On your marks, get set, READ! The annual Summer Reading Program, one of the most popular events held during the year throughout the Fresno County Public Library System, will begin June 14th at each of the 31 branches throughout the county. With more than 11,000 participants taking part in the program that runs through July 18, library staffs are anticipating another surge in eager children and teens to the myriad of free programs centered around the program. "Every year the State comes up with the theme," said Roberta Barton, Public Information Officer for the Fresno County Public Library. "And every year, the rooms are always full and at capacity. It's definitely one of the most popular programs we have." This year's theme is "Make Waves at Your Library - READ". As an incentive to read, participants will be eligible to receive rewards for their efforts. To participate, go to your local branch library and pick up a reading log to chart your progress, then start reading to earn prizes such as coupons for free food and various other promotional goodies. "It's a program targeted for those in preschool through high school," Barton said. "and every year we see an increasing number of participants." During the 2008-09 program, 11,524 readers took part in the program throughout the county, a number that is expected to swell as parents look for less expensive activities to involve their children in. Money won't be an issue since it is free to participate in. Statewide, nearly 1 million participants and more than 18,000 programs were featured during the Summer Reading Program in 2009. In addition, each branch will host events that support the program, with each location's offering different depending on what the branch has decided to feature. "We could have magicians to puppet shows to arts and crafts, then there's musical performers and even animal visits," said Barton. Each branch schedules its own events, with all of them happening at the branches." For more information about this year's Summer Reading Program, you can contact your local branch, or log onto the Fresno County Library events page at http://califa.evanced.info/fresno/lib/eventcalendar.asp, check the boxes for Summer Reading Program under the event types in the left column and check for the events you're interested in knowing about at your branch.