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Milford Daily News
  • Summer Reading: It's not just for kids anymore

  • While traditional summer reading programs have been focused on keeping students’ minds engaged during the long summer hiatus, the secret is out that the chore can sometimes be a summer highlight and new programs are encouraging adults to get in on the fun.

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  • While traditional summer reading programs have been focused on keeping students’ minds engaged during the long summer hiatus, the secret is out that the chore can sometimes be a summer highlight and new programs are encouraging adults to get in on the fun.
    In most summer reading programs, children and teenagers read books selected from a list the library provides, and receive a small gift or prize, depending on how many books they read.
    Recently, Massachusetts libraries have started to reward adults for reading during the summer, too.
    “It is just a fun way for adults to check in and share good books they are reading,” said Celeste Bruno, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. “It has been really positive.”
    Public libraries in Framingham, Westborough and Hopedale have developed adult summer reading programs in the last few years.
    Unlike the children’s programs, the adult programs do not have a set book list to choose from. Participants are free to read whatever they like.
    Some of the more popular titles adults are reading this summer are “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Gone Girl” and “Summerland.”
    “A lot of people enjoyed summer reading programs when they were kids,” said Christine Hunnefeld, the collection development librarian for the Framingham Public Library. ”Just because they are adults doesn’t mean they can’t have fun, too.”
    Framingham’s adult program is in its third year this summer, and Hunnefeld said about 400 people have participated each year.
    To encourage adults to read as much as possible, the libraries hold raffles. The more books the adults read, or the more time they spend reading, the better chance they have to win.
    Westborough Public Library’s program is done online. Adults sign up and log their reading for a chance to win a weekly raffle.
    “We try to make it as easy as possible,” said Donna Martel, the adult services librarian in Westborough. “At the end of the program is a grand prize drawing, and each person has to enter at least six hours of reading to be eligible. It’s a little incentive to get involved.”
    So far, about 20 people have signed up for the Westborough program.
    The grand prize for the Framingham program is a Kindle, while the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale offers weekly prizes such as lighted bookmarks and bags to carry books in.
    “We want the adults to read just as much as the kids,” said Ann Fields, the Bancroft library director. “We think the adults need some encouragement and recognition for doing a good job.”
    Last year Massachusetts became the 49th state to join the Collaborative Summer Reading Program, which offers formats and ideas for summer reading programs for early literacy, kids, teens and adults.
    Page 2 of 2 - “Libraries are really taking advantage of it,” she added. “It is a wonderful way for the parents involved to show their kids that reading is fun. They are setting the example.”
    While the major focus of the program is reading, the libraries are also offering events that promote a sense of community.
    The Bancroft Library is hosting Foreign Films Fridays this summer, and the Framingham Library is sponsoring a talk on July 18 titled “Super Heroes and Modern Mythology.”
    “This is the first time we have really expanded the programming,” said Hunnefeld. “People can come to these events and meet other summer reading program participants.”
    (Joe O’Connell can be reached at 508-626-3957 or joconnell@wickedlocal.com.)
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