ASRP Review Part 2

 Activities for the Adult Summer Reading Program

Today, I'm going to take some time doing an inventory of the enjoyability and feasibility of the activities included in my local adult summer reading program. Then, I'll consider what I would prefer to see. Maybe I'll do my own reading program next summer.

Library Activities

Read a Title Published in 2023

This isn't a bad idea. I don't like it because it means I have to find a book that looks interesting to me, hopefully doesn't have too many sketchy parts, and has been published...in the last six months. That is extremely limiting. I'm sure that there are books that have come out in the last year or two that have found their way onto my to-read list, but keeping it to only the last six is pretty limiting. The books I know I'm interested in I'd probably have to buy because they would probably not be at the library. The 2023 books that the library carries are probably not interesting to me.

I'd keep this activity, but with a change: read a book that has been published in the 12 or 18 months.

Visit a Local Bookstore 

I appreciated this one. It is not specifically a reading activity, but it is certainly related. I love going to Eighth Day Books, so I hope that I can make this one happen. I also like that it supports any number of small local businesses.

Keep this activity!

Let a Book Teach You a New Hobby 

Nope. I have enough hobbies and if I want to pick up a new one, I'll get the books I need in my own time, not because it's on the bingo sheet. I could stretch the meaning on this one and take up origami or something for half a day, but I'm not interested in even that minimal level of effort.

I would get rid of this activity.

Complete a Lesson in Mango Languages 

This is one resource that our local library system makes available to patrons for free. I actually do intend to do this one because I'm going on a trip to Europe this year, but that's the only reason I'm okay with this one this time. I don't plan on doing more than the minimum for this one, but you never know.

I would get rid of this activity, helpful as it is this year.

Take a Tour on the History Walk 

So there's apparently an app (through the library, of course) that gives a guided audio tour of certain parts of Wichita. This is the last one that I have to complete to get my first bingo, but it's hard to make time for it. And go through the hassle of downloading the app and figuring out where to go. It's a good idea in theory - get people to explore their city, advertise a library perk, go out and move - but it's not working for me.

I'd get rid of this activity, too. I might be more amenable to it if there was a tour to take of the library or something book related.

Read a Book by a Local Author 

This was another activity that limited the list of potential reading material. I was surprised to see just how many people from my city are published authors, but it still made for a small pool of reading options. I'm picky, but since I've been frustrated with how hard it is to get a bingo, I decided to find something that hopefully complemented my interests and was a quick read. I lucked out with the quick read part - there's a book about 100 things to do in this city, and each item is about two-thirds of a page of large print. A few stretch to the second page, but it's fast. I feel like I already know my town pretty well, so it's not as thrilling as it could be, but it's getting the job done.

The only reason this one works is because we have a decent number of authors hailing from out city. I like the reading aspect of this activity, so I'd say keep it, but expand it to authors from the state. I think that would broaden the range of potential materials quite nicely.

Leave a Book Review on Our Hotline 

I had to look up more details about this one. It looks like the library-sponsored podcast takes book recommendations on a hotline. So, one calls the number, states some information, and gives a 1-2 sentence recommendation about why they recommend the book. I didn't pay enough attention to the podcast episode I listened to to know if they actually air these recommendations, but I'm assuming that's what they do, not unlike the kid's recommendation portion of the "Read Aloud Revival" podcast.

I did it just now. I typed out the essence of what I wanted to say and stupidly gave my last name. What was I thinking? Anyway, I recommended Manzoni's The Betrothed - no surprise there, as I've been recommending it to pretty much everyone I've talked to about books! I did one take and gave the information requested by the recorded voice. I hope I never have to hear myself say it on air - I'm pretty sure I'd feel self-conscious about my voice and the whole thing, really.

I see how the possibility of being featured on a podcast could be appealing, but it doesn't do much for me. I'd much rather see an activity where you recommend a book to someone else.

Listen to One Episode of Read Return Repeat 

This is the podcast sponsored by my library - another sort of advertisement for little-known library entertainment, I'm guessing. I listened to an episode. That's it. I'm not subscribing to it or planning to listen to it.

