The St. Charles Parish Library’s 2022 summer reading program will officially being June 1, but planning, prepping and decorating for the popular two-month long celebration is happening now at library branches across the parish.
Library Assistant Director Lauren Campo Pitz said the excitement level of library employees is high about the annual reading program, which runs through July 31.
“For librarians, summer reading is like Christmas is if you work in retail,” she said. “It’s our big time of year, and for a lot of our new employees this is their first real summer reading program that’s back to normal.”
While the library system offered reading programs in the summers of 2020 and 2021, many offerings were only offered via curbside pick-up or virtually because of the pandemic.
That is changing this year.
“Last year we were still avoiding big events that would draw a big crowd, so we’re really excited about this summer reading program,” Pitz said. “We have some really cool children’s musicians and performers that will be coming – like Roger Day. He did a great virtual performance for us last year, so we’re really excited to have him back in person.”
Pitz said the summer reading program is for all ages.
“We have things for tiny children through adults,” she said. “Beanstack makes it easy for families to read together.”
Beanstack is a website – and app – that the library system uses for summer reading participants to log hours read. Participants will win a prize after reading for 360 minutes, and Pitz said the summer program will also feature grand prizes.
Sign up via Beanstack for the summer reading will being May 16. Anyone interested in the summer reading program but unable to access Beanstack can visit any library branch, Pitz said, for assistance.
The 2022 summer reading program theme is Oceans of Possibilities, and Pitz said the parish’s six library branches are currently being decorated to transport visitors under the sea.
The library system has created a manual that highlights all of the accompanying performers, arts and craft offerings, planetarium programming and more that the summer reading program encompasses. The manual will be available at myscpl.org , and Pitz said a copy will be mailed to each parish home later this month.
Summer reading program kick-off parties, which will include everything from photo areas and scavenger hunts to games and stories, will take place June 1 and 2 across the parish. Yard signs and collectible brag tags will also be available at the parties while supplies last.
On June 1 the Paradis Branch will celebrate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, the Norco Branch will party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the West Regional Branch in Luling will host its party from noon to 4 p.m. and the St. Rose Branch will celebrate from 2 to 4 p.m.
On June 2 the East Regional Library in Destrehan will hold its celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Hahnville Branch will have its party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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