Summer Reading: Taking the Kickoff Party to the Street

May 12, 2022

Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510.981.6100
tmayer@cityofberkeley.info

Summer Reading: Taking the Kickoff Party to the Street

Berkeley, California (June 2, 2022) – Summer Reading is here and the Library is taking the kickoff party to the streets!

This Saturday, from 2:00-4:00pm outside of the Central Library, enjoy live performances and activities right on Kittredge Street, on the block between Shattuck Avenue and Harold Way.

The fun for all ages includes:

• 2:30pm Coventry & Kaluza clowning and comedy
• 3:00pm Musical Storytime
• 3:30pm Zumba with Becca for all ages
• Crafts with the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA)
• Button making for teens and all ages
• Chance to win SF Opera tickets for adults
• Free Ice cream from Strauss Creamery

At the party, adults, teens and kids can sign up for summer reading and receive a free book to keep. A list of the sign-up books, curated for a variety of reading levels and interests, are on the summer reading webpage.

Can’t attend the kick-off party? You can still participate in the summer reading challenge! There are four additional ways to sign up: register online, download the summer reading app, “Beanstack,” print out a game card, or pick up a paper game card at any of our libraries.

There are prizes! Readers of all ages who complete the challenge earn tickets to enter a drawing for some great prizes, including a mountain bike, a guitar, a ukulele, a Kindle, walkie talkies, tickets to regional museums, gift cards from Amazon, Mr. Mopps’, and more. Plus, kids who complete the challenge can come by any library to pick up a finisher prize-book and a $5 gift card for Five Little Monkeys.

“Summer Reading is one of the Library programs that can truly include the whole family – babies, children, teens and adults,” notes senior librarian and summer reading program coordinator, Erica Dean Glenn. “This year’s theme is ‘Off the Beaten Path’ and we hope to inspire our patrons to get outside, relax and read.”

Thank you to the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Chabot Space and Science Center, Five Little Monkeys Toys and Gifts, Gelateria Naia, Mike's Bikes of Berkeley, Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA), Mr. Mopps' Children's Books and Toys, Pegasus Books, San Francisco Opera, and Straus Family Creamery for their support of Summer Reading at the Berkeley Public Library.

For questions regarding the Summer Reading Kickoff party, please call Elaine Tai at (510) 981-6231. For questions regarding summer reading in general, please call Erica Glenn at (510) 981-6229.

Events will be wheelchair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY).

For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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