The Summer Reading Program is a longstanding library tradition and promotes literacy and a love of lifelong learning in children and teens. Each summer, the Amsterdam Free Library offers a series of free programs and events designed to foster creativity, exploration, and discovery of new points of interest; while also providing motivation to read and learn. This year, our theme is “Adventure Begins in Your Library,” and we will be holding more than 60 programs over a six-week period for local residents. Beginning July 8th, we will be hosting multiple daily programs geared towards children ages 2-17. These programs cover everything from family story hour to STEM principles, nature education to musical performances, coding and robots to self care and mindfulness. Participants will be encouraged to track their reading throughout the summer, trading in minutes read for raffle tickets towards adventure themed prizes. On August 16th, we will host our end of program Wrap Party, when participants and their families will gather to celebrate their success over the summer and raffle off prizes. We hope to register 200 or more children for Summer Reading this summer.
The Amsterdam Free Library is chartered to serve both the town and city of Amsterdam, a population of over 22,000 people. With a 23.8% poverty rate, and a 16% high school dropout rate, offerings like our Summer Reading Program are vital. A donation to our Summer Reading Program to use as a Wrap Party Raffle Prize would benefit both the Amsterdam Free Library and your business. Potential participants will be drawn in to the Reading Program by the chance to win an amazing adventure they may not have been able to otherwise go on, and provide free positive advertising for your business.The Library would be happy to thank all donors publicly for their generosity and promote your business at the same time. Information about prizes is displayed in our Children’s Department for the entirety of the Summer Reading Program, and all advertising materials would include information on prize donors. Advertising materials are distributed to local schools, newspapers, businesses, and displayed on our website and social media platforms. Additionally,  Summer Reading Program website is in the works and will be published soon, and donors will be listed in our Summer Reading Handbook, which will be distributed to all particpants at the beginning of their program.