Nashville, TN

I don’t care what the calendar says, in my mind, Memorial Day kicks off summer. And there’s one big reason for that–the outdoor pools officially open.

One of my favorite summer time activities is a leisurely afternoon by the pool, reading a good book. I’ve already got a few books picked out for my summer reading list and I’m sure the list will only grow exponentially as we get into the summer.

Growing up, I took part in the library summer reading programs every summer I could. I kept track of what I’d read and you could win prizes for reading a certain number of books.

That tradition continues this summer with the Nashville Library’s Summer Reading program. The program runs June 2 - July 14 and is open to children, teens and adults.

If you’re an adult and read five books from June 2 to July 14, you’ll get a free mug and entered into a contest for more prizes, including a cast-iron skillet. The library is also offering several special programs during the summer and you can substitute program attendance for a book if you desire.

Sign-ups are taking place at your local branch of the library.

I’ll be signing up. Will you?