Summer reading programs aren't just for children.
Public libraries in Danville, Newton and Plaistow used incentives to get more people to open a book this summer and make reading a community event. Their adult summer reading programs included raffles for gift certificates, books and other prizes.
Plaistow Public Library found that $10 gift certificates were the right incentive to entice adults to join its program, now in its second year, librarian LuAnn Blair said. Last year, the library offered restaurant gift certificates, but for some reason had less than half as many participants.
Priscilla Klier read 12 books and had 12 opportunities to win a gift certificate, but it was that first chance that proved the lucky one.
"They told me about it and I won the first week," she said. "I'm going back to school ... so I'll probably use it to get something for school."
Seventy-five adults read 488 books this summer compared with just 30 adults who signed up a year ago, Blair said.
"This year, it was just amazingly popular," Blair said. "It just seemed like this year, people were eager to do something."
Anne Wiggin and her husband, Arthur, signed up because she said they are always first in line to get new books when they arrive at the library.
"It was fun to see what other people were reading," she said.
The adult reading program was offered at the same time as the one for children — G'Day for Reading — and really made reading a community event, Blair said.
Adults and children worked together to turn Aussie, an albino kangaroo, back to his usual color by earning a piece of brown paper for each book they read. They succeeded in changing the color of Aussie, who was near the circulation desk.
"The best way for children to learn to love to read is to see adults reading," she said. "Ideally, it would be a parent or a grandparent, but any adult will do."
Helen Robinson gave her winning gift certificate to her granddaughter.
"She's a great reader, too," Robinson said.
This was the first time Robinson participated, and she read about four books a week.
"Well I'm old now and have the time to read," the 78-year-old said. "I can't say I'm bored."
Newton's Gale Library geared its adult program more toward parents, using the same Australian theme as the children's summer reading program. The free books, candy and T-shirts also helped to grab parents' attention, Director Theresa Caswell said.
"We've been doing it for the last couple of years because it's a nice way to engage the parents as well," she said.
Danville's Colby Library offers Reading for Rewards to any cardholder who returns books this summer, Director Dottie Billbrough said. All of their names were put in a big bowl as they await a chance to win a gift certificate for ice cream, Barnes & Noble or BeanTowne Coffee House, so she didn't know how many people have participated.
But Billbrough said activity at the library has increased since the program started.
"Our circulation is up 15 percent over last summer, so maybe it's that," she said.
