It’s Not Too Late To Join the Library’s Summer Reading Program

This year’s reading challenge runs now through July 30.

It’s summer! Time to start reading for fun! And the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System has put together an exciting lineup of virtual and in-person events for its annual Summer Reading Challenge.

This year’s program—which started on June 5 and runs through July 30—is themed “Oceans of Possibilities.” Events include author talks, virtual learning opportunities and—maybe the best incentive for kids—a chance to win lots of cool prizes, including (the grand prize!) four roundtrip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

The goal this year is to read 1,000 minutes. There are rewards for reaching 300-, 600- and 1,000-minute marks. For every 100 minutes of reading logged, readers are rewarded with a virtual badge and up to a maximum of 10 automatic entries in the statewide grand prize drawing. So the more you read, the better your chances are of winning those airline tickets!

And, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), keiki can download fun activities each week on ocean topics like exploring coral reefs and tide pools.

SEE ALSO: 6 New and Cool Things You Can Do With Your Library Card Online

How to join?

Register here, then log your minutes and track your accomplishments using the Beanstack app, which you can download from the Apple Store or Google Play. You can also use Beanstack on your desktop or laptop computer. (Learn how to use the Beanstack app by watching this video tutorial.)

Here are the themes every week:

• June 5 to 11: One Big Ocean
• June 12 to 18: Exploring Coral Reefs and Tide Pools: The Sunlight Zone
• June 19 to 25: Exploring the Deep Ocean: The Twilight and Midnight Zones
• June 26 to July 2: Underwater Volcanoes
• July 3 to 9: What would it be like to live in the ocean? (Oceanography)
• July 10 to 16: Our Changing Oceans (Ocean Threats & Challenges)
• July 17 to 23: How can you protect the ocean? (Ocean Stewardship)
• July 24 to 31: Become an Ocean Explorer

For more information on the program, to get library hours or to sign up for a library card, visit here.