With summer around the corner, the kids are looking forward to free time, while you’re looking for ways to keep them busy, engaged, and maybe even learning something along the way. Summer reading programs are specifically designed to meet all those aspirations, they’re free, and they’re as close as your own community library.

Studies prove that kids who read for fun during the summer go back to school in the fall with stronger reading skills than their non-reading counterparts.

Furthermore, free library programs are a great way to spend time with the family, and get a new infusion of books, music, DVDs and magazines to interest everyone in the household.

Don’t spend your summer: invest it…at the library

Whatever your kids love, they can learn more about it at the library, and that’s the fun of summer reading. Hiking, sailing, biking, skateboarding and more, libraries have books, magazines, videos and music to rock their world. As kids explore the library, they learn about more than just their favorite topics. They’ll also develop research skills to broaden their knowledge and keep them on track for school.

After work, after day care or day camp, or after dinner, walk, drive or take a bus to the library with the whole family. You and your kids will have a surprisingly good time and excellent adventures, for free, when you make a splash at your library.

The King County Library System’s summer reading program starts June 15 with a full schedule of events to keep your kids active and interested in reading all summer long. Once the kids sign up and start reading for fun, the summer might not seem so long.