The Pearl River County Library System’s summer reading program will be a little different from last year’s program due to COVID-19. This summer, the program will be brought to the library’s patrons virtually through videos shared online and crafts which can be picked up at the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library or the Poplarville Public Library.

Megan Miller, children’s librarian at the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library, said the first “story bags” containing the weekly crafts were given out this week, but it is not too late to register. Registration will be open through the end of the program on July 17. According to the website, craft bags will be offered on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to those who have registered.

New videos will be posted on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s.

Miller, who has been in charge of the summer reading program at the Crosby Memorial Library for three years and assisting with the program since 2016, said this year’s summer reading program has been a learning curve due to COVID-19.

“We are hoping to still have fun and encourage children to read,” Miller said. “That’s the whole purpose.”

The videos of the stories and instructions for the crafts will be shared on Facebook and the library’s new children’s website for those who don’t have a Facebook account. They will be shared at 2 p.m. on each program day.

Miller said a new program day called Let’s Move Monday has been added to this year’s program. On Mondays the library will be announcing new activities and challenges to be enjoyed as a family. The first Let’s Move Monday activity challenged families to build an outdoor tic-tac-toe board together.

“It’s always a little challenge or activity or craft,” Miller said.

She said the library will continue to reward children for completing their reading logs through the program, but families should keep up with the reading log for the duration of the program at home to be exchanged for a prize and a reading certificate at the end of the program.

“We want to keep kids reading even when they’re not in school and give them something to look forward to,” Miller said.

The inside of the Crosby Memorial Library is currently closed to the public, but the library remains open for curbside pickup. Patrons can request curbside pickup from the Crosby Memorial Library by calling (601)-798-5081. The library’s current hours are 9 a.m. through 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. through 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

To register for the summer reading program, visit https://forms.gle/VoQBfpxxcRW55nDx7.