The Kalona Public Library, like many other area libraries, is gearing up for its annual summer reading program, encouraging kids and adults alike to pick up a book.

Sign-ups for the program begin June 1st. This year, the library will also host a kickoff event, to be held June 6th on the library’s yard. Attendees can sign-up for the program, pick up reading logs and a calendar of events, and hang out with other attendees.

This year’s theme, “Plant a Seed, Read” is shared amongst several area libraries through the iRead Reading Program. Library Director Olivia Kahler says that sharing a theme encourages collaboration and helps save money, “It’s really fun for us to be able to share programs, so Washington and Wellman libraries and myself, we might chip on the same program that goes with our theme, and then we’re all paying a little bit less when that program gets to visit three libraries. They have these multi-library discounts.”

Kahler says the program is vital to help avoid what is known as the “summer slide,” the period of time between school years where kids might not be as academically engaged. The program will run through the months of June and July.