For Immediate Release
May 12, 2015
Join SCCLD's Library Summer Challenge
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –May 12, 2015 – Every hero has a story. This summer, Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) challenges residents to discover their own inner hero at the library. Encouraging kids, teens and adults to make this a summer of discovery, initiative, exploration and learning, SCCLD’s Summer Challenge begins May 15 and is free and open to all ages. From free programs, reading incentives and special story times with firefighters and park rangers to magic shows, teen tech workshops and Author Visits, SCCLD’s Summer Challenge offers interesting, educational and entertaining activities for almost every day of the summer.
Summer Challenge is part of SCCLD’s annual summer reading program which encourages the love of reading, creativity and scientific discovery. Created around the theme “Every Hero Has a Story,” this year’s Summer Challenge encourages participants to not only incorporate reading into their lives but to complete selected tasks in a quest to: explore library resources, enjoy enriching and creative experiences and try new activities. While some tasks may be as easy as reading a book or reciting a poem, other activities inspire library visitors to venture outside and explore surrounding areas, discovering individual strengths and interests along the way.
Designed specifically to help school age students maintain and enhance skills and proficiency in grade level coursework, SCCLD’s Summer Challenge helps achieve this goal in a fun and exciting manner in anticipation of the student’s next level of study in the fall. “It is a known fact that children who read at least four or five books over the course of the summer, return to school in the fall better prepared than their counterparts who did not participate in any educational activities. This area is rich with a varied and wonderful array of educational opportunities for kids of all ages. I hope parents and caregivers will take advantage of the free activities, books and resources available at the library and challenge themselves to make Summer 2015 a summer of discovery and enlightenment,” stated Saratoga City Council member Emily Lo, Chair for SCCLD Joint Powers Authority.
Summer Challenge participants are encouraged to sign up for the program beginning May 15, 2015 at their local library or online @ www.sccl.org/summer2015. Activities, programs and incentives are grouped in three different themed categories:
- Pre-Readers 0-5 & Kids 6-12 – Every Hero has a Story
- Teens – 13-18 – Unmask!
- Adults – 18+ - Escape the Ordinary
Free and open to all ages, super heroes everywhere are invited to sign up for the program beginning mid-May. Summer Challenge Activities will take place at all SCCLD libraries with interesting, educational and exciting programs scheduled for almost every day of summer.
Residents are encouraged to earn points by completing a variety of activities such as: Learning new skills, reading books, attending programs, or visiting local parks and areas of interest. Points are used to collect prizes and reading incentives. Complete instructions can be found at SCCLD’s Summer Challenge website @ http://www.sccl.org/summer-reading.
Summer Challenge events are offered at all SCCLD libraries. A complete listing for all Summer Challenge related activities can be found at: http://www.sccl.org. The Summer Challenge Program will be held May 15 – Aug. 15, 2015.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 1.9 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work.
In 2014, SCCLD celebrated one hundred years of service to local residents. For the last several years, SCCLD has been consistently recognized as one of America’s Star Libraries by Library Journal. In 2014, SCCLD was ranked among the top ten large libraries in the United States in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. In 2014, SCCLD won a Top Innovator Award from the Urban Libraries Council for its innovative program to revive episodic fiction.
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2014, the Santa Clara County Library District had more than 225,000 library cardholders and welcomed 3.3 million visitors who borrowed 9.4 million items, making it one of the most used resources in the region.
Visit Santa Clara County Library District online at www.sccl.org.
Contact:
Nancy Howe/Mark Fink/Lili Smith
Santa Clara County Library District
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3001/3010/3014
