The Irene Ingle Public Library, which has run a summer reading program for children for years, is turning a new page for 2025 — it is running a similar program for adults.
There will be prizes for adults who fill in their book bingo card.
The idea started with parents asking during the annual summer activity for children, “I wish you had an adult reading program,” said Sarah Scambler, library director.
She talked with other librarians around the state, including the Anchorage public library which has run a bingo-card style reading challenge for adults for years, she said. “It’s been super successful.”
Adults can come to the Wrangell library starting this week to pick up their bingo card, but the challenge does not start until Sunday, Jan. 5. No turning any pages early.
The program ends March 21.
Each card will have 25 squares, five rows across and five down, with a book category in each square, such as new releases, travel, mystery, readers’ choice and more.
Read a book and mark the square. It can be a paperback or hardcover, an audio or e-book, Scambler said.
Every reader who fills in their first row of five books can come to the library and pick up their free prize — a custom-designed Irene Ingle Public Library coffee mug, created by Tyla Nelson.
The library started with an order for 20 coffee mugs, Scambler said, adding, “we might need to order more.”
The contest is open to anyone 18 and older.
Adults will also get a ticket for each book they read, with the tickets good for a chance to win prizes at the end of the challenge. And readers who fill in all 25 squares on their card will be entered into a separate prize drawing.
Everyone who gets at least one bingo will be invited to an end-of-program party, just like the kids get each summer.
The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, a separate nonprofit that raises money to help the library.
The reading program will be familiar to a lot of Wrangell grownups, who either participated in the summer reading activity for kids when they were young or have children or grandchildren who sign up for the annual program, Scambler said.
“This is another level of engagement we hope people will enjoy.”
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