The Summer Reading Programs have concluded.
Thank you to all who participated! We hope that you had a fun, book-filled summer!
Check out the Read Beyond Summer section or the Staff and Patron Book Recommendations page for more great reads!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Trail Passport program
We encourage you to go beyond the beaten path and explore a new trail this summer. Stop by the library to pick up your Trail Passport, which has lots of great information about local trails and hiking safety. You can find more information here.
The program is open to adults and children, encouraging all to explore the many different trails and walkways in Groton, CT. The trails and walks listed in the passport range from very easy and accessible to more challenging.
Visit at least two locations and return your passport to the Bill Memorial Library by August 18, 2022 to be entered into our prize drawing. Anyone who completes all 13 trails will be added to an extra drawing for an additional prize!
500 Books Before Middle School
500 Books Before Middle School is an ongoing reading challenge for children in kindergarten to 5th grade.
Kids participating in the program can read independently, be read to, or listen to audiobooks. We want children to choose books that will engage them, inform them, and be fun to read so that reading becomes an enjoyable daily activity for families. Sharing books and encouraging reading time will help kids develop a love of reading and learning that will last a lifetime.
This is perfect for readers who have completed the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten!
challenge and want to keep the reading habit going.
All reading counts – graphic novels, comic books, cookbooks, fact books, chapter books,
picture books, audiobooks, repeat books, books for school, and more!
The program is self-paced with ongoing registration and no specific starting or ending date.
Readers track their books on reading logs and earn prizes along the way.
Reading logs and registration information is available at the checkout desk.
Participants earn a free book for every 50 books they read.
Sign up – Free book, bookmark
After 100 books – Free book, clip-on bookmark
After 250 books – Free book, stress ball, keychain, bendy pencil
After 500 books – Backpack, free book
In addition, every child who completes 500 Books Before Middle School will
have a book of their choosing added to our library collection, complete with
a bookplate with their name, in honor of their achievement.
Reading 2 books per week will equal 104 books in a year! Complete 208 books in
just 2 years, and 312 books in 3 years! And remember, re-reading books, listening to
audiobooks, and reading with a friend/parent/teacher all count towards the 500-book goal.
What should your child read? Anything THEY want!
Read at their own pace and most importantly, HAVE FUN!
If you have any questions, you can call us at 860-445-0392 or
email Miss Mary-Jane at mcarle@billmemorial.org.
Teen Summer Reading Program
Transcript:
Art art art!
Teen Reading Log
Forms are also available at the library. Check off each DAY that you read. Try and read for at least 15 minutes. For every 5 days that you read, you get a raffle ticket!!! WEDNESDAY, June 29~ First day to count reading. SATURDAY August 6 ~ Last day to count and report reading. RETURN YOUR READING LOG AND ACTIVITY SHEETS TO THE LIBRARY BY SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 AT 3:00 PM.
Free Downloadable Audiobooks!
From April 28th to August 17th, you can download FREE audiobooks through Overdrive’s Sora App. These books are only available to download to keep on the weeks they are featured, so sign up now and don’t miss out! You can get the Sora app on the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or at Sora. Register at AudioFile (look for “REGISTER for SYNC”).
Children's Summer Reading Program
Join us this summer for a reading adventure! Play our board game, complete activity sheets and earn raffle tickets for great prizes! Great programs each Tuesday!
Visit the links below to see this year’s Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge book suggestions:
Fitch High School Summer Reading Assignment and Summer Site
Groton Middle School Summer Reading Assignment and Summer Site
Call us for more information or to register for those programs listed above that require registration.
Check our Facebook page Monday through Friday for the Question of the Day! Each day answer the question in the calendar below. Return your answers to the library by August 6 and earn a raffle ticket!
The Connecticut State Library is looking for feedback!
In order to help the CT State Library collect valuable data that support libraries and library programming, they have designed this brief survey about our participants’ Summer Reading experience.
Please fill out the survey and return it to the Bill Memorial Library by August 31, 2022.
Parents and caregivers, the survey has been designed to obtain feedback directly from the children, young adults, and adults who took part in the summer program. It is not designed to get a parent’s view of a child’s experience of the program.
Thank you for participating in our Summer Reading program and for filling out and returning this survey.
Sincerely, The Bill Memorial Library Staff
Read Beyond Summer
All Ages Read All Year!
All CT Reads is a year-long initiative by the Connecticut State Library to encourage lifelong reading, learning, and connection. A committee of community members pick several titles for various age groups each calendar year.
Visit their webpage to watch author interview videos, sign up to receive more information, and see the list of this year’s titles.