Noah Johnson Daily Press Escanaba Adult Services Librarian Monique Ciofu shows where participants can submit their entries for the Winter Reading Challenge.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba Library is in the middle of a reading challenge, and it’s not too late to get involved.

The library is currently hosting a Winter Reading Challenge, an event put on by the library to encourage reading.

The challenge began on Jan. 13 and will conclude on March 8.

Participants are tasked with reading one book each week for eight weeks.

“We were just doing looking for something fun for people to do during the bleak winter months when there’s not much going on, and most people are sitting at home and reading anyway to get out of the cold. So, that’s what it’s based on,” said Escanaba Adult Services Librarian Monique Ciofu.

Each week, readers are tasked to get out of their comfort zone and read titles that they may not ever read unprompted. The topics are general enough so readers can find a variety of options.

The categories include non-fiction, local author, friend recommended, Michigan notable book, young adult fiction, American hero/biography, cookbook, U.S. history and bonus entries such as periodical book and a movie book title.

“The challenge is simple: eight titles, eight weeks, and eight weekly winners. If a patron completes the book log each week, they are eligible to enter the weekly drawing for a $25 gift card. If they complete all eight weekly challenges, they are eligible for the big prize, a $100 gift card,” Ciofu said.

Librarians are available and ready to help patrons find titles that not only fit within the categories but also make for an enjoyable read. Ciofu also provides a number of pre-selected titles for each category every week at the front desk for readers to peruse.

Those interested have options for completing the challenge, as there are various formats to complete the challenge.

“They can do any format they want. They can do a book on CD; they can do a downloadable e-book or audiobook. It doesn’t matter what format it’s in. It’s acceptable,” Ciofu said.

If participants join in late, they are still eligible for the $100 prize as long as they complete the previous weeks and document it.

Entries can be submitted at the library at the front desk, where submissions are put in a box later drawn to determine the winner of the challenge.

The gift cards are Visa cards so that winners can use them anywhere. The challenge welcomes teenagers and adults to participate, but Ciofu and company aren’t checking IDs, so younger participants, such as pre-teens, can also participate.

She added that the challenge is simply encouraging the public to read. Entries submitted are assumed to be truthful, and the book was read.

“We’re very flexible on things. We want people to enjoy it and not make it a rigid, un-fun thing. We just try to encourage people more than dictate to them,” Ciofu explained.

The library got a great response to the challenge, as over 20 individuals participate each week.

Ciofu extended her gratitude to the community for participating and encouraged those interested to join in on the fun.

“We hope to do this again next year, but we’re not done yet, there’s still time to participate,” she said.

The program was made possible with the support of the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library.

The digital library for digital titles can be found at https://gldl.overdrive.com.

For more information about the Winter Reading Challenge, call (906) 789-7323 or visit its website at escanabalibray.org.