Read for 15 Challenge: January 26 & 27!

🎉 Hey there, bookworms and page-turners! Grab your reading glasses, because Red Deer is about to embark upon the ultimate literary quest – the Read for 15 Challenge! Set your alarms, circle your calendars, and prepare to make history from Friday, January 26 to Saturday, January 27, 2024, as we aim to claim the title of Canada's 'Most Readerly' community. 

What's the lowdown on this literary showdown, you wonder? The Read for 15 Challenge is our way of flexing those reading muscles and celebrating Family Literacy Day, which is held annually on January 27. Because let's face it, nothing says family bonding like getting lost in a good book together.

"But how does it work?" you wonder. Fear not, my eager reader, it's as easy as pie. All you have to do is read anything – be it a gripping novel, a comic book, or even the back of a cereal box (we won't judge). Just dedicate a solid 15 minutes to reading, and voila, you've participated in the Read for 15 Challenge! And yes, audiobooks count as reading (now and always!). This is not up for debate 😉.

Now, why should you bother, you ask? Well, not only do you get the warm fuzzy feeling of contributing to Red Deer's 'most readerly' aspirations, but there's a shiny trophy up for grabs! Imagine that trophy sitting proudly in our library, shouting to the world, "We read, and we read well!" Bragging rights included – who wouldn't want to be a part of that legacy?

Ready to make your reading count? Here's the game plan. Let us know how many people in your family, class, school, business, or other group (to clarify, individual readers, please report too!) read for 15 minutes on January 26 or 27 in one of the following ways:

1. Hit up rdpl.org and fill out the web form on the homepage (this will only be available Jan. 26 and 27, so you won't see it before then!). 
2. If you're feeling old-school, swing by any RDPL branch and tell us in person. We're all ears, and we might throw in a high-five for good measure.
3. Feel like chatting? Give us a ring at 403-346-4576 and declare your reading triumph over the phone. 

But wait, there's more! For those who want to take their reading game to the next level, head over to the Timberlands Branch on January 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., opens a new window and you can read to Katja, the library's Facility Dog! It's a furry twist to your regular reading routine, and who can resist the charm of a four-legged literary companion?!

And mark your calendars for the grand finale – the Family Literacy Day Party on January 27, opens a new window. Katja will at this event too, and you can join in the festivities as we celebrate the magic of reading as one big, book-loving community!

So, Red Deer, gear up for a reading extravaganza like never before! Let's show the world that when it comes to reading, we're not just in it for the books – we're in it to win it! 📚✨