Summer Reading Club Booms at Pikesville Branch Library

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again—the season for steamed crabs, heatwaves and the Baltimore County Public Library’s beloved Summer Reading Club. 

The SRC, as it is referred to by library insiders, is an eight-week themed reading program that encourages kids to pick up a book by using incentives ranging from stickers to craft activities and prizes.

Although some schools have been pre-registering children since May 9, Summer Reading Club 2011 officially kicks off June 20, both at the library and online. It runs through Aug. 13.

Librarians anticipate the usual cheerful, organized mayhem when the first full day of registration and reading activities arrives.

“It usually starts off with a bang,” said Allan McWilliams, Pikesville Branch Library manager. “The vast majority of kids sign up in the early weeks.”

Anyone who has ever had a young reader cycle through the library system has probably experienced this annual phenomenon. This year, though, promises to be bigger and better than ever—especially at the Pikesville Branch.

“Last year our Pikesville Branch set its own individual record with 2,387 participants. ... This was an amazing 50 percent increase over the previous year’s 1,587 participants," said Baltimore County Public Library system spokesman Bob Hughes.

And the prizes this year are equally impressive. For example, each time a middle schooler completes three books she can enter a drawing to win a valuable iPod Touch or an E-Reader. The more books you read, the more chances you have to win. More modest prizes include movie passes and $25 gift certificates to stores such as Best Buy and .

Other age-appropriate rewards are designed for each reading group.

For example, members of the Read-to-Me Club for babies and pre-schoolers up to age five (accompanied by their parents), can earn a board book called, “The More We are Together,” or a paperback “Don’t Let the Pigeons Drive the Bus.”

School-age children read independently to earn prizes such as a hackey sack or magnetic photo frames. In each of these categories, kids complete five items on a game board to earn a sticker, and after they earn four stickers they are eligible for one of the prizes.

Even high school students who have outgrown the book club but still love to read, can participate. For them there is a more sophisticated virtual book club for young adults called Good Reads.

They can also participate in drawings for gift certificates and prizes.

Librarians are adamant that the Summer Reading Club wouldn’t exist—and continue to grow—if kids didn’t love to read. "Reading is its own reward,” said McWilliams. “Most of the kids who participate love to read.”

Librarian Marilyn Sharpless, the program coordinator for the past three years, said kids are motivated for the program. “The readership here is so strong, it’s just wonderful. You don’t even have to encourage the kids.”

The theme “One World, Many Stories” provides a jumping-off point to grab their interest, she said.

However, the theme is merely window-dressing. There is no proscribed reading list. “They know their books, they know what they’re interested in. They can choose anything they want,” she said.

The theme is selected by a statewide committee each year and is consistent throughout the library system, McWilliams said. The Pikesville branch has been decorated “with pictures of exotic locales, globes and flags.” One librarian, he added, contributed an authentic Vietnamese costume and hat that is on display.

BCPL’s annual Summer Reading Club officially got under way this morning in all 17 branches. Throughout the system, more than 35,000 kids participated, said Bob Hughes, spokesman.

Ruth Goldstein is a freelance writer and a lifelong patron of the Pikesville Branch Library