Your four-week winter reading kit.

1 / Organizer plan

Winter reading launch checklist.

Example: 300 minutes over 4 weeks; optional cumulative recognition at 75, 150, 225, 300 minutes.

• Before launch: confirm dates, audience, reading rules, goal, and any prizes.
• Prepare: adapt the participant instructions and messages; print logs and set the submission method.
• Rehearse: record reading, check a milestone, and handle a sample prize pickup with staff.
• Week 1: invite readers and help families choose paper or digital participation.
• Week 2: check submitted logs and recorded entries; follow up on joining or logging questions.
• Week 3: review participation and reward records; help staff resolve missing or duplicate submissions.
• Week 4: share the final reading date and submission deadline; explain any pickup arrangements.
• Close out: finish entry checks, record prize pickups, prepare totals, and thank readers.

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.

2 / Reading log

My four weeks of reading.

Reader name or library reference: _________________________________
Library / program: ______________________________________________
Reading dates: ____________________ through ____________________

Example goal: 300 minutes. Read at your own pace. No daily streak or weekly minimum. Use each row for a reading date; titles are optional.

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.

3 / Participant instructions

Participant instructions

For staff: replace bracketed details and check the goal and reading rules before sharing. Remove any options you do not offer.

Paper-first version

Join [LIBRARY NAME] for four weeks of winter reading.

Who can join: [AUDIENCE].
Reading dates: [START DATE] through [END DATE].
Goal: 300 minutes across the whole program.
What counts: independent reading, shared read-alouds, listening to audiobooks, and rereading.

Write the date and minutes on your log. Book titles are optional. Read at your own pace; there is no daily streak or weekly minimum.

Submit your log once at [SUBMISSION PLACE] by [SUBMISSION DEADLINE]. Do not also enter those same minutes digitally. Ask staff how to handle corrections or additional reading after submission.

Rewards: [REWARD DETAILS].
Questions or help: [CONTACT].

Optional Reader Zone version

Join [LIBRARY NAME] for four weeks of winter reading.

Who can join: [AUDIENCE].
Reading dates: [START DATE] through [END DATE].
Goal: 300 minutes across the whole program. Read at your own pace; no daily streak or weekly minimum is required.
What counts: independent reading, shared read-alouds, listening to audiobooks, and rereading.

Use the Reader Zone app or Desktop Reader Portal. Create or sign in to your Reader account and join with [PROGRAM CODE]. Select [GROUP NAME] as directed by library staff. A family account can manage multiple Readers. Ask [CONTACT] for help joining.

Record the date and minutes for the correct Reader. Book titles are optional. Enter eligible reading by [ENTRY DEADLINE], for the program dates above.

Prefer paper? Get a log at [PICKUP PLACE] and submit it at [SUBMISSION PLACE] by [SUBMISSION DEADLINE]. Staff can manage participation for you. Do not submit the same minutes both on paper and online.

Rewards: [REWARD DETAILS].
Questions or help: [CONTACT].

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.

4 / Messages to adapt

Announcements and reminders

Replace bracketed details, then send through your library’s usual channels.

Launch announcement

A little reading can be part of your winter. Join [LIBRARY NAME]’s four-week reading program for [AUDIENCE], from [START DATE] through [END DATE]. Our goal is 300 minutes across the program, at your own pace. [WHAT COUNTS AS READING]. Pick up a paper log at [LOCATION], or join using [DIGITAL JOINING DETAILS, IF OFFERED]. [OPTIONAL RECOGNITION RULES]. Questions? Contact [CONTACT].

Week 2 reminder

How is your winter reading going? [LIBRARY NAME]’s program continues through [END DATE]. Keep recording your minutes toward our 300-minute program goal. Reading at different times each week is welcome. Need a book suggestion, paper log, or help joining? [HELP DETAILS / CONTACT].

Week 3 reminder

There is still time to enjoy a story with [LIBRARY NAME]. Add the reading you have completed during [PROGRAM DATES] using [LOGGING OR SUBMISSION DETAILS]. Please record each reading session once. Our program goal is 300 minutes. [OPTIONAL RECOGNITION DETAILS]. We can help with missing entries or logging questions: [CONTACT].

Week 4 reminder

Our winter reading program’s final reading date is [END DATE]. Submit your paper log once at [SUBMISSION PLACE] by [SUBMISSION DEADLINE], or finish eligible digital entries by [ENTRY DEADLINE]. [PICKUP ARRANGEMENTS, IF APPLICABLE]. Thank you for making reading part of your winter. Questions? [CONTACT].

Closing thank-you

Thank you for reading with [LIBRARY NAME] this winter. We appreciated every story shared and every reader who joined in. [FINAL PICKUP OR FOLLOW-UP DETAILS, IF APPLICABLE]. If you have a question about your reading record, please contact [CONTACT]. Tell us what you enjoyed or would change for next time: [FEEDBACK METHOD].

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.

5 / Prize materials

Prize-pickup tracker

Download a blank spreadsheet for staff to record prize pickups. Use local reader identifiers and keep notes brief. This file is for manual tracking, not import into Reader Zone.

Columns: program name, reader reference, Group name, milestone, eligibility checked date, pickup status, pickup date, staff initials, and notes.

Example desk procedure

• Confirm the reader reference, program, and milestone.
• Check recorded eligibility and whether pickup is already complete.
• Resolve missing entries or exceptions with the staff lead before giving a prize.
• Provide the reward under the library’s announced rules.
• Record pickup status, date, and staff initials in the manual tracker.
• Keep notes brief and necessary; pass unresolved issues to the next shift.

Staff lead / questions: __________________________________________

Using Reader Zone? See how Awards and staff-only Tasks support this handoff.

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.

6 / Closeout report

End-of-program report

Use one reading date range and one entry cutoff. Adapt the goal to your published rules before calculating totals.

1. Library / program / staff lead: ____________________________________
2. Reading date range: __________________ through __________________
3. Entry cutoff / report prepared date: ______________________________
4. Registered readers: ______ Unique participants enrolled in this program, counted once each. State how late joins or withdrawals are handled: __________________
5. Active readers: ______ Registered readers with at least one valid, positive-minute entry in the reading date range, recorded by the cutoff.
6. Goal completers: ______ Registered readers whose valid entries total at least 300 minutes within the stated range (or your published goal: ______).
7. Logged minutes: ______ Sum of valid minute entries in the stated range. Resolve duplicate submissions before totaling; keep other metrics separate.
8. Rewards actually collected: ______ Count completed pickups using staff records. Count each defined reward once; earned Awards alone do not establish pickup.
9. Participation rate: ______% = active readers ÷ registered readers × 100. If registered readers = 0, report N/A.
10. Completion rate: ______% = goal completers ÷ registered readers × 100. If registered readers = 0, report N/A.
11. Organizer observations / reader feedback: __________________________
12. Changes to try next time: _______________________________________

These totals describe recorded activity, not a change in reading proficiency.

Reader Zone · Original winter reading kit · readerzone.com · Adapt to your library’s program.