I was about to say I'd get rid of this activity, but changed my mind. I think it'd be better to change it to listening to a podcast episode either about books or featuring an author.

Do an Act of Service 

I think I see why they have this one - acts of service are good. But it's fluff. It doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with reading.

I'd get rid of this activity.

Earn Genius Level on the NYT's Spelling Bee 

This activity is one that is free through the public library system - great if you want to spend time on word games, kind of frustrating for those who don't. I completed this one without Googling what other words could be, but this would probably be an easy activity to cheat on.

I'd get rid of this one, too.

Attend a Library Adult Program 

Nope. I don't want to go to an adult program. I mean, it would be fun to learn how to make pickles or bring a handcraft to work on with other handcraft enthusiasts, or even take a class on how to make things with Cricut. But I don't want to dedicate time to going somewhere and doing things when I'd rather be at home with my husband or hanging out with friends.

I see why this activity is here. But I'd still get rid of it.

Read a Book to Someone Else 

I like this one. It could be as simple as reading a picture book to a kid. The only downside is that, if you live alone, it's going to be really hard to do this. 

This works for me, so I'd keep it, but I feel bad for people who don't have anyone to read to.

Check Out an Item from the Library 

This was the free space item, and I thought it was brilliant! It makes sense that a library reading program would have you check out at least one thing from the library. 

Keep this activity!

Watch a Movie on Kanopy 

Library service advertisement! When I looked up Kanopy on the Google, it said that this is a site for watching what I think they called "art movies." When I hear "art movies," I think of movies that are artistic and serious and depressing and not likely that I'll enjoy. Harrumph. However, I did discover that there's a movie on there that looks interesting - The Secret of Kells. I do look forward to watching it sometime...assuming I don't run out of time.

I'd change this activity to be something like "Watch a movie based on a book."

Visit a Local Museum 

I think there is some reading of signs to be done at museums, but I don't really see what this has to do with a reading program.

I'd get rid of this activity.

Read a Book Less Than 150 Pages 

I liked this category a lot. I felt like it recognized the need to have reading in a summer reading program, but honored the fact that adults aren't going to have tons of time. It would have been easy to pick up a picture book (and I still might), but this seems like an activity that's very doable.

This activity is a keeper.

Listen to an Audiobook

As someone who already listens to audiobooks, this worked well for me. It's not reading, but it taps into literacy because of exposure to language and storytelling. This activity would probably be harder for someone who isn't tech savvy, but it's easy for me to get into the library app (and this was a library advertisement activity that didn't bother me). 

I'd keep this activity.

Prepare a Recipe from a Library Book 

I'm already prepping food. I'm gonna use one of the ten-ish cookbooks I have at home. I don't want to go to the trouble of checking out another one from the library.

I'd get rid of this activity. Or actually, I think I'd change it. Make a recipe from a book.

Submit a Short Story/Poem to Library Publication 

This is another advertising activity, in my opinion, but I don't find it too egregious. However, I think it might be asking for a little too much. It's one thing to take in a book - it's another entirely to come up with an original composition.

I think I would ditch this activity.

Visit a "New to You" Library 

I both liked and disliked this one. I think it's a fun idea, but what happens when you've visited all the libraries close to you and you have to drive out of town to find one? This could end up being a lot of trouble...and if the library is in a system that you're not a part of and is far from you, it would just be a tour - it wouldn't be realistic to check something out.

I'm not sure that I'd keep this one. Strangely enough, I think I'd like to change it to something that's actually a bit more restricting. In our area, we have multiple colleges and universities - I think it would be fun to have people see what sorts of books are available at a local university, and then get a community library card, if warranted.

Attend a Book Discussion 

This one was easy for me because I cohost a group that meets to discuss books. This one works for me, and I talk about books informally, so I think I'd keep this one...although maybe I'd make it so you could just talk about books with someone. I'm not sure.

Graphic Novel Time 

This one had mixed results for me. I think with the right book, I wouldn't enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favorite. On one hand, I think graphic novels are a quicker read. On the other, I'm not sure this is my cup of tea. But that's the beauty of a summer reading program, isn't it? Getting you outside of what you usually do?

