Elk River Library kicks off Summer Reading Challenge on June 3

Great River Regional Library will kick off the annual Summer Reading Challenge on Monday, June 3, and continue through Saturday, Aug. 3.

Registration begins June 3 in the Beanstack app, on griver.beanstack.org, or by visiting the Elk River Library during open hours. Participants track their reading in the Beanstack app or using a paper slip, which they return to the library. Participants are eligible for prize drawings at the end of the program. In addition, each branch offers a unique assortment of prizes.

In 2023, across 32 branch locations including Elk River, Great River Regional Library had a record-breaking 12,973 babies, children, and teens participate.

This year’s theme, “Read, Renew, Repeat!” encourages reading as a restorative method of self-improvement and self-preservation. From the renewing of minds to taking care of the environment, the library strives to inspire lifelong learning and growth. The challenge is open to all kids ages 0 to 18 and divided by age: pre-readers (ages 0 to 3), kids (ages 3 to 12), and teens (ages 13 to 18).

The mission of the reading challenge is to encourage children and teens to read throughout the summer. Summer reading isn’t just fun; it’s extremely beneficial. Regular reading goes far in combating the “summer slide,” a term used to describe the loss of academic skills during the summer break. Students who join public library summer reading programs scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those who did not participate – in some cases, significantly higher, according to Great River Regional Library.

This program wouldn’t be possible without sponsors — Associated Wholesale Grocers, Belgrade Steel Tank Co. Inc., Bernatello’s Foods, Central Minnesota Optimist Club, Evenson Decker, P.A., Garage Door Store, St. Cloud Area Sertoma Club, St. Cloud Friends of the Library, St. Michael-Albertville Women of Today, and anonymous donors.

For library hours, go to griver.org/locations. Visit the library’s website for more details at https://griver.org/summer-reading-challenge.

Great River Regional Library provides library services at 32 public libraries and one to-go system in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright counties. Great River Regional Library supplies the residents of Central Minnesota with nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, programming and information services.