To celebrate students’ hard work with independent reading, librarians across the Northboro-Southboro district have planned the NSBoro Reads Community Celebration on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Algonquin library. 

This year, for the first time ever, the nine librarians of the district were inspired to create a reading challenge by the Massachusetts Center for the Book, an organization that promotes cultural programming for books and reading in state libraries. Each month there is a different reading theme challenge in which students compete to win gift cards from various places. 

“We decided we would like to create a community event to rally around reading,” Algonquin librarian Kimberly Honey said.

During this event, there will be numerous activities to keep people engaged and occupied. These activities consist of a photo booth, mystery readers, raffles, crafts such as bookmark making and games such as bingo for books.

“Thanks to the generous donations from the parent organizations, we also have raffle baskets,” Honey said. 

The librarians have put together a number of raffle baskets with themes such as sports, nonfiction and teen baskets as well as many others. On the night of the event people will receive three tickets, free of charge, when entering to use towards a raffle basket of their choice. 

“We have a handful of high school volunteers who have come forth as well as adult volunteers,” Honey said.

Unlike elementary schoolers and sometimes middle schoolers, high school students are often required to read for their English classes. According to Honey, this takes away from them wanting to read during free time instead of scrolling through their phone or sleeping.

“I didn’t have great anticipation for high school students to participate, due to most of their reading being tied up with required reading,” Honey said. 

In Honey’s eyes not many people at Algonquin know about the reading challenge. Honey tries to make people aware by posting in the week ahead, on Instagram and in Canvas, as well as having QR codes hung up in the library. The event requires an RSVP.

“I would like to get the information out in a more effective way so more people are aware of the reading challenge,” Honey said.