Idyllwild Library is kicking off its annual Summer Reading program, a six-week reading party, from Monday, June 13, to Friday, July 22. An Idyll-Beast sighting is expected during the inaugural morning children’s session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first day. The theme this year is “Reading beyond the beaten path,” encouraging people (and other literate beasts) to read outside.

Librarian Shannon Ng said, “We do several events. The kickoff on the 13th will be divided into two parts: in the morning, 11-1, for children, featuring face painting, balloon twisting, games and a visit from Tony the Pony, a real miniature horse for petting (not riding). The afternoon, 1-2, is geared toward adults, with bingo in the community room. This is all to get people to sign up for Summer Reading.

“There will be prizes: Anyone who signs up that day will be entered into a random drawing. Kids may win a tent package, including chair and umbrella. Teens will vie for a spike ball set, and adults may win a zero gravity chair. Everyone who registers gets a bag of fun things.”

Events will occur throughout the summer, ending with an awards ceremony featuring Sandii Castleberry Monday, July 25. Prizes for best reader and most books read will be awarded. A point system online allows you to register every time you read a book or participate in an event. Everybody who reads five books gets a prize, a bag full of camping goodies. And badges will be awarded for reading under the categories Preschool, Kids 5-12, Teens and Adults. One big branch prize, a Lake Hemet Annual Pass, also will be awarded. The event is county wide those these prizes are specific to Idyllwild.

The schedule will include five or six online virtual events for all throughout the county. These include two story times at the Nature Center, one in July, one in June. Children’s story times at the library are once a week on Wednesdays.

Friends of the Idyllwild Library supports the program. Ng said, “We accept donations for prizes. Last year five different businesses did; that was really nice.”

The program’s mission is to combat “summer slide” where children begin to lose reading skills.

One of the first speakers will be Jim Dover talking about rock climbing in Idyllwild. His presentation is targeted at adults, but everyone is welcome at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 29.

Photographer Peter Szabadi will be mounting an exhibition with the theme of “Our Town: Music, Dance and Art” with a reception Saturday June 25.

County-wide events are on the rivlib.net website. Click the “events” link at the top of the page to connect to individual library schedules. The systemwide events are all on weekends, Friday to Sunday and are open to all virtual visitors.