings for gift cards (Starbucks, Yogurtland) and everyone logging at least five books will be entered into a county drawing for an iPad mini and a Google Nexus Tablet.

Vogler stressed the importance of teens reading over summer. According to the Project Cornerstone survey from October, only 1 in 5 students at SHS read for pleasure, a trend the library seeks to reform.

“Reading just five books over the summer can prevent summer reading loss and therefore students will be better prepared for the new school year,” Vogler said.