Summer Reading has wrapped up for 2023

The 2023 Summer Reading Program, “All Together Now”, has ended – don’t miss turning in your sheet! Whether you finished or not, bring in your Bingo or time-tracking sheet to get your last prizes and participate in the program.

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June 2023

• June 9: Summer Reading Kickoff,
  6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Downtown Ludington
• Tuesday, June 13: Latin American Drumming with Tom Ronquillo, 1:00 p.m. Drums provided
• June 12 & 14: Duct Tape classes, 1:00 p.m.
• June 19 & 21: Summerween, 1:00 p.m.
• June 26 & 28: Tie-Dye Day, 1:00 p.m.

July 2023

• July 3: Magician Gordon Russ, Lud – 1:00 p.m., Svl – 4:00 p.m., and Lud – 7:00 p.m.
• July 5: Magic Lessons, Svl – 11am and Lud – 1:00 p.m.
• July 10: Reptile Shows in Lud – 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• July 11: Reptile Shows in Svl, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• July 17: Worm Day in Ludington ONLY, 1:00 p.m.
• July 19: Planetarium shows in Scottville ONLY, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• July 24 & 26: Water Conservation Program, 1:00 p.m.
• July 31 & August 2: Hula Hoop Science Program, 1:00 p.m.

The Mason County District Library encourages all people in our county to participate in the 2023 Summer Reading Program. Our theme this year is “All Together Now!” and it takes all of us to form a community of readers – so join the library in celebrating reading this summer! Every person who signs up is eligible for prizes. Children can be reading on their own or listening to someone else read. Time tracking sheets are available for children up to grade 5; Bingo sheets are provided for Teens and Adults. Everything begins on Friday, June 9. Pick up your form at either library branch or come to the Love Ludington Street Party starting at 6:00 p.m. to get signed up! Over the past several years the library has given away more than 25,000 books to participating children.   

Studies have shown that kids can lose as much as ½ grade level in reading proficiency over the summer.  Children who spend approximately one minute per day (less than seven hours per year) reading are being exposed to 0.05 million words per year; they score in the 10th percentile on standardized tests. Children who spend approximately 11 minutes per day (less than 70 hours per year) reading are being exposed to 0.6 million words per year; they score in the 50th percentile. Children who spend approximately 38 minutes per day (more than 225 hours per year) reading are being exposed to more than two million words per year; they score in the 90th percentile. Unfortunately, most children spend more time in front of a digital screen than they do in front of a book. American children, ages 2-17, watch television or play with digital devices on average almost 25 hours per week, or 3.5 hours per day. Almost one child in five has more than 35 hours of screen time each week. If children were to spend more time reading and less time in front of a screen, one could anticipate that reading scores would go up. Our Library’s Summer Reading Program, All Together Now! is designed to encourage children to read.

There are programs and events for children, teens, and adults of all ages at the libraries in Ludington and Scottville. There are weekly special programs all summer long.  Please check our Facebook page and activity calendar on our website for more information.  Or you can pick up flyers for our events or a summer reading schedule at either library. All Mason County District Library programs and events are FREE.