“RCPL's Summer Reading Program During COVID-19”

In this poster session, I want to highlight the creative ways that Rapid City Public Library (RCPL) has made the 2020 Summer Reading Program successful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of in-person events, RCPL has transitioned to virtual events and story time videos posted online twice a week. Librarians create weekly take-and-make crafts for children and teens, and twice-monthly adult DIY crafts with instructional videos made by a librarian. RCPL is also providing summer reading materials at the library, the library’s drive-thru window, and online through the library’s website so anyone can access them from home. The Summer Reading Program promotes literacy for all ages, and creating easier access to events and materials during the pandemic has helped to promote engagement with the program.