Submitted by the Hawaii State Public Library System:
Readers of all ages are invited to participate in the 2013 Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) Summer Reading Programs which will be conducted from June 2 through July 6. Registration for the free five-week programs at public libraries begins on Tuesday, May 28. Contact your local public library for starting dates and guidelines.
Participants who visit their local library and read at least one book per week are eligible to receive a free weekly reading incentive, while supplies last. In addition to reading, the programs will feature performances by outstanding storytellers and artists. Performance programs will be highlighted in the June issue of Holo I Mua, HSPLS website: www.librarieshawaii.org, Facebook at www.facebook.com/HSPLSHIgov, and Twitter at www.twitter.com/HSPLSHIgov.
This year's programs and themes are:
* Children (infants to children entering grade 6 this fall) – "Dig into Reading" will encourage young readers to explore all things underground and undersea including gardening, dinosaurs, construction vehicles, animals and wildlife that live underground and undersea, Ancient Egypt, caves, and rocks. As a perfect tie-in to this year's theme, each participant will receive a "hands on" gardening kit which includes seeds, a biodegradable pot, potting soil and planting instructions. The interactive project will engage and excite children to learn more about gardening,plants, composting and science as well as "grow and expand" their young minds. In addition, each participant may enter a lucky drawing to win a "Gardening Fun" Gift Basket in their respective branch library. Contact your local library for more information.
* Teen (students entering grade 7 through 2013 high school graduates) – "Beneath the Surface" will motivate teens to find out what's beneath the surface of the earth, the ocean, history, mainstream popular culture, and even under your own skin. Participating teens may also enter a lucky drawing to win a Notebook and other awesome prizes. For further information, contact your local library.
*Adult (patrons 18 and older) – "Groundbreaking Reads" will inspire adults to "dig into" books that have made an impact – literary, scientific, or personal – and even books about past decades, archaeology, caving, gardening, and geology. Participating adults may also enter a lucky drawing to win an e-reader. Contact your local library for more information.
The 2013 Summer Reading Programs are sponsored through a generous grant from the Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH), Atherton Family Foundation, Kraft Foods Group in Hawaii, Longs Drugs/CVS Caremark, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, HEI Charitable Foundation, Newman's Own Foundation, Meadow Gold Dairies, HMS Host, Hansen Distribution Group, Armstrong Produce, DFS Hawaii, Roberts Hawaii, Toshiba Business Solutions, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, National Football League Charities, Aloha United Way, and local Friends Chapters.
Corporate sponsors include McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii, Hawaii Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay of Hawaii, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, The Islander Group, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Vacations Hawaii, Fukuda Seed Store, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conservation Council for Hawaii, State Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, DuPont Pioneer, the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region, Price Busters and GBC Boxes & Packaging. USB Drives were provided by Hawaii's Access for All Grant through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and leveraged with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online funds; matching funds were provided by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, the Omidyar Ohana Fund through the Hawaii Community Foundation, and Alexander & Baldwin Foundation.
Performances featuring artists from the Statewide Cultural Extension Program are co-sponsored by the University of Hawaii's Outreach College, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information: visit www.librarieshawaii.org, like us at www.facebook.com/HSPLSHIgov, follow us on www.twitter.com/HSPLSHIgov, or call your local library.
Image courtesy of the Collaborative Summer Library Programs (CSLP)
Image courtesy of the Collaborative Summer Library Programs (CSLP)
Image courtesy of the Collaborative Summer Library Programs (CSLP)