Drive to Read at the Smithtown Library

Read your way to Miami by participating in Drive to Read @ your library, a national contest for teens between 12-18 years of age, sponsored by HERSHEY’S Milk, the American Library Association and the Smithtown Library. One lucky winning team, along with a parent or guardian, and the sponsoring librarian and guest, will speed down to Miami for a weekend at the beach and a chance to meet Ward Burton.

All you need to do is visit the Smithtown Library at the Main Library or Nesconset Branch, choose a book from the 2002 Best Books for Young Adults, and create an entry about your favorite literary hero. You can work alone or in teams up to four and are encouraged to be creative in your submission. You can write an essay, monologue or poem; paint a mural; or produce a video for example – it is entirely up to you. Once your entry is finished, you have to check-in with a librarian to ask him or her to sponsor your contest entry. Sponsor forms are available at the Smithtown Library’s Main Building, Commack, Kings Park and Nesconset Branches, as well as the Smithtown Library’s website, www.smithlib.org, and the HERSHEY’S Milk Web site at www.hersheysmilk.com.

"Drive to read at your library is a great way to celebrate teen reading and the role of today’s libraries in fueling teens’ imaginations," said Melanie Goldman, Young Adult Librarian at The Smithtown Library. "We encourage teens to check out all of the incredible programs we have for them, including a young adult book club, teen game days, films and other exciting events."

The Young Adult Literary Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, developed the 2002 Best Books for Young Adults list. The complete list, as well as the official rules of the contest are available on the HERSHEY’S Milk Web site. All contest entries must be postmarked by March 10, 2003.

Drive to Read @ your library is part of the Campaign for America’s Libraries, a five year public awareness campaign sponsored by the American Library Association to inform the public that today’s libraries are dynamic, modern community centers for learning, information and entertainment. For more information, visit the campaign’s Web site at www.atyourlibrary.org.

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