TISDALE — The Tisdale Community Library has taken to challenging adults in the community through the adult summer reading challenge.
Unlike what the name suggests, the summer reading challenge is a booklet filled with various challenge activities, not just reading.
Some challenges include hikes, seeing a movie in theatres and posting a rave in the Tisdale Rant and Rave Facebook group.
Others are more reading-related, challenges to the individual to read books from specific and various genres.
Each challenge completed gives the contestant a sticker in the booklet and a ballot that goes into a draw for a barbecue-themed gift basket.
According to Isabel Hankins-Wilk, branch librarian, the challenge was created to address a lack of programs at the library aimed specifically at adults.
Alicia Summach is one adult who took on the Tisdale Community Library’s challenge. She said it has caused her to bump into new hobbies.
“It did encourage me to do some geocaching, which I guess is my new hobby, and to do a rave. I never would have done a rave on the Rant and Rave page otherwise,” Summach said.
One of the activities she did in the challenge was to try a new recipe.
“It was kettle corn, which is really cool, and now my kids ask for it all the time. I went to a lake I never been to, I went to the Save Max store which I wouldn’t have went to that soon.”
Her favourite challenge so far was to be at a campfire.
“We had about three or four of us, so it was a lot of people.”
Crystal Pelletier is another library patron who took the challenge and attended the campfire with Summach. Both women had finished 31 challenges by the time of their interviews with the East Central Recorder.
“I appreciate achieving a tangible goal,” Pelletier said. “It’s always hard to find time to read because life is so busy, so I guess the unknown benefit would be that I’m making more time for reading.”
Pelletier said she always appreciates the programs the library offers and this is one of the larger programs for adults.
“So I decided to take up the challenge and show my children and participate with them as well,” she said. “The library has a children’s program, so as they’re working on the children’s reading program, I’m working on the adult reading program. So as a family we’re all pursuing reading goals for the summer.”
The challenge finishes on Aug. 23, and anyone who is interested is encouraged to contact the library and participate.
reporter@tisdalerecorder.ca
