DARLINGTON, S.C. (Press Release)- Join the Darlington Library this summer for their “On Your Mark, Get Set… READ” program!

Register now for the Library’s 2016 Summer Reading Program for all ages by going to the Library’s website, www.darlington-lib.org.  Once registered, visit your local branch library and pick up a folder with all the information you need to have a wonderful summer of reading, fun programs, and prizes.

In addition to reading this summer, we invite children, teens, and adults to attend special programs throughout the summer!

The Summer Reading Program officially kicks off with a high energy retelling of the race between the tortoise and the hare called “The Epic Race.” The theater group Porkchop Productions brings this classic tale to life in a unique and entertaining way for all ages. You can catch the show on June 7th at the Darlington Branch at 10 a.m. and the Lamar Branch at 2 p.m. or on June 8th at the Hartsville Branch at 10 a.m. and the Society Hill Branch at 2 p.m. This program is free and open to everyone. After the kick off, we will sprint to a July 27th finish line with over 190 other interesting and fun programs along the way.

The Library has three recognition and prize levels for participants.  You can earn points to reach each level by reading, completing a “mission” on the website, attending a program, and volunteering at the Library.  Reach the first level and you will receive a certificate.  At the second level, you will receive a “Summer Reading” button.  Each child that reaches the third level will receive a summer reading medal to hang around his or her neck.  There will be books, coupons for free stuff, Hartsville Splashpad tickets, and other prizes awarded as well during the program.  Teens and adults who reach the second level will qualify for a field trip to the Bethlehem Therapeutic Stables on July 21st.  Teens who reach the third level are invited to attend the “Game-On” National Teen Lock-In event at the Darlington Library, on Friday, July 29th.  It will be an evening of storytelling, a magic show, an online chat with a famous author, fun, food, games, and prizes.

So that all children can register and participate in the summer reading program, the Library will forgive all fines on all their children’s books. Just drop by the Library and let us know and the staff will be happy to forgive your child’s fines so they can join in the summer reading program!

The Library sponsors a summer reading program every year because we want to foster a love of reading in children.  To succeed, children must become readers.  The Library offers not just a summer reading program, it offers a summer reading experience for children, parents, and all family members.  Through our collections, programs, activities, and services we encourage reading.  We do this because, as any teacher will tell you, children need to continue to read during the summer break to maintain their reading skills, otherwise they may experience the “Summer Slide.”  If a child does not continue to read during their summer vacation, reading skills tend to deteriorate, slipping two months or more behind what a child achieved at the end of the school year.  Our goal for the summer reading program is to inspire children and teens to read for the pleasure of reading a good story or to discover the world around them during their time off this summer.

Once again in cooperation with the Darlington County School District, all four locations of the Library will be “Accelerated Reader” (AR) test sites again this summer.   This is another way we help Darlington County’s children become successful.

Each location has different days and times for their programs, so be sure to pick up a schedule of events at the Library nearest you or visit our website at www.darlington-lib.org!

For more information, call or visit the Library’s branches or visit our website at darlington-lib.org at:

Darlington                 204 North Main Street, Darlington                        (843) 398-4940

Hartsville                   147 West College Avenue,            Hartsville       (843) 332-5115

Lamar                         103 East Main Street, Lamar                      (843) 326-5524

Society Hill                114 Carrigan Street, Society Hill               (843) 378-0026