Summer Reading: Waco’s Tiny Libraries

As summer kicks off, kids will be running around in the bleak Texas sun for hours on end. However, when the kiddos get home, they are still seeking entertainment from family and friends. The most vital activity children should engage in this season is reading! Literacy rates in our highly educated country continue to drop as teachers struggle to get students actively and emotionally connected to reading literature. Aiding in a child’s advancing literacy is setting up their future for success. The best way guardians can help kids they interact with is by supplying them with books and reading with them.

This summer, the Waco-McLennan County Library is inviting readers of all ages to participate in the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge, running from June 1 through July 31. The free program encourages daily reading throughout the summer, and the more days participants read, the more chances they have to win prizes. Luckily, Waco has a system of fantastic public libraries to visit. These spaces are not only meant for checking out books to read, but they have daily activities for various age ranges, encouraging community play. To sign up for a library card and register today, visit their website!

Waco also has a wonderful commitment to free, accessible literature, with Little Free Libraries placed throughout neighborhoods in the city. To find a Little Free Library near you, visit the official map. As the system works, bring a book that no longer serves you, place it in the Little Free Library, and select a novel that is calling your name! At times, it is hard to give up your precious books, so do not fret. Take a novel, and bring one back when you can. In the meantime, share it with as many people as possible, for the gift of storytelling keeps on giving.