Summer Reading Program 2021 Is Underway

Summer Reading is a perennial public library program that has been going on for years and years. I have fond memories of participating when I was a child in Georgetown County. I have fond memories of helping Madeline Horton deliver programs to children as a parent volunteer at Pratt Memorial Library in Ridgeland when my own children were small. Perhaps you have fond memories of Summer Reading Programs (SRP) in your past as well. 

Through the years, some aspects of the SRP  have had to adjust with the times. For example, a lot of public libraries - ours included - now open SRP to all ages - adults, teens, and children, even children  too young to read themselves. (Moms, Dads, grandparents, older sisters and brothers can read to these young ones.) All are welcome to join in the fun. 

The length of time for SRP 2021 has grown. SRP 2021 runs Saturday, June 19th through the entire month of July this year.

We've also tried to make participation easier. BCL has decided to go with a minimalist model for SRP 2021: No registration, no apps, no hassle. 

The Library has some fabulous virtual programs lined up from the South Carolina Aquarium and the Riverbanks Zoo since COVID-19 mitigation efforts still include limited social gatherings, particularly inside buildings. Details are on the Summer Reading page.

We had more than 1000 bookmarks submitted for the SRP 2021 Bookmark Contest. The winning bookmarks are posted on the SRP webpage for all to admire. 

 Pertinent information about the SRP is posted on the Summer Reading page on the Library's website. 

Bottom line: All you need to participate is a willing spirit, some textual materials, and a paper game board - which is totally free, and available at any branch library, from the bookmobiles, or you can download and print one from your home or office. (The BDC does not have any blank game boards to share. The BDC is not collecting completed game boards either.)

Participants earn prizes for reading as little as 20 minutes per day. Successful participants will also have a chance to win one of many grand prizes donated by those who support the mission of the public library. (That logo array of sponsors is quite impressive, don't you agree?) 

Although you might think that a special collections and archives unit would have little to contribute to SRP 2021, those of you who love local history, natural history, and literature can get your "local history on" and mark off enough blocks on the SRP Game Board to earn treats and chances for one of the big prizes. All it takes is doing the suggested activity or reading something "local history" related for 20 minutes each day. 

The BDC is calling our contribution to SRP 2021 Lowcountry Tails & Tales since we will be highlighting local marine and animal life with "tails" and local folklore, ghost stories, and other tall (and fact-based) "tales" from our collections throughout the 6 weeks. 

In particular, you will see frequent Lowcountry Tails & Tales reading suggestions on social media. As you are aware, there is the Connections blog (which you are reading now), the BDC's WordPress blog (which I admit is much stronger on the "Lowcountry Tales" segment of the theme), and a BDC Facebook page that I maintain. I even have a couple of dates assigned to me to post on the BCL's Facebook page during the course of SRP 2021. 

The display cases in the Research Room are stocked with some appropriate inventory. (There's far more in the stacks and cabinets). 

The tall wooden glass fronted case has an mostly water based or close to the water based animals related "Lowcountry Tails" inventory. 

Mostly "Lowcountry Tales" occupy the wooden bookcases as one enters the Research Room. Here you will find children's books, folktales, and titles related to local animal species. 

There will be lots of other reading options of interesting "Lowcountry Tails and Tales" for Research Room researchers and those who prowl the "Local History" sections at the branch libraries. 

In the spirit of transparency: I will participate. Library staff can earn treats at the appropriate points along the game board progression if we have satisfied the program requirements, but  we (and our immediate family members) are prohibited from entering the grand prize drawings. The grand prizes are strictly for those of you who successfully complete the game board within the time allotted.

Be sure to read your 20 minutes of text per day, mark off your game board appropriately, and turn it in to a branch library or bookmobile within the time allotted to be entered into the grand prize drawings. 

All the Library staff and our sponsors hope that you too will pick up or print out a SRP 2021 game board and have fun reading your way to treats and the grand prize drawings.