The Summer Reading Program is well underway at the Jake Epp Library... but it looks very different than usual.

With school ending early due to COVID-19, Library Director Chrystie Kroeker Boggs says the program began back in June and is almost entirely online. While books can still be be picked up and dropped off in-person at the library, all registration, activities, and logs are on the web.

“I know that some people are frustrated that there has been a lot of online learning in the past few months but, of course, you still come to the library for your physical books,” she explains, you don’t have to read online.”

As Kroeker Boggs notes, the increasing reliance on the internet has made local participation in the program much more difficult to track.

“So here in ‘Library Land’ we have decided that stats don’t matter as much this year,” she concedes, “during COVID time, we just want to provide opportunities without worrying too much about the data.”

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to hamper typical summer travel plans, Kroeker Boggs stresses that now is a better time than ever for young people to immerse themselves in literature. For the many young students who experienced a backslide in their education during the many months of learning from home, Kroeker Boggs says it is essential that they read this summer if they want to maintain their literacy. Though the program is being done remotely, she notes there will still be prizes for those individuals who read the most.  “What is life without prizes!?” she laughs.

Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to visit the Jake Epp Library’s website and follow the prompts on the Summer Reading Club page.