by Alicia Rudnicki, Library Mix

Here is pleasant news for adults who like to fit reading into their limited free time: You can win prizes for sneaking off with a good book, because now there are summer reading programs for people over 18.

 The adult summer reading club is a movement that is blossoming across the U.S. All you have to do is cruise the Internet to see that it is gaining ground from coast to coast and from Alaska to Texas.

 Similar to summer reading programs for children and teens, adult programs often include incentives such as free books for enrolling, weekly prizes, special events, book groups, and blogs where readers can post reviews.

 The following examples were selected not only because they popped up on the web but also because something about them struck my fancy.

California: A tale of two sides of the city
San Francisco Public Library is pitting its Oceanside and Bayside branches against each other “to see which side of town reads the most this summer.” Since water is a major theme in this year’s reading programs nationwide, participants can see how their library is contributing to the contest by viewing a water gauge that rises with each book that is read.

Colorado: Computer classes and cowboy poets
Colorado’s Arapahoe Library District, based in Centennial, has too many special programs to count this summer. Some notable ones for adults include a wide array of computer classes—such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Windows basics—and some “good ole tomfoolery” at a presentation by a cowboy poet and musician. Oh, and did I mention that there are lots of prizes. As with so many library summer programs, the more you read, the more chances you have to win.

New Jersey: Database scavenger hunts
The Hunterdon County Library in Flemington, New Jersey, earns my award for the prettiest adult summer reading site. As part of its program, Hunterdon aims to help patrons become more digitally literate by offering weekly database “scavenger hunts.”

Michigan: Free cups of coffee
Northville District Library has designed its adult summer reading program to focus on “category” lists. Each time you read enough books to complete a category list, you earn a coffee coupon. The adult program is open to patrons ages 12 and older. Although coffee may not be motivating for a 12-year-old, they probably will like winning the program’s gift certificates and participating in special events such as a Facebook “tutorial” and a class on cake decorating.

Texas: Meet local authors
Georgetown Public Library is celebrating the creativity of central Texas by featuring local authors who are lecturing as part of the adult program. The line up includes a mystery writer, poets, a romance novelist, and a memoirist who writes about living with bipolar disorder.

Virginia: “Literary lite” book teams
The Appomattox Regional Library in Hopewell has organized a number of summer book “teams” featuring light reading  such as Beach Babes and Murder on the Menu. Best of all, you pick your team and not vice versa. Prizes for lucky readers include gift cards ranging from $25 to $100.

Washington: Seattle—the city of 700 events
This year, Seattle Public Library will hold 700 special events as part of its summer programs for all ages. There is a long list for the older crowd, including the whimsical idea of a read-aloud for adults (who says readalouds have to stop in elementary school?) and sessions on how to be a better boss. Participants are also encouraged to post reviews of their summer reading online.

Wisconsin: Thursday afternoon movie breaks
Residents of Mequon and Thiensville, Wisconsin, can enjoy a free summer  movie series, including Clint Eastwood’s hit Invictus, as part of their adult summer program at the Frank L.Weyenberg Library.

What’s up this summer at your local library?
When trying to provide news about libraries nationwide in the U.S., it becomes obvious what a wealth we have. These days, most libraries are struggling to survive while also working hard to provide a multitude of opportunities for patrons of all ages. What’s up at your local library? Take a minute to leave a comment about something your library has done that you appreciate.

But now it’s time to kick back for a short break with a book by one of my favorite mystery writers, Margaret Coel. I intend to read on, write on, and enjoy the summer reading program at my local library. I’ll let you know if I win a prize.