Good News: MCPL Celebrates the Art of Reading During Winter Reading Challenge Jan. 2 – March 15

Mid-Continent Public Library’s annual Winter Reading Challenge returns January 2nd with the "Works of Art,” celebrating the transformative power of literature as an art form, and encouraging customers to embrace the practice of leisure reading by completing five books between January 2 and March 15. This year, for the first time, the Challenge is open to all ages. Adults can earn a commemorative coffee mug for completing the Challenge, while kids and teens can earn a color-changing cup (all prizes will be offered while supplies last).
 
“The Winter Reading Challenge is a program we’ve offered for many years as a way to encourage adults to get back into the practice of reading for fun,” said LynnDee Wathen, MCPL’s Reading Initiatives & Display Manager whose team organizes the Challenge. “It can be hard to find the time to read for enjoyment, but winter is the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book, and this year the whole family can get in on the fun! Plus, for caregivers, modeling strong reading habits is great for little ones to see.” 
 
To earn a prize, participants must sign up online at mymcpl.org/WinterReading or by picking up a Winter Reading Challenge program guide booklet at any MCPL branch. All titles must be logged (online or hard copy turned in) by the end of March 15. For those interested in exploring the “Works of Art” theme, MCPL staff have curated several book lists with recommendations of books on the visual arts, the musical art form, the art of creating, people’s personal experience with the art of living, and much more. However, readers are encouraged to connect with any five titles that spark their interest.
 
Participants can also enhance their Challenge experience by attending in-person books groups and events, as well as virtual programs through the Winter Reading Challenge Facebook page. For more information about the Winter Reading Challenge, including a full list of rules, more details about the prizes, and the suggested reading lists compiled by MCPL staff, visit mymcpl.org/WinterReading.

Photo credit: Mid-Continent Public Library