Summer means Summer Reading at the Minot Air Force Base Library. This year’s Summer Reading Program will run from Saturday, June 13th to Saturday, August 15th and is open to all ages from infants to adults.
The Summer Reading Program will start with a Kick-Off Party at 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 13th. The theme this year’s program, shared with all the other participating Department of War libraries, is “Plant a Seed, Read,” so activities at the Kick-Off Party will feature planting seeds in a pot to take home, painting with leaves, and other plant or farm-related crafts and activities as well as an opportunity to register for the Summer Reading Program. Registration is also possible anytime the Library is open until August or online at 5thforcesupport.com/base-library. While supplies last, everyone who registers will receive a free t-shirt.
For the Base Library’s Summer Reading Program, it doesn’t matter what participants read or how quickly they can read; what matters is the amount of time spent reading. Any reading improves literacy just like practicing anything leads to improvement, and studies show that children who read for pleasure consistently out-perform those who don’t at school. While there is no required reading list, the library staff is ready to help those who would like suggestions of what to read.
Participants in the program can earn reading bucks to spend at the Library’s prize store and grand prize drawing slips by reading or participating in a variety of activities. Upon registration, participants receive a badge book that contains all the different ways to earn reading bucks and grand prize drawing slips, including attending Library programs, completing LEGO or STEAM challenges, entering a design contest, submitting book reviews, and more. The prize store prizes were funded by the DoW and include 23 different choices including fiddle toys, rubber chickens, tote bags, and “flying” pigs. The grand prizes were funded by the Minot Spouses’ Club and will include $20 gift cards for adults and teens and a variety of games and toys for kids.
Special programing this summer will include a board game making competition for kids in June, a murder mystery game with story pages posted at different facilities across the base, a fan convention program called Minot-A-Con on July 11th, a Pokémon Escape Room game available to play in late July and early August, a puzzle contest on August 6th sponsored by the USO, and more.
The Base Library is challenging the base’s squadrons to a competition to see which squadron’s active duty members participate the most in the Summer Reading Program. The winning squadron will receive an award certificate and the honor of displaying the library’s squadron trophy for the next year. This is the thirteenth year of the squadron competition. The 5th Contracting Squadron won last year.
The Summer Reading Program will end with a Wrap-Up Party at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 15th. The wrap-up party will feature special guests, crafts, and activities as well as the grand prize drawings and a presentation of the squadron trophy.
