The Warwick Public Library has announced registration for its Summer Reading Challenge.

The 2024 Warwick Public Library All Ages Summer Reading Challenge begins Saturday, June 22. The theme this year is Read! Renew! Repeat! The Summer Reading Challenge is open to children of all ages. During the summer, readers keep track of their reading minutes to earn virtual badges and earn prizes.

Asked about the importance of children reading during the summer, Pam Miech, Coordinator of Youth Services at the Warwick Public Library said, “Summer reading is so important. Continuing to build on the reading skills and vocabulary learned is necessary for children. Kids will lose these skills if they do not read in the summer, and not be able to just find them in the fall; this is referred to as the Summer Slide.”

While school is still in session, Miech said, “The Youth Services Librarians have been going out to each Public Elementary School in Warwick to personally invite them to participate in this challenge.”

Between the children, teen, and adult programs, Miech said the library registered 1,861 last year for their Summer Reading Challenge at all of their branches.

The goal of the reading challenge is to read or listen to books for 20 hours. Readers can use Beanstack to keep track of their reading.

Readers who read ten hours will receive a book from the library that they will get to keep. If those enrolled read 20 hours of books and finish the challenge by August 24, 2024, each group participating will have a different prize. All individuals who finish the challenge will receive a virtual raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the grand prizes.

For more information about signing into Beanstack, the public can speak with a staff member of the Warwick Public Library. The Summer Reading Challenge will be available at the Central, Apponaug, Conimicut, and Norwood Branches of the Warwick Public Library.