The newest winter reading program began on Monday at the Daniel Boone Regional Library, with other events also happening in January at the Callaway County and Holts Summit locations.
This year's reading program is called Take Time to Take Care. The program began on Jan. 16 and will continue until Feb. 24.
This is the third annual winter reading program hosted by DBRL.
"This winter, we are thinking of our neighbors," the DBRL website states. "As we emerge from a historically challenging period as a community, we want to take time to take care of ourselves and each other through self-paced reading time and community service."
The winter reading program is split into three age groups, each with different prizes for completion. Children 0-12 will receive an age-appropriate book, teens 13-18 can choose either a book or an ice scraper mitt and adults will receive an ice scraper mitt.
Readers who reach their reading goal will also be entered to win gift cards for local businesses, according to the DBRL website.
The reading goal for the program is set individually.
For Take Time to Take Care winter reading program, DBRL is also hosting a winter reading book cover contest. The contest rules and the entry form can be found on the library's website.
Entries for the book cover contest are due by Feb. 24.
DBRL is hosting a food drive alongside the reading program. All donations for the food drive will benefit SERVE, Inc. in Fulton and The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia.
Donations of shelf-stable food items can be donated at any library branch or bookmobile stop. Anyone who donates at least one item will be entered to win an Instant Pot.
Donations are due by Jan. 30, and the winner of the Instant Pot will be announced on Jan. 31.
Other events will be held at the Callaway County and Holts Summit branches throughout January. In Fulton, a snack and chat book discussion will be on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from noon-1 p.m. The book for discussion this month is "Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell.
Family stories and songs will also be hosted at the Callaway County branch on Monday, Jan. 23 from 10-10:30 a.m. This event is for families and children from birth to age five.
In Holts Summit, the History of Missourians at Work: Jefferson Landing will be on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 4-5 p.m. This event is hosted through partnership with the Missouri State Museum.
The program will "explore the the history of the people who lived and worked at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site during its years as a riverboat landing, railroad hotel and industrial site," the DBRL website states.
A snack and chat book discussion will also be hosted at the Holts Summit branch. It will be on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 4-5 p.m. The book for discussion this month is "The Reading List" by Sara Nisha Adams.
The month will end with a story time for adults with disabilities on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 10-10:30 a.m at the Holts Summit branch.