Erie County Public Library launches annual Summer Library Challenge on July 13
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2020
CONTACT:
Shane Donaldson
sdonaldson@eriecountypa.gov
814-451-6936
Erie, PA – Erie County Public Library’s 2020 Summer Library Challenge will launch Monday, July 13, and conclude Saturday, Sept 12, for readers of all ages.
This annual tradition returns with a new twist in 2020: Participants may complete activities, log reading minutes, and earn badges through an online platform – Beanstack – available via beanstack.com or mobile app. As in previous Summer Library Challenges, paper forms continue to be available at all Erie County Public Library locations and offer the same reading log and activity prompts.
Committed to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Erie County, Erie County Public Library has adapted the annual Summer Library Challenge to promote contactless activities while still embracing all the fun and recognition this program provides to readers. By logging reading minutes and completing activities, participants of all ages (0-109) are able to earn badges that enter them into grand prize drawings based on location and age. Five grand prizes will be available at each location, with age brackets segmented into 0-2, 3-5, 6-12, 13-17, and 18+ years old, to be drawn on Sept. 12, 2020.
Participants will earn virtual badges by logging the time spent reading, as well as completing four self-guided activities – a hands-on activity, a music activity, a nature activity and a survey – on Beanstack. The virtual reading badges are issued at hour increments with a minimum total commitment of six hours.
Pre-registration is now open. Sign up online at erielibrary.org or call the Erie County Public Library at 814-451-6900.
The Summer Library Challenge is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Erie County Public Library and Macaroni Kid Erie.
The mission of the Summer Library Challenge is to help students maintain learning acquired during the school year. Studies estimate that summer breaks contribute to the average student losing up to one month of instruction. Some students, particularly those from disadvantaged households, lose up to three months of learning.
Summer learning loss is greatest in math computation, reading and spelling. The Erie County Public Library is focused on supporting local children and students through quality books, collections, resources and programming.
For more information, please call Shane Donaldson, Erie County Public Library’s youth services manager, at 814-451-6936.
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