I think I'd better keep this one.

Take a Class on LinkedIn Learning 

No. No interest and it's in a good spot to skip on the bingo card. I suppose I should actually look up what some of these classes might be.

I just did. Still no. These are all classes that have to do with professional stuff. I don't generally enjoy professional development for my own specific field as it is. I don't want to spend extra time on stuff that I don't need and don't find fun.

As a firm believer that a summer reading program should be fun, I hereby declare that this activity is far too useful and not leisurely enough to keep.

Read a Librarian Recommendation 

This was an interesting one. I was delighted by how the librarian recommendation system works in our library system, and it was cool to learn that there is such a thing. You enter what genre you're interested in, maybe some specific topics or similar books you've read, and presto - just later that day, I received emails (I put in two requests) with about five book recommendations. I didn't actually end up enjoying the one I picked all that much, but it was a cool experience.

I'd keep this activity, or change it slightly to allow for anyone to recommend a book to you.

Take a Tech Class

This was one of my least favorite activities. It was one of the ones that made me feel like the library is just trying to advertise its non-literary services. I'm planning to not do it. I don't need to take a tech class, and the upcoming one that I could find on the library calendar is about Mac computers. I own a PC, not a Mac, so not only would the class take up time that I could be spending on other things, it would be useless information for me. 

I would definitely get rid of this activity.

My Summer Reading Program Lineup

Of course, I now have to record what I think would be good for a summer reading program.

Ideally, I'd have it be like the reading program of my childhood - every 20 minutes of reading gets you closer to a prize. However, as that would be too easy, I'm going to keep the bingo format. I've heard the Read Aloud Revival host, Sarah Mackenzie, speak with podcast guests about their reading programs, and the bingo setup is not too far off the mark.

Keep:

1) Visit a local bookstore

2) Read a book to someone else

3) Check out a book from the library

4) Read a book less than 150 pages

5) Listen to an audiobook

6) Attend a book discussion (or 15-minute bookish conversation)

7) Read a graphic novel

Only 7 of the original 25 activities remain mostly intact.

Change:

Another 7 activities remain, some more recognizable than others.

8) Read a book published in the last 18 months

9) Library scavenger hunt (to tour the library)*

10) Read a book by a Kansas author/author from your state

11) Read a book recommended by someone else, and recommend a book to them

12) Listen to a podcast episode about a book, work of literature, or author

13) Watch a movie based on a book

14) Make a recipe of a food from a story

Add:

I want there to be more reading-based activities. so I hope to bulk up on those with these additions.

15) Reread a book

16) Read a book that's over 100 years old

17) Read for 30 minutes inside a local coffee shop

18) Read a book that was originally written in a different language

19) Read one book that is sitting on your shelf

20) Read an essay

21) Memorize a poem that is at least 12 lines long

22) Read an auto/bio/hagiography

23) Read from a magazine for 15 minutes

24) Research a topic of interest for 30 minutes at the library

25) Write down 10 quotes from the books that you read over the time of this challenge

*Library Scavenger Hunt

I needed a way to think of how someone could give themselves a tour of the library, so I thought a scavenger hunt might do the trick. These are some things one could do.

- Log onto a computer

- Visit the archives section

- Ask a librarian a question

- Find a book that is in a different language, or a book that was translated to English

- Find a book that was originally published over 200 years ago

- Find an encyclopedia (or other reference book, if encyclopedia sets are obsolete even in libraries)

- Look up the word "donkeyman" in the Oxford English Dictionary

- Find a book by an author with a last name starting with "X"

And there are lots of other ideas on lists out there on the interwebs. But this could be a fun way to look at the library through fresh eyes!

Conclusion

I think this would be fun to actually do. I might reach out to friends and family, make it a challenge, and say that at the end, we'll all go out and get ice cream - the ice cream is on me for anyone who completed all 25 activities (got a blackout bingo). It could be a fun way to finish up summer, and maybe this could be a fun activity for our Books and Beverage group.