As the school year draws to a close, Maricopa County officials are encouraging residents – particularly young readers – to enjoy their summer off by participating in the County’s annual Summer Reading Program.

Maricopa County Library District’s 17 branches, along with 45 other local libraries, encourage participants of all ages to log their reading online, read an exciting original story, complete challenges and attend library events during the nine-week program.

“Summer is the perfect time to read for fun,” said Clint Hickman, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 4. “Think about it – complete freedom to read what you want, and not to have it be a homework assignment. Whether you like adventure, mystery, or science fiction, there’s something for everybody at our wonderful public libraries. Join Maricopa County Reads.”

This year’s theme is “On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!,” which focuses on sports and fitness topics along with challenging participants to exercise their minds by reading at least 20 minutes a day.

Participants can start logging their summer reading activities for points toward a free Chipotle meal (500 points) and a free book of their choice from an online marketplace (1,000 points), while supplies last. Participants can earn points just for reading (one minute = one point), but also for attending library events, completing online challenges and participating in community experiences.

They can also earn badges for these activities and keep a healthy competition with family and friends to see who can log the most time this summer.

“Our summer reading program is certainly fun, but it is also one of the County’s major contributions to community literacy efforts,” said Cindy Kolaczynski, Director of the Maricopa County Library District. “We love helping kids maintain their literacy skills during the summer while challenging them with games and experiences that create excitement around reading.”

The program runs through August 1 in more than 60 public libraries throughout Maricopa County. For more information about the program, events to attend and to register, visit maricopacountyreads.org/about/.