ELKHART, Ind. -- Staff and community members gathered Tuesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the beginning of the Elkhart Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge.
The challenge starts May 22, and is open to kids and, for the first time ever, adults.
During the challenge, there are milestones and awards along the way.
Some of the prizes include free books and coupons for the kids, while adults may win $100 gift cards for places such as Wendy's, Taco Bell, or other local businesses.
To be eligible to participate you must live in or attend school in the Elkhart Public Library district.
"I just think it's a great thing. I think it's wonderful to encourage everybody to pick up a book and actually read and turn some pages, rather than have our faces buried in our phones and looking at things. I just think it's really great to get people involved," Shannan Crabtree, Elkhart Chamber Ambassador.
The challenge works by recording your reading activity in the library's Beanstack app or on paper game boards.
As you read, entries will be put into the prize drawings. Participants will also collect tickets at key marks, including 21 days, 42 days, and 60 days.
Organizers say you don't need to read that many days in a row, it's just the total amount of days spent reading.
After 21 and 42 days of reading, kids will receive free books, choosing from over 30 titles.
You can learn more about the challenge online.