The Spoon River College Literacy Program is pleased to announce that the 34th Annual Family Reading Night will be celebrated on Thursday, November 20. This year’s theme is “Read. Renew. Repeat.”
“Reading as a family is so important, said Melissa Koke, Adult Education advisor. “It promotes healthy brain development in children, and can improve their language and listening skills. It can also help create a strong parent-child bond and instill a lifelong love of reading.”
Held in partnership with libraries and schools throughout the SRC district, the goal is to encourage families to take time to read together as a family. With help from a grant from Dollar General, Spoon River College will provide 25 free books to each library to hand out to attendees.
“Our libraries do a wonderful job of finding fun and supportive ways to support Family Reading Night, and we hope families will take advantage of these free events. Taking time to read together is a great habit to cultivate,” Koke said.
The activities, locations and times of each library’s events are listed below.
Astoria Public Library will have a Stuffed animal sleepover on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Families are invited to bring their stuffed animals with them for story time, with refreshments and a take home craft. The stuffed animals are then welcome to spend the night at the library with the library mascot, Foxy Loxy. When the animals are picked up (either the next day during regular hours or during Astoria’s Carriage Night), they will also have a book with pictures of the activities the animals had during the night.
Canton Parlin-Ingersoll Library will host a “Game Night 2025” themed event on Nov. 20, from 6-7:30. Participants will read a story, play games, and have snacks.
Cuba Spoon River Library will have guest readers at their family reading night on Nov. 20, from 5-6, and will have treats and giveaways.
Farmington Area Public Library’s Family Reading Night will be held at Farmington Central Elementary on Nov. 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. Children’s Coordinator Christine Casteel will have a table set-up with paper games and book giveaways, and will also be reading to children. The school will be offering additional activities as well.
Havana Public Library District will hold their event at New Central School on November 20, from 6:40-7:45. There will be guest readers, free books, pumpkin pancakes, and prizes. Attendees are encouraged to wear their pajamas!
Lewistown Carnegie Public Library District will be holding a “make and take’ craft day,” and will also have snacks and a book give away while supplies last.
Rushville Public Library will celebrate Family Reading Night on Wednesday, November 19, from 3-6:00 pm. A special guest, Curious George, will visit and join in the reading at 4 p.m. Every child will get to pick out a free book to take home with them.
For more information about the Literacy Project at Spoon River College, call Melissa Koke at 309-649-6310.
Sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian and the Illinois State Library’s Illinois Center for the Book, Family Reading Night is an annual statewide event held the third Thursday in November to encourage families to spend quality time reading together.