SIDNEY — When winter snow blows and cold winds whip around corners, there’s nothing more comforting than to snuggle up with a good book — or ebook or audiobook.
Area readers who agree have the opportunity not only to dig into great literature or tackle some challenging nonfiction, but to win some terrific prizes, as well. All they have to do is register at a Shelby County Libraries branch to get a punch card and then read or listen to at least five books by a certain date to qualify to participate in drawings for gift cards, gift baskets, and more.
The library’s winter reading program is open to people of all ages. Having a library card is not required, but it is encouraged. The books, ebooks and audio books don’t have to be borrowed from the library, but they can be. And participants can read any types of books they like.
There are programs for adults, teens and children:
• Book a Great Get-a-Way is the theme of the adult program. People 18 and older can register beginning Jan. 9 and must complete their reading by March 18. They can take their punch cards to the library and have the cards punched for each book read.
“It’s easy. For every five books, ebooks or audiobooks you read or listen to, you get a chance at a fantastic prize,” said Peggy Tune, the libraries’ graphic arts and adult programming coordinator. “However many cards you put in is how many chances you get for prizes.”
The grand prize is a $300 get-away at any Ohio state park. Other prizes are a family gift pack of puzzles, games and snacks; gift cards for Wendy’s, Applebees, Subway, Amazon, Fandango and Walmart gasoline; and gift baskets. Every participant will receive a magnetic calendar bookmark.
There are also gift baskets which include $25 Walmart gift cards to be awarded by each library branch. Shelby County Libraries operates branches in Sidney, Anna, Botkins, Fort Loramie, Jackson Center and Russia.
“This is the 11th year of the program,” Tune said. In 2016, 3,345 books were read or listened to.
• Teens can participate in Chill Out and Read between Jan. 9 and Feb. 28.
“When teens read five books or listen to five audio books, their names will be entered into a drawing to win a winter-themed basket,” said Cindy Timmerman, teen librarian. “We didn’t do a teen winter reading program last year, but we had great success with the children’s and adult programs, so I wanted to offer it for the teens as well. I hope teens from across the county will join us as we ‘chill out and read’ this winter.”
The teen program is open to people in grades 6 through 12.
• Wonka’s Winter Reading Race will attract children who are in the fifth grade and younger. The program runs from Jan. 9 through Feb. 28.
When children register to participate, they will be given purple cards on which to record the titles of the books they read or listen to. Every child who turns in a card filled with five titles will receive a prize and get a new card that’s white. When a child has read or listened to five more books, he can turn in the white card and draw a ticket for a bronze, silver or gold prize. He can then get another white card. Every time a child completes a white card by reading another five books, he can draw a ticket for a prize.
“The prizes are surprises,” said Youth Services Director Rikki Unterbrink. “The gold prize is pretty exciting and if you think about what the character, Willy Wonka, is famous for, you might be able to guess what it is.”
In 2016, Unterbrink said, 240 children exchanged almost 800 cards for prizes.
“Winter is the perfect time to cuddle up with a book, and we’ve just made it more fun,” she said. Children who are too young to read can have books read to them by parents or other family members.
“The idea is to get family reading in the wintertime,” Unterbrink said.
The library sponsors the winter reading project to encourage people to explore the library.
“To find out the riches we have to offer here,” Tune said. “They have access to our materials 24/7 through our website.”
A new way to get reading materials — as well as movies, music and comics — is Hoopla. The library launched the program in November. With a valid library card and an Internet-connected device, a patron can stream or download six items per month. The items can be played or read throughout the loan period on multiple devices. There is a link to Hoopla on the library’s website: shelbyco.lib.oh.us.
“Hoopla compliments our other electronic resources nicely,” said Assistant Director Mark Kister. “In addition to a large selection of music and movies, Hoopla offers a wide selection of audiobooks and ebooks for all ages which are instantly available. Everything on Hoopla is available to multiple users, so there is never a need to reserve an item and wait.”
Shelby County Libraries also furnishes card-holders access to ebooks and audiobooks through the Ohio Digital Library system, electronic magazines through Zinio, and a selection of reference databases. Patrons who would like instruction in how to use any of these systems can call the library to make an appointment for it. There is no charge for the instruction or to use the online systems.
To get a library card, anyone who lives in Ohio must provide a photo ID. Non-Ohio residents must also provide proof of current address. People do not have to live in Shelby County to qualify for a library card, but they must be 18 or older. Children can get cards if their parents sign for them. For information or to make an appointment for electronic or digital help, call 492-8354.
