The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library in Guthrie Center is getting ready to blast off into a “Universe of Stories” for their summer reading programs.

The library will be hosting programs for preschool and elementary-aged kids throughout June and early July. The elementary kids will be asked to keep a log of the minutes they read from June 1st to July 1st. For each half hour they read they’ll receive a star to put on their craft display moon, and at the end of the program the person with the most minutes will have first pick at a special “prize room” with the rest of the readers to follow.

Whether kids are reading to themselves or adults are reading to them, Library Director Pat Sleister stresses the importance of reading during the summer, “I don’t care whether it’s a book or a magazine or a newspaper just so you spend those minutes reading. It’s just a good activity to keep those skills from school going for the summer.”

The summer reading programs are free and kids can register at the library. The first session will start with a public event hosting entertainers, The Hanson Family, on June 6th and the first preschool session on June 7th.