From Baxter Library

GORHAM – The youth Summer Reading and Discovery Program is an eight-week whirlwind of activities, reading, and prizes at Baxter Memorial Library.

 This year’s theme, with in-person programs to match, will be all about healthy eating and active living (H.E.A.L.) with fun outdoor activities.

Pick up everything you need to get started at one of our Curbside Summer Reading Signup Events on Friday June 11 or June 18 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. You will be able to find library staff on the front lawn of the library (South Street) in costume and ready to hand you your game sheet to record your reading!

You can also visit the library to pick up your sheet anytime on or after June 11 to sign up. 

For every four hours of reading, we reward you with prizes including bookmarks, a free Subway kid’s meal, a book of your choice from our prize cart, and a small pizza from Domino’s. The goal is to complete sixteen hours of reading by the end of August. Listening to audio books, enjoying graphic novels, reading stories together, and any other activities involving the written word count as “reading time.”  Most of all, have fun! 

Parents and children two years old and younger can also participate with our Wee Readers program that incorporates early literacy activities to do with your child. Complete the activities and win a board book!

On Mondays, June 21-Aug. 9, we will offer story time for our families with little ones. 

This year’s adult summer reading program runs alongside the youth program. Adults should get rewarded for reading, too!

Simply fill out a raffle ticket for every book that you read to be entered into weekly drawings for fun prizes! All entries will stay in the running for a grand prize at the end of the summer.

We will also host a series of outdoor wellness classes, and put together some fresh staff-picked recommendations for your reading enjoyment.

Sign-ups begin during our curbside event but you may start at any point during the program.

Events will take place on the library lawn and are free and open to the public.

During outdoor programming, masks will only be required when physical distancing is not possible.

We have many exciting activities planned! To find the most up to date information on our programs throughout the summer, check out our website at www.baxterlibrary.org or call 222-1190.

Thank you to Gorham Subway and Gorham Domino’s for donating awesome prizes in support of our Summer Reading Program.