News Release

For thousands of children in San Francisco, June brings the end of the school year and the start of the San Francisco Public Library’s Summer Reading Club program. This year’s program, Don’t Bug Me…I’m Reading!, will be held June 17-Aug. 12 at the Main Library, branches, and bookmobiles for children through age 13.

The Summer Reading Club is a citywide program designed to encourage children to read during the summer months. Delving into a book is always an adventure; it’s a journey into another world, one that can be very similar to or very different from the one in which the reader lives. Summer Reading Club participants may read whatever interests them, including books in languages other than English. Preschool-age children can participate by having someone read to them. There will also be a theme-related reading list featuring picture stories, fiction, and non-fiction books on gardens, flowers, plants, and, of course, bugs!

Every child who registers will receive a fun and whimsical Don’t Bug Me…I’m Reading! bookmark. Children will be awarded prizes after they’ve read for two, four and six hours. Children who read eight hours or more and visit the library at least twice, will receive a grand prize. Grand prize choices include: a free book; a cuddly stuffed bee, or passes to a number of Bay Area children’s attractions.

In addition to participating in the Summer Reading Club, young people ages 10-16 are invited to become Kid Power volunteers. Kid Power volunteers encourage kids to sign up for the reading program, assist them with registration, and help tally participants’ reading hours, among other tasks. During the summer, Library will offer expanded programming for children with weekly performances by musicians, magicians, acrobats, storytellers and puppeteers, among others. Additionally, the Library will host a number of special programs tied to a nature theme. Among the highlights: Wildlife Associates will bring a variety of animals to visit 12 different library locations; the Insect Discovery Lab will let bug lovers get up close and personal to some creepy crawlies; and The Lizard Lady will present a Reptile Review. Please check the event calendar in the Library’s monthly At the San Francisco Public Library newsletter for program times and dates.

Don’t Bug Me…I’m Reading! is underwritten by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, with generous support from the Aquarium of the Bay; Bay Area Discovery Museum; California Academy of Sciences; Conservatory of Flowers; DeYoung Museum; Double Rainbow; Eldorado Foundation; The Gap Foundation; Metreon – a SONY Entertainment Center; Presidio Bowling Center; Ripley’s Believe It or Not; San Francisco Giants and Oracle’s Read to Win Program; San Francisco Zoo; Stocker Foundation; and ZEUM.

The Summer Reading Club is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit your local library, call (415) 557-4277, or visit the Library’s web site at www.sfpl.org/sfplonline/kids/kids.htm.