If you go
Summer reading program kickoff party› When: 2 to 4 p.m. June 2› Where: Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad St.› Who: Ages 0 - 18Books with Berke, citywide book club› When: 6 p.m. June 20› Where: Chattanooga Public Library› Why: To discuss the book, “Steal Like An Artist : 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative.”› More information: https://connect.chattanooga.gov/bookswithberke/
Summer reading isn't just about reading anymore.
Chattanooga Public Library and Chattanooga city officials want a summertime city of readers, but they are pushing other ways to tap into imagination, from cooking to sightseeing.
"In every neighborhood all across our city, we see tremendous creators, and we want to recognize them and get them more involved in our city," said Mayor Andy Berke at the launch of his Books With Berke book club earlier this month at the downtown library.
Meredith Levine, the library's head of youth services, explained what the library has in store for youth.
Creative Discovery Museum has opened "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit" for the summer. The children's museum is among the places that kids can show their Make Play Learn passports to earn summer reading points with the Chattanooga Public Library. (Photo from Children's Museum of Pittsburgh)With Hamilton County schools out for the summer, the library's Make Play Learn program is set to start Saturday for youths of all ages, newborn to 18.
"We do a big kickoff June 2 so that all (library) branches from 2 to 4 p.m. will have a big celebration, getting people signed up, and then July 28 we'll have another celebration," Levine said. "And every kid who comes and participated in the program gets a free book."
The program will accept registration through July 18 before the culmination events on July 28.
Youth who sign up get a passport filled with 26 activities that they may do this summer to earn points. And for every 10 points, they get a raffle ticket to be entered into a drawing for one of five grand prizes.
Activities listed on the passport include cooking, doing a science experiment, reading, volunteering and signing up for a library card. Children also may earn stamps on their passport for visiting places around the city.
For example, if kids go to the Hunter Museum of American Art or the Creative Discovery Museum or High Point Gym, they can show their passports and get a stamp and a point for going to one of the library's supporting agencies, said Levine.
All library branches will host the program. And students may sign up at youth and family development centers too.
"We thought it would be fun," said Levine.
The library passport looks just like a regular passport. Students can put their names in it. And just like you get stamps on a passport for traveling around the world, the library gives stamps and points for traveling around Chattanooga, Levine explained.
Summer youth programming also includes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programming for teens and programs to help toddlers prepare for kindergarten.
But the focus isn't only on youth.
Berke wants adults to participate in Books With Berke.
"As we thought about being a city of creators, we wanted to identify different ways that we could grow that capacity within ourselves," said Berke. "I want to do that in myself. I think other Chattanoogans want the same thing. A big piece of that is in reading."
The first book is "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative" by Austin Kleon. The 2012 New York Times best-seller emphasizes that creativity is everywhere and is for everyone. A Books With Berke discussion about the book is scheduled at 6 p.m. June 20 at the downtown library.
"It's fun. It's short. It can be read in one sitting," said Corinne Hill, the library's executive director.
The second title is "Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors" by Marian Wright Edelman. It addresses how important it is for all of us to have a support network.
And the last book is "Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration" by Ed Catmull, the computer scientist who founded Pixar Animation Studios.
"I want to read the book and then talk about it with other people. That's part of the fun," said Berke. "I can learn so much more than when I just read it by myself."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.