Summer Reading is not just for kids

The Santa Rosa County Library System is gearing up for its 2007 Summer Library Program for individuals of all ages.

Registration this year will begin on May 7 and will take place online. Several evening family activities are planned in May to promote the upcoming program and mystery theme, including a Clue board game and charades night, movie night, and scavenger hunt. All programs are free and open to the public.

In addition, a kickoff event for the summer programs is planned at each library on Saturday, June 2 and will include hot dogs and refreshments, a visit by McGruff the Crime Dog, children's activities, giveaways, and more!

Get a Clue @ Your Library, the children's program for those in K-5th grade in 2007-2008, will encourage children to read at least 15 minutes each day for pleasure during the summer and to retain their reading skills. Incentives and contest prizes will be awarded at various times during the summer. This program will run June 4 - July 13; however, participants can begin reading and recording their efforts a week earlier.

A summer program for middle and high school students will also take place from July 16 - August 10 with the theme, You Never Know @ Your Library. Participants will be encouraged to read at least 30 minutes each day.

Lastly, for teens and adults, the Santa Rosa County Library System will begin the "One Book, One Community" initiative in June. One Book, One Community is a county-wide reading and discussion program that encourages residents to read the same book at the same time. The book chosen for the first program will be a mystery. If you are interested in joining your neighbors and friends for book discussions in June, you may register online beginning May 7. If you are interested in leading a book discussion, please contact Margaret Chatraw at 623-2043.

If you would like to learn more about the Santa Rosa County Library System, link to www.santarosa.fl.gov/libraries. The Santa Rosa County Library System is a department of the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners.

Libraries are located in Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, and Navarre with the Pace library opening in April 2007.