Reading District Libraries Launch Fourth Annual ‘Pages for Pets’ Reading Challenge

Reading District Libraries in Berks County are running the fourth annual Pages for Pets reading challenge, this year partnering with Humane Pennsylvania. The community-wide goal is to log a total of 500,000 minutes of reading between participants; if that target is met, one shelter animal at Humane Pennsylvania will have its adoption fee fully sponsored. The reading window runs from Monday, June 22 through Friday, July 24. People of all ages can take part by recording minutes spent with any reading format they enjoy — print books, eBooks, audiobooks, comics and graphic novels, newspapers, magazines, and more. Every minute submitted counts toward the community goal and toward sponsoring the adoption. Humane Pennsylvania will announce which pet’s adoption was covered by the challenge on Monday, Aug. 3. Marissa Guidara, the library system’s Youth Services District Consultant, says Pages for Pets gives young readers a chance to contribute to a local cause and learn how small, shared efforts add up — while also encouraging reading over the summer. Pages for Pets began in 2023 and has already involved thousands of local readers. Across the program’s runs, participants have recorded more than 1.7 million minutes. Past animals whose adoptions were sponsored through the challenge include Agent 007, a senior black cat; Egypt, a one-year-old pit bull; and Weebles, a two-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier — all of whom went on to find permanent homes. In addition to this challenge, all 25 Reading District Library locations are offering free summer learning activities, events, and reading programs for children, teens, and adults. Readers who want to join or follow the community’s progress can find details and log their minutes at readingpubliclibrary.org/pages-for-pets.