A new mobile library being coordinated through the Jacksonville Public Library hopes to encourage both children and adults to continue reading during the summer, even if they can’t visit the library.
Youth service librarian Cindy Boehlke said the library has created a mobile library that will begin the first Monday in June and continue through Aug. 15 to take books throughout the community.
While school is out for summer break, the library also is having several programs to encourage children to keep their minds active whileaway from the classroom.
“We want to get books into kids’ hands as much as possible,” Boehlke said. “Kids who live too far from the library, or have a parent who can’t bring them, we want to break down as many barriers as possible.”
Children will be able to check out two books at a time and will be able to get more once they return them.
Boehlke said the mobile library will make four stops every Monday: At Jefferson Park Center at 11 a.m., the West Central Mass Transit office at noon, the Greenbriar Apartment complex at 1 p.m. and Rolling Acres Trailer Park at 2 p.m.
The library also is holding a summer reading program that will provide incentives for every milestone children and adults reach.
At each step — every five hours of reading for children, every book and small book report for teenagers, and every five books for adults — participants will be able to receive prizes or have their name entered into a drawing for a grand prize.
Each level has a different prize: A trip for four to Chicago and admission to a museum of their choice for children, either a music basket or a game basket at the teen level, and various gift baskets for adults.
The program also includes several activities — such as entertainers, movies and crafts — throughout the summer for participants.
“Our goal to to keep children reading during the summer, to prevent that summer slide and make life-long readers,” Boehlke said.
All programs are free. To participate in the reading program, parents must register their children at the library or sign up for each event.
