CULLMAN, Ala. – Calling all bookworms and book enthusiasts! The Cullman County Public Library System (CCPLS) is hosting its first Winter Reading Challenge – complete with prizes for every age group.
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy reports that 130 million Americans – 54% of adults between the ages of 16 and 74 years old – lack proficiency in literacy, essentially reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level. Literacy rates in school-aged children have been steadily declining since schools were placed on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Literacy Institute reported that approximately 40% of students across the nation cannot read at their basic grade level.
Enter the CCPLS, whose staff brainstormed and concocted a challenge to entice individuals into reading. The cold weather reading event began on Jan. 2 and runs until Feb. 29. Participants are able to log their read books on a reading log that can be picked up at the main library circulation desk, or printed from http://tinyurl.com/CCPLSReadingChallenges.
“We are very excited about this reading challenge. We have some really great sponsors and prizes this year,” said CCPLS Circulation Manager Laura Benton.
Children from preschool to age 12 can complete five activities from a table of 12 choices, return their paper with the appropriate options marked and receive a prize from the library’s newly incepted “treasure box” filled with small toys and knick-knacks. Teens who complete their challenge will receive a coupon for one complimentary Frio’s popsicle.
The adult reading challenge is a bit different, as participating adults must choose to read and log at least one book from five of the eight offered categories. Like the children and teenage participants, adult readers may return their completed logs to the CCPLS circulation desk and enter to win a larger prize. Four local sponsors have donated generously to the library’s reading challenge; prizes from Karma’s Coffee House, Werner’s Trading Company, Monograms Plus and Nomadic Threads are on the table for the adult readers to win.
The main branch of the library is located at 200 Clark St. NE and can be contacted by phone at 256-734-1068. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Get more information at www.facebook.com/cullmancountypubliclibrarysystem.
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