There’s nothing better than spending a warm summer’s day on the beach with a good book, and this year Wollongong City Council is giving away prizes to young people for doing just that.

The 2010-11 Summer Reading Challenge is kicking off this weekend at all branches of the Wollongong City Library to encourage young people to keep reading over the school holidays. 

Manager of Community, Cultural and Library Services, Jenny Thompson, said reading is such an essential part of learning and growing so it’s important we promote the value of books to our youngest residents.

“As part of the Summer Reading Challenge, young people aged 5 to 12 are encouraged to visit their local library each week to borrow a book. Each time they borrow, they get a special voucher and go into the draw to win a prize,” Jenny Thompson said.

“Each week we draw a new prize for one avid book reader, and at the end of the challenge we award a major prize at each of our seven branch libraries.”

“The Summer Reading Challenge also includes weekly activities for participants to take part in, from craft workshops and story time to games and Nintendo Wii competitions,” Ms Thompson said.

“The Challenge is really about showing young people the fun side of reading and getting them familiar with the different activities on offer at their local library.”

“The theme of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Scare up a Good Book’, so we’ll be encouraging book choices and activities around magic, the supernatural and other scary topics,” Ms Thompson added. 

The 2010-11 Challenge officially kicks off this weekend with a series of launch parties at Wollongong City Library, Corrimal Library and the new Warrawong Library on Saturday, Monday and next Wednesday.

To find out more or sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge, visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library.