Groton Public Library is offering some extra incentives this summer to keep kids, teens and adults reading.

The library solicited donations from area businesses and collected nine prizes it placed in a family raffle, open to anyone who participates in library programs.

“This is the first time we’ve done this because we had someone on staff who took the initiative and solicited some donations,” said Judy Kelmelis, reference librarian. “But you have to read. We want you to read. We love reading. We love books.”

The library’s theme this year is nutrition and exercise, so many programs for children, teens and adults focus on this theme. Programs kick off with a “field day” from 10 a.m. until noon on June 25 outside the library, with traditional field day games open to all ages. No registration is required.

Other programs include “Mystic Schooner Mondays,” which offer relays, drills and field games with players from the Mystic Schooners, a collegiate summer baseball team; “A Place for Every Body,” a special exhibit from June 28-July 19, with hands-on opportunities for children and adults to learn about nutrition and fitness; and “Wellness Wednesdays,” which features activities like “Yoga for Kids” at 10 a.m. on July 6.

“Our goal is to get kids reading for the summer to stop the summer slide, so we put together all kinds of programs to keep their interest,” Kelmelis said.

Children earn a “book buck” for every 100 pages they read, and may spend it in the library store, which stocks prizes like bouncing balls, rubber ducks, books and Hacky Sacks. The “book buck” program started last summer.

For teenagers, the library has seven bags to raffle off, filled with items based on themes like sports, arts and crafts and the beach. Teens earn one raffle ticket for every 100 pages read.

Children and teens may also use their bucks or raffle tickets on the family raffle.

Family raffle prizes include eight weeks of free swim lessons, two admission tickets to Mystic Seaport, a free riding lesson from the Mystic Valley Hunt Club and a free trapeze lesson from Fearless Flyers. Adults can earn their own family raffle ticket by logging in book titles they read at the library. Adults who read may also enter to win a bag of books.

On Fridays, Groton Public Library will host “Family Fun Fridays,” offering an activity everyone can enjoy. The first such event, the 22nd Annual Sidewalk Chalk Event, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 1, and gives each participant one hour to decorate one square of the library’s sidewalk.

Summer programs run from June 25 until August 12 and “we have programs pretty much every day in between,” Kelmelis said.

For more information about Groton Public Library’s summer programs, go to grotonpl.org or contact the library at (860) 441-6750.

In Groton City, The Bill Memorial Library kicked off its summer reading program on June 21, with separate programs for preschoolers, children in grades K-5 and teens. For more information, go to the library website or call (860) 445-0392.

The Mystic & Noank Library is also offering a summer reading program from June 20 until July 30. For more information, visit the library website or call Roberta Donahue at (860) 536-7721.

d.straszheim@theday.com