Check it out at the Blount County Public Library

Summer is the time for beach reads. What constitutes a “beach read”? Anything that you read while you happen to be at the beach? Or light, readable novels that are perfect to take on vacation?

Every book that Blount County Public Library (BCPL) puts on the shelves goes through Cataloging Specialist Lisa McDaniel-Tipton. Her precise process includes entering the title, author, subjects, and summary in the library system. She handles hundreds of books a week! According to Lisa, a beach read is light reading, nothing too serious. “It should be read on vacation while enjoying yourself. It’s even better if the book takes place on or around the beach.” Well-known author Elin Hilderbrand provides this with her books set in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The library has over 30 of her titles.

Reference Librarian A.J. Rowe regularly vacations at the beach and likes his beach reads “to read like a Saturday afternoon B movie. You don’t want to think too hard.”

A.J. knows what he enjoys reading while at the beach: “Giant monster. Lots of explosions. Witty one-liners. The good guy always wins.”

Whether you’re at the beach or staying home, what better way to enjoy your summer than a visit to BCPL? Adventure Begins at Your Library Summer Reading Programs are in full swing.

With books, you can visit any place on earth, or far away galaxies. Float down the Mississippi on a raft, explore your wild side on the Riviera, or relive history in the Roman Empire. Imagine the future and its wonders, or consult a reference book and prepare to invent those wonders yourself.

BCPL has several ways to help you read this summer. Children can track the amount of time they read to build their own adventuring kit.

Families can pick up a shared passport and visit different spots throughout the county for a chance to win a family grand prize. Teens can fill out book review forms to win prizes and be entered into a grand prize raffle.

And why should the kids have all the fun? Travel vicariously with the Read Around the World Passport. Read a book about or set in every continent, and you might win a grand prize! Your friendly librarians can help you choose titles if you want.

Or, if you’d rather your reading be less structured, Adventure (still) Begins at Your Library.

Every three books, e-books, audiobooks or magazines you read enters you for a chance to win a $25 gift card.

All of the BCPL staff invite you to come in and read!