Summer Reading Challenge! Starts at Montgomery County Public Libraries on Saturday, June 17, with Theme of ‘All Together Now’

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 2, 2023

The Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) Summer Reading Challenge! will begin on Saturday, June 17, at the Rockville Memorial Library with a theme of All Together Now. The slogan represents kindness, friendship and unity. 

Children and teens are invited to sign up for the Challenge online or at any MCPL branch. Pre-registration is now open. 

The Summer Reading Challenge! runs through Aug. 31. It is sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc., and the Washington Nationals baseball team.  

MCPL’s Summer Reading Challenge! offers a chance to fill summer with great books and fun learning activities, as well as in-person and virtual events. This year, MCPL and Friends of the Library, Montgomery County are teaming up with several nonprofit organizations to help spread kindness to local animals, people and the planet.

When participants read and earn their first e-badge, Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center and Friends of Montgomery County Animals will help adoptable pets find their forever homes. For earning the second e-badge, Manna Food Center will feed families throughout the community. On behalf of those who earn their third e-badge, Montgomery Parks Foundation will install 450 solar panels, providing green energy to power local parks.

The indoor-outdoor kickoff event on June 17 at the Rockville Memorial Library will include: 

• Summer Reading Challenge! signups and book giveaways.
• Craft tables. 
• Strolling magician Abracadabra Alex. 
• Musical performance by drummer Kofi Dennis. 
• Hands-on educational tables to learn more about Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, Friends of Montgomery County Animals, Manna Food Center and the Parks Foundation. 

 To participate in the program: 

• Sign up (or log in) to pre-register online.
• Starting June 17, read books and do activities to earn online badges throughout the summer.
• Optional: Print an Early Literacy or Elementary School Age game board at home or pick one up at a local library. Gameboards are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Amharic, French and Korean.  
• Teens will complete a bingo board of activities by reading books, attending library programs and helping their community for a chance to win prizes. 

For more information about the program, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library. More information is also available by contacting Tyler Chadwell-English at [email protected].

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Release ID: 23-236
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Library