Rockford Public Library hosts Summer Reading Club for all ages.

Rockford Public Library will launch their 2008 Summer Reading Club “Game On” at a Kick-Off party scheduled for Saturday, June 7^th from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall and the adjacent parking lot downtown. The Kick-Off Party will host music, crafts, a bouncy tent, a rock climbing wall and an arcade. The first 1,000 children, 200 young adults and 200 adults to register at the Kick-Off Party will receive a free “Game On” t-shirt. The Summer Reading Club runs from June 7^th to August 8^th, 2008.

“This year’s theme includes all kinds of gaming including sports, board and card games and the most popular video games,” said Sue Stevens, Chair of the Summer Reading Club. “We hope to encourage children, young adults and adults to join the club and participate in programs throughout the summer.”

Rockford Public Library’s Summer Reading Club offers plenty of great prizes for every age level. Children (birth-5^th grade) can pull prizes out of the foot locker at any RPL location after every five books they read. Plus, children’s club finishers will earn a book to keep and a ticket to the Finisher’s Party at Magic Waters on August 8^th. Young Adult (grades 6-12) finishers will earn a gift certificate to Beef-a-Roo, a ticket to the Finisher’s Party at Magic Waters and an entry to win a limo ride, dinner and movie passes for themselves and five friends. Adults (ages 18 and up) can read for chances to win gift certificates from local establishments and one lucky adult reader will win two round trip tickets to Orlando-Sanford from the Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD) on Allegiant Air.

The Summer Reading Club is the Library’s largest program, and RPL anticipates over 11,000 participants this year.  “’Game On’  is a great opportunity to help our school-age children maintain their reading skills over the summer, but it is also an opportunity for adults to set a good example for the children in their lives,” said Frank Novak, the Library’s Executive Director. “With the great prizes we have this year, everyone should join in the fun!”

The Summer Reading Club is sponsored by the Friends of Rockford Public Library, Rockford Public Library Foundation, The Chrysler Foundation, AMCORE Bank, Beef-a-Roo, Magic Waters, Allegiant Air, WTVO/Fox 39, Steak ‘n Shake, Papa John’s, Culver’s and Game Crazy.

For a complete list of programs and events, please visit our website at www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org. To register for the club, stop by any RPL location from June 7^th to August 8^th.

About the Library

The Rockford Public Library, founded in 1872 as the second library in Illinois, currently has six facilities, including the Main Library and five Branch Libraries. The Rockford Public Library’s mission is to enhance community life and development by informing, educating, entertaining, and providing cultural enrichment to all people of all ages by collecting information to address the diverse interests of our dynamic community.

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