Summer Fun Begins June 16 at North Portland Library

The arrival -- at last -- of sunny weather means we can finally start thinking about endless summer days.

Kirby McCurtis, North Portland Library AdministratorAt Multnomah County Library, we’re celebrating summer with our annual Summer Reading program. Starting June 16, North Portland Library (and all other Multnomah Library locations) will encourage reading throughout the summer by offering young people an opportunity to win prizes and participate in free library activities. Learn more at multcolib.org/summer-reading.

Reading during the summer is a great way for kids to build a habit of reading while also maintaining achievement gains they made in the previous school year.

This year’s Summer Reading program offers kids prizes for participating, including tickets to a Portland Thorns game and a Trail Blazers preseason game. Participants who finish the program will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a trip for four to Great Wolf Lodge waterpark! Babies, kids, and teens are all welcome to participate in Summer Reading. Come into any Multnomah County Library branch to sign up.

If getting your child into the library for voluntary reading during the summer sounds like a challenge, here are some ways to encourage a child to participate:

• Start small. Read aloud to your child or try one of the suggested learning activities on the Summer Reading game board.
• Keep the reading fun by letting kids choose their own books.
• Encourage an hour of “unplugged” time (without an electronic device) each day.
• Help your child to find a “reading nook.” For me as a kid, it was a tiny corner of my neighborhood library away from the chaos of my house. Now it’s a window seat in my living room with my pitbull curled up next to me.
• Schedule trips to the library. Library staff love to offer suggestions, and we can help even the most reluctant reader find something good. Plus, during the summer all library locations offer free summer programming for babies, kids and teens.

Check out some activities happening this month and we look forward to seeing you soon!

• Juneteenth: 6 p.m. June 19, North Portland Library
• Bugs make the world a better place: 2 p.m., June 21, Kenton Library
• Face painting with friends: 3:30 p.m., June 26, Midland Library
• Create and design your own skateboard camp (for teens): June 26-30, Rockwood Library. There will be several workshops; visit https://multcolib.org/events/create-and-design-your-own-skateboard-camp-teens for times.

For more information about the library’s summer reading program and activities, come into your local branch, visit multcolib.org or call (503) 988-5123. 

Summer Reading is supported by gifts to The Library Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to our library's leadership, innovation and reach through private support.