Campaigns

Summer Reading Fun 2025 - set to be a creative summer

Click to MARON PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM PAGE for a full SCHEDULE of events and activities throughout the summer.

Click to download a flyer with everything listed, to be placed on your refrigerator to refer to all summer long.

Let's Read 20 wants students to keep up the reading and engagement over the summer months. The best way is to get children participating in the Summer Reading Program at Marion Public Library throughout the summer "slide" months.

Annually we team up with Marion Public Library to share programs where kids have options and creativity in engagement. Making the connection with the Library, books and programs keeps kids learning and improving in the fight to beat the summer slide.

More Library info can be found at: MarionLibrary.org/SR

Stop by Marion Public Library starting June 2 to get registered and pick up your ACTIVITY reading logs to complete throughout the summer. When kids reach different levels of achievement, they receive prizes and will be entered into prize closing drawings. Kids and teens can complete up to 2 logs throughout the summer.

ACTIVITY reading logs will help students to stay on track with reading 20 minutes each and every day. They can be picked up at Marion Public Library in cooperation with the Summer Reading Program schedule. Both age groups feature literacy activities that make reading fun and go along with the national Summer Reading theme - All Together Now.
Completed sheets will be returned to Marion Public Library for prizes and LR20 books. Kids must be present to register and pickup prizes. All prizes should be picked up at Marion Public Library by 8/9/2025.

Let's Read 20, Marion! Day - set for March 3, 2025

Let's get kids excited about reading!!!!

Let's Read 20, Marion! DAY will be March 3 during National Reading Month. To highlight reading, LR20 will be bringing author Jarrett J. Krosoczka to Marion Public Library on March 11. As an author with a full-range appeal to different ages of readers (including reluctant readers), and one who is also an accomplished illustrator, he will bring a unique approach to reading, learning and connecting with books.

To start the month, LR20 will distribute the book - Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka - to all elementary and preschools in Marion County with the intention of having the book read to all of the classrooms on March 3 for National Reading Month.

After the book is read in all elementary classrooms, LR20 "I read my 20" wristbands will be distributed to commemorate reading and celebrating March as National Reading Month.

Since Krosoczka has a full array of books for different ages, we are supplying the book "Lunch Lady" to each 2nd thru 5th grade classroom as well. Though geared for the older students, this graphic novel may be more of an appeal for the reluctant readers of the classroom.

Use the books and resources to engage the students in the array of activities associated with reading, illustrating and creating books. And challenge all students to attend the AUTHOR's EVENT on Tuesday, March 11 at 5:00pm at Marion Public Library.

There will be limited copies of Punk Farm or Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute available FREE TO STUDENTS who attend the Jarrett J. Krasoczka author event at Marion Public Library. The event will begin at 5pm.

Teachers download the Reading Month Calendar to print for your classrooms: 11x17

Reading logs to keep track of student reading.

This author visit has been brought to you through a literacy grant from Marion Community Foundation to Let's Read 20. The program is planned and facilitated by the caring staff at Marion Public Library.

CAMPAIGN TIMELINE:
February 3 - Campaign elements will be dropped off at your school -- Books, wristbands, and educator guides.
February 3 - March 3 - Use classroom-related activities before the March 3 book reading day - see links below for educator guides.
March 3 - Let's Read 20, Marion! Day - All preschools and grade schools read the book Punk Farm in all of the elementary classrooms.
March 11 - Program and Book Signing 5pm - Jarrett J. Krosocska will be at Marion Public Library for a program and book signing.
There will be limited copies of Punk Farm and Lunch Lady books will be available FREE to students attending.

RESOURCES:

FREE RESORCES FOR TEACHERS can be found at: https://www.studiojjk.com/freeresources
In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook, led by Kate Flannery (The Office), garnered an Odyssey Honor.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka's website shares that he is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of more than forty books for young readers, including the graphic memoir HEY, KIDDO, a finalist for the National Book Award, and its follow-up SUNSHINE. He also created the wildly popular LUNCH LADY graphic novels and has written for Spider-Man, Star Wars, and Snoopy. Realizing his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded the School Lunch Hero Day campaign and established a scholarship to fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown. Krosoczka and his family live in western Massachusetts.

Literacy Success plan = teaming up for success

It all adds up to wanting your child to succeed. Using the tools you have at your fingertips will help you put your child on the right track from the very beginning. Continuing the plan offers literacy success for a successful student in school and a successful employee in business and a contributing community member in life.

Marion Imagination Library offers registration into the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for children 0-5 years old. Marion Public Library is Ohio Governor's Imagination Library's (OGIL) local partner to facilitate the local fundraising. Follow the link to register or to become a local donor to the ongoing fundraising which is matched by OGIL.
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Marion Public Library My First Library Card if specifically for children 0 through age 5 during their formative years. The card has no fines and if limited to the kids area. But it starts the healthy habit of visiting the Marion Public Library from the start.
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Living the Let's Read 20 reading plan each and every day marries all of the above initiatives to
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A literacy Success Plan

More Library info can be found at: MarionLibrary.org

Book & Bib initiative

Let's Read 20 Book & Bib program has been successful putting important literacy information into the hands of parents of newborns. We have partnered with OhioHealth Marion General Hospital to provide the Let's Read 20 message and the importance of reading 20 minutes each day and to start at birth.

The bag includes:
How to use this gift
Goodnight Moon board book
Read to Me bib
Reading Language Tip sheet
Let's Read 20 information brochure
Let's Read 20 refrigerator magnet reminder
Marion Public Library My First Library Card application
Marion Imagination Library application form

Each child born at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital receives the gift bag to assure a great start to a life of literacy.

Author Margaret Peterson Haddix to visit Marion

We are excited to welcome Ohio author Margaret Peterson Haddix to Marion on April 6, 2023. She will be engaging all Marion County 3rd-5th graders during the day. Then at 5pm at Marion Public Library will host Haddix for a book signing.

As part of the Marion Community Foundation grant to Let's Read 20 that is bringing Haddix to Marion, each Marion 3rd-5th grader will receive a copy of the book The Strangers. All students are highly encouraged to stop by and visit with Haddix at Marion Public Library at 5pm to get their book signed and personalized by author Haddix.

Marion Library for more info.
Educators Guide for The Strangers
Flyer to send home with students

Read For The Record set for October 27, 2022

2022 Read For The Record selection to be read October 27, 2022.

Scan the QR code to open soundscapes.

Download a poster

Early in fall, Marion County children and adults gather to learn, laugh, and read one book in order to Read For The Record. The October 27, 2022 campaign book will be Nigle and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang. This national reading effort is promoted by JumpStart to relay the message that early literacy is so very important.

A number of books are provided by Let’s Read 20 to preschools and elementary schools across Marion County so students can fully participate in this exciting event. All participating children receive a Let’s Read 20 wristband that exclaims, “I read my 20!” a reference to the Let’s Read 20 message of reading to a child at least 20 minutes each day.

Each year this event strives to engage nearly 4,700 students and staff from across Marion County.

Resource activities to go with the book:
For Grades PreK-5th shared from noveleffect.com
Storytime and family activities shared from jstart.org

More info: MarionLibrary.org National Jumpstart information

Read Across America 2022

Download a card to print

Let's Read 20 and Marion Public Library have created a bingo-style reading activity card for students to complete. When all circles have been checked they can visit the children's desk for a free Let's Read 20 book.
Cards can be redeemed between February 28 and March 7, 2022.
Activities include picking up a to-go craft kit from the kids area of the Library to be completed at home. Students will be asked to write a letter to Swoop specifically to ask a question. Swoop will answer the questions in a video on the Marion Public Library youtube channel on March 17.

What is your school doing to celebrate Read Across America?

More info:   Marionlibrary.org/getready
Week events:  Marionlibrary.org/readacross

Read Too!

Let's Read 20 is committed to doing everything possible to get children to read. Children are natural imitators and do absorb and notice everything around them. Adults who are reading are teaching the youngsters around them that reading is important.

It is as essential to have a literate community for it to be a thriving community. Starting from birth to read to a child is habit forming and should continue through adulthood.

Our Read Too campaign takes action to make sure adults understand they are the role models of the youngsters around them. Sharing their love for reading and being seen doing so speaks volumes to their little minds.
Literacy matters at all ages.

Beat The Slide - stay engaged

(download reading log here)
or
Stop by MARON PUBLIC LIBRARY for a READING LOG and a book.

Let's Read 20 is committed to keeping students engaged during the this challenging time. Learning has been interrupted and changed so dramatically from the norm. During these pandemic times we went to continue the reminder that reading keeps your brain challenged and engaged.

Here is a READING LOG to help keep kids on track with reading 20 minutes each and every day.
When kids complete 2 full weeks they get a free book from Let's Read 20.

Additionally, during summer break it is so very important to continue the learning. That's why teaming up with Marion Public Library to share programs such as Summer Reading Club where kids have options and creativity in engagement. Making the connection with the Library, books and programs keeps kids learning and improving in the fight to beat the slide.
More Library info can be found at: MarionLibrary.org