The Library Vault

By: Briana G, your Adult Summer Reading Guru

I have the best news ever. Seriously.

Summer is here! Well, almost. June 20th is officially the first day of Summer. AKA the longest day of the year. However, nothing revitalizes me more than the season of Summer and all it has to offer. Summer, to me, means more trips for ice cream (at any hour of the day), hot (in the most literal sense) girl walks on my lunch break, beach trips, concerts, and my favorite thing of all: Adult Summer Reading at The Russell Library!!!

Um what’s that? You didn’t think adults could participate in Summer Reading because it’s just for kids?

Nope! The Russell Library, and pretty much every local library I can think of across Connecticut and beyond, has an Adult Summer Reading Challenge or Program over the Summer. The Russell Library has a BINGO Board style challenge with a ton of great prizes in store.

Wow! I can see how super excited you are about Adult Summer Reading but you totally need more details. Don’t worry, I got you! Here is everything you need to know:

Adults can sign up in person at the Circulation and Information Services desks OR online using the link attached here. You will then receive your super cute BINGO Board filled with fun prompts. From there you have from June 14th through August 16th to complete prompts to get a BINGO (five prompts in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row). One BINGO equals one ticket that will go towards an assortment of prizes we have up for grabs. Participants can earn up to 12 BINGOs in total and can track each one earned using the boxes around the BINGO Board. Simply go to the Circulation Desk and show staff your BINGOs in exchange for tickets. Don’t forget to keep your copy of your ticket! Winners will be called once Summer Reading ends.

Here is a list of all of the prizes up for grabs:

1. A Kindle (our grand prize)

2. Gift cards to:
Wesleyan R.J. Julia
Perkatory Coffee
NoRA Cupcakes
Back Again Board Game Cafe
Amatos

3. A Bookish Bag (one of our canvas tote bags filled with bookish goodies)

P.S. y’a,ll, we have some newly donated extra prizes up for grabs as well (you’ll hear it first and only here folks!)

A pillow tablet holder and Bluetooth page turner (perfect for someone who wants an accessible hack for reading at a 10/10 comfort level) and a Jellycat (or two)!

Yes, hard to believe someone (aka me) had an extra Jellycat at home to contribute as a prize, but I did. You’re welcome. 🙂

Please drop by the Russell Library on June 14th to sign up for and celebrate the start of Summer Reading! Bring your family and friends of all ages! There will be a petting zoo with Furry Scaly Friends on the South Lawn from 10 am to 12 pm. There will be two librarians in the lobby from 10 am to 2 pm to sign adults up for summer reading and give bestselling books away! The children’s desk will have books for kids and teens for give away as well! There will also be a jazz concert with the Abe Ovadia and Ralph Lalama Duo at 2 pm in the Hubbard Room. Finally, go hang with the chicks from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the Activity Room!

Sounds like a 10/10 kind of day if you ask me.

On a final note, I really want to encourage you all to take pictures and videos and tag the Russell Library on social media. (We’re @russelllibrarymiddletown on TikTok and Instagram). The social media team (and the rest of the staff as a whole) love to see library and bookish content that you share with us. Taking your library book to the beach? Send us a picture (while we fight off the FOMO). Found your new favorite read from one of our displays? We want to know (so whoever made the display can brag a little)! It’s also a BINGO prompt to share one of our posts, soooo you’ll already have Russell Library on your mind. Tag us and make our day! The social media team will also be posting on our socials once a week throughout the summer with recommendations for all of the summer reading prompts related to books.

I hope all who sign up have a blast and I cannot wait to hear your stories about how much fun you had this summer completing your Adult Summer Reading BINGO prompts!