One way to relax this summer is to escape into a cool library and read a book.

The Belhaven Library offers that opportunity this year with its upcoming summer reading programs.

Joan Bogun is involved with the programs and offered some of the details. Registration for children and adults is under way.

“The camps will take place during the month of July. Children may read from now until mid-August.  The adult program extends through July 21. I do hope to see many of the children, teens, and adults participate in the summer reading program this year. It is going to be a fun year. We will travel all over the world,” she said.

The program requires young children to complete 420 minutes of reading. Older children need to acquire 840 minutes to complete the program. All children accomplishing certain levels of reading will receive rewards. Children who complete the program will have their names placed in a grand-prize drawing.

Registration for the adult program begins June 16 and runs through July 21. Discussions on book titles such as “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Seven Years in Tibet” will be held Thursdays of each week.

Bogun discussed how many people she expects to attend the programs.

“People attending these programs always vary. Usually for the kick-off event and the closing event, we average around 130 people.

For the programs, depending on the VBS competition, we vary from 60 to 125,” she said. “The camps this year may make some difference in attendance. It is hard to say at this point. The children are registering, but when school breaks for the summer there will be more registering.”

The kick-off event for the program takes place at 10 a.m. June 23 at the Belhaven Civic Center. Donna Washington, storyteller and author, will present the program. At the end of the summer reading program, N.C. Aquarium employees will give a presentation.