The Charleston Carnegie Public Library is offering community members a chance to earn free gifts through their summer’s adult reading program, named “Reading is Soooo Delicious!”

The program, which officially started on June 4, challenges residents of the Charleston community to complete a variety of weekly tasks.

For eight weeks, participants will submit any of the tasks from the library’s website and will be rewarded with a prize once each task is completed.

According to the library’s website, participants do not need a library card to be involved in the program this year.

Jeanna Hamilton, director of the Charleston Public Library, said last week’s participants received book marks and coupons for local businesses, including What’s Cookin’ and Pop’s BBQ.

Hamilton said the library has hosted the program since last year.

This year’s theme integrates food and dining with reading, asking participants to read a “cooking mystery,” watch a movie with a food theme, or read about cooking recipes.

The program’s coordinators also challenges individuals with tasks not directly related to reading.

Participants must “do one random act of kindness, such as: treat someone to lunch” for the “Food for the Soul” task.

For the “Food for the Body” task, participants are asked to go to a restaurant and try something new off the menu.

Contestants will receive a small reward for each of the eight weeks they participate in, as well as a ticket for one of the library’s multiple grand prize drawings.

Hamilton said grand prizes this year include tickets to the Missouri Botanical Garden, as well as a Nook eReader and library tote bags.

“There are multiple prizes this year, and people are allowed to choose which drawing they’d like to be in,” Hamilton said. All prizes can be claimed at the Service Desk on the library’s main floor, and there is no registration required to enter the program.

“Last year there were about 70 people in the program, and it was only the first year,” Hamilton said. “Hopefully this year we’ll have even more.”

Hamilton also said the program involves a variety of age groups.

She said that many college students participate, as well as senior citizens living in the Charleston area.

The library will also host a variety of events involving food.

According to the library’s website, they will hold a “Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!” event on 6:30 p.m. June 20.

The event description tells participants to “be ready to have your knowledge of chocolate tested.”

The library will also host a “Grow Your Own Herbs” master gardener program on July 10, as well as multiple movie nights throughout June and July.

The Health Education Resource Center Snack Program on July 24 will teach Charleston residents about healthy snacking and how to make their own snacks.

For more information, visit the library’s website at www.charlestonlibrary.org.

John Downen can